- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Between delectable sandwiches, fluffy french toast, or rolls covered in butter on Thanksgiving, bread is truly the king of carbohydrate heaven. Bread adds ease to our lives too, as it can be part of breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Even though this common food has always been a staple in our diets, what about for our feline family members?
Although most humans love living in carb city, cats have carnivorous digestive systems and may feel differently about bread. Cats process some “human foods” differently, meaning they sometimes experience side effects when they ingest the normal everyday foods we eat. Many human foods are non-toxic and even beneficial to a cat’s daily diet, while other foods not only cause stomach issues but can have lasting negative effects.
Here’s what you need to know about whether cats can eat bread:
Health Benefits of Bread
Besides being endlessly delicious, certain types of bread have many health benefits to humans. Though much of the bread on the market today is processed, there are a few that still carry nutritional value.
According to Medical News Today, rye, Ezekiel and whole-grain bread give humans the most bang for their buck, health-wise. All three often contain whole grain flour, which means it’s less processed than other flour used to make white or standard processed bread. Whole grains provide such nutrients as vitamin B1, 2, 3, 9, magnesium, selenium, and iron. Whole grains also have lots of good fiber.
If those types of bread aren’t your favorite, don’t worry. There are other types of bread like sourdough and oat bread that provide nutritional benefits as well.
Can Cats Eat Bread?
The short answer is “not really.” Bread is non-toxic to cats, but it also isn’t particularly beneficial either. Bread is not on the ASPCA list of toxic foods, so it’s safe if they have a bite or two, but it shouldn’t be a meal replacement or even an occasional treat. Cats are obligate omnivores, so unlike a dog or human omnivore diet, cat bodies aren’t designed to digest grains.
“As a rule, cats are obligate carnivores and have no metabolic/nutritional need for carbohydrates,” Gary Richter, DVM, owner and medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, California and Holistic Veterinary Care tells Rover. “Small amounts of grains can be OK in a balanced diet, but they should be kept to a minimum.”
Cats like certain sizes and textures of foods. Whole grains are OK to give in small doses, but it’s even better in the form of oats, barley, and whole-wheat breadcrumbs. These smaller pieces are easier for a cat to digest and hold more nutritional benefits, according to PetMD.
In other words, if a bite of your sandwich falls on the floor and your cat swoops to eat it, don’t fret. It won’t hurt them.
Can Cats Eat Bread Dough?
If you’re baking your bread from scratch, absolutely do not feed your cat raw bread dough. According to the ASPCA, yeast dough is toxic. Raw dough can rise in your pet’s digestive system, causing issues with bloating and gas.
Additionally, Pet Poison Helpline explains that raw dough can ferment in a cat’s digestive system, which produces alcohol as a byproduct. This alcohol then gets into the cat’s bloodstream, which can lead to alcohol poisoning and be a life-threatening problem.
“Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature,” Pet Poison Helpline says. “Severely intoxicated animals can potentially experience seizures and respiratory failure.”
Contact your vet immediately if your cat eats yeast dough.
Can Cats Eat Crackers?
If bread is nontoxic, what about crackers? It’s a good question.
Crackers tend to have a higher salt content than bread, and often are made with added oils and preservatives to give them a long shelf life. These additives aren’t great for cats. So even though crackers, like bread, are not toxic, experts recommend not feeding crackers to cats.
Alternative Healthy Snacks
If you’d like to experiment with some alternative treats instead of bread or crackers, consider vegetables. “Pet owners can always try to give vegetables to cats in food or treats. Not all will eat them,” Dr. Richter says. “There certainly are good nutrients in vegetables when part of a balanced meal.”
These veggies are not toxic to cats, according to the ASPCA:
- Zucchini
- Celery (They love the crunch!)
- Carrots
- Green bell peppers
- Spinach (Filled with vitamins A, C, and K!)
- Peas (Often found in many prepackaged foods for cats and dogs as a vitamin-filled addition)
- Pumpkin (Pumpkin is used often as a way to get fiber in your cat’s diet)
- Broccoli
Even though vegetables can be beneficial to a cat’s diet, fruit is a different story. Due to their high carbohydrate and sugar content, veggies are a better option out of the two. However, never replace a significant portion of your cat’s meals with veggies as they’ll miss out on vital nutrients.
“The large majority of what cats eat should be a balanced diet,” Dr. Richter says. “In general, treats are not balanced and should not make up a significant portion of their daily intake.”