Can Cats Eat Bread?

Plain, fully baked bread is not a poison for cats, so one small bite is unlikely to hurt. But it gives your cat very little that it needs. Raw bread dough is different and can be an emergency. It can swell in the stomach and make alcohol in the body.

Is baked bread safe for cats?

Baked bread is not on the lists of toxic foods from the ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline. Their warnings are about dough that has not been baked yet, and about certain ingredients that can be added to bread.

Even so, bread is not a good food for a cat. Cornell’s Feline Health Center explains that cats are obligate carnivores. That means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Bread is mostly starch, so it does not fill that need.

If you do share a bite, keep it plain. Treats of any kind should stay under 10 to 15 percent of your cat’s daily calories, according to Cornell.

Why is raw dough dangerous for cats?

Dough made with baker’s yeast keeps rising in the warm stomach. Pet Poison Helpline says this makes gas and ethanol, which is alcohol. The dough can swell and block the gut, and the alcohol gets into the blood.

The ASPCA also warns that rising dough can fill the stomach with gas.

Signs of dough poisoning

Pet Poison Helpline lists these signs in cats:

• A swollen, tight belly
• Retching with nothing coming up, or vomiting
• Restlessness
• Acting drunk, such as stumbling or poor balance
• Crying or howling
• In severe cases, collapse and trouble breathing

What should I do if my cat ate dough?

Call a vet or a poison hotline right away. Pet Poison Helpline says a vet may make a cat vomit if the dough was eaten very recently and the cat has no signs yet. Vets also give supportive care, such as checking blood sugar and giving medicine for nausea. The outlook is very good with early treatment and gets worse if treatment is late.

Other kinds of bread and snacks

Can cats eat banana bread?

It is better to skip it. Plain banana bread is baked, so it does not have the dough danger. But the ASPCA says the main worries are ingredients, such as salt and xylitol, a sweetener in some sugar-free foods. Recipes may also add chocolate or nuts. Pet Poison Helpline lists chocolate and macadamia nuts as pet hazards. See our guide on chocolate and cats. If your cat ate a slice with these in it, call your vet.

Can cats eat crackers?

A plain cracker is not known to be toxic, but it is not a useful snack. The ASPCA warns that too much salt can cause extra thirst and peeing, and may upset the body’s salt balance. Many crackers are salty, so a small crumb is the most to share. Check the label for onion or garlic powder too.

Can cats eat Goldfish crackers?

Not as a treat. Goldfish crackers are salty snacks, and some flavors may have onion or garlic powder in the ingredients. The Merck Veterinary Manual says powders and dry onion mixes are especially risky, and cats are the most sensitive pets. Check the label. If your cat ate some and the label lists onion or garlic, call your vet.

Can cats eat graham crackers?

Plain graham crackers are not a known poison, but they are sweet and low in what cats need. The sources we read do not name them as a hazard. Check the label for chocolate, nuts, or xylitol, and keep it to a crumb. Skip them as a regular treat.

Is garlic bread safe for cats?

No. The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats are the most sensitive pets to garlic and onion. Cats have been harmed by raw, cooked, and dried forms. Garlic is about 3 to 5 times more toxic than onion. Signs may take several days to show and include weakness, not eating, fast breathing, and yellow gums. Call your vet if your cat ate any.

What can I give my cat instead?

Cornell says a complete, balanced commercial cat food is the safest choice. For a treat, pick a cat treat made for cats, and keep treats to a small part of the day’s calories. For other risky foods, see our list of foods that are toxic to cats.