Can Cats Eat Honey?

Honey is not on the ASPCA’s list of foods to avoid feeding pets, so a tiny lick is unlikely to be an emergency. But cats do not need it. Cats are meat eaters, and honey is mostly sugar. Treat honey as a rare lick, not a snack. Skip it for diabetic or overweight cats.

Why honey is not a good food for cats

Cornell Feline Health Center explains that cats are obligate carnivores. That means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Wild cats eat prey with a lot of protein, some fat, and very little carbohydrate. Sugar is a carbohydrate, so honey is the opposite of what a cat’s body is built for.

Honey also has no job in a cat’s diet. A complete cat food already has what your cat needs. Extra sweet foods only add calories. The Merck Veterinary Manual warns that overfeeding can lead to obesity and other health problems that can shorten a cat’s life.

Weight matters because of diabetes. Cornell says overweight cats are up to four times more likely to get diabetes than cats at a healthy weight.

Is honey ever useful for cats?

In one case, yes. Cornell says that if a diabetic cat shows signs of very low blood sugar, you can rub honey, corn syrup, or a glucose gel on the cat’s gums. Then call a vet right away.

This is an emergency step for a sick cat. It is not a reason to give honey to a healthy cat.

How much honey can a cat have?

We did not find a veterinary source that gives a safe amount of honey for cats, so we can’t give you a number. What we can say is that treats should stay small. Cornell says treats should not be more than 10 to 15 percent of a cat’s daily calories. Honey is a poor choice to spend those calories on.

If your cat licks a little honey off a spoon, you do not need to panic. If your cat eats a lot, or throws up, or seems unwell, call your vet.

Other kinds of honey food

Can cats eat Honey Nut Cheerios?

Not as a treat. Honey Nut Cheerios is a sweet cereal made from grains. Cats are meat eaters and the guidance from Cornell is that they need very little carbohydrate. A piece that falls on the floor is not likely to be a problem, but the cereal gives your cat nothing useful.

One caution. The ASPCA warns that xylitol, a sweetener used in many sugar-free products, can cause low blood sugar and liver damage in pets. Never share a sugar-free product without checking the ingredients, and call a vet or a hotline if you think your cat ate xylitol.

Milk with cereal is not a fix either. The ASPCA and Merck both say milk can upset a pet’s stomach.

Can cats eat plain honey on toast or in baked goods?

Treat these the same as plain honey: a tiny taste is the most you should allow. Baked goods can also have other ingredients that are bad for cats, so check the label. Our guide to foods that are toxic to cats lists the ones to avoid.

What to feed instead

Cats get what they need from a complete cat food with meat as a main ingredient. For a treat, pick a small piece of something made for cats. Our article on whether cats can eat cheese explains another human food that many cats beg for, and why it also needs care.