Can Cats Eat Mac and Cheese?

No, mac and cheese is not a good food for cats. Many cats cannot digest dairy well, and the dish can have a lot of salt. Some recipes also have onion or garlic, which are dangerous for cats. One lick of plain mac and cheese is unlikely to be an emergency. Don’t offer more.

Why is mac and cheese a poor choice for cats?

Three things in the bowl can cause trouble.

Dairy can upset your cat’s belly

Cornell’s Feline Health Center says milk is not generally recommended as a treat for cats. It notes that many cats are lactose intolerant. That means they have trouble digesting the sugar in milk, and dairy can give them digestive problems. The ASPCA says pets do not have much of the enzyme needed to break down lactose, so dairy often causes diarrhea. Cheese sauce is made from dairy, so the same warning fits.

Onion and garlic are dangerous for cats

The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats are the most susceptible animals to onion and garlic poisoning. These plants can damage red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Merck says the problem is most often linked to concentrated forms, such as onion powder, garlic powder, and dry onion soup mixes. It also says cats have been harmed by less than a teaspoon of cooked onion. Merck says garlic is three to five times more toxic than onion.

Not every mac and cheese has these. But recipes, boxed mixes, and restaurant dishes may include them in the sauce or seasoning. Check the label or ask the cook. If you can’t be sure, treat it as a risk.

Salt and fat add up

The ASPCA says too much salt can make pets very thirsty and make them pee more. It can also cause vomiting and diarrhea, and in serious cases tremors and seizures. The ASPCA also says fatty foods can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and may lead to pancreatitis in some pets. Pancreatitis is a painful swelling of the pancreas, an organ that helps with digestion. A small lick holds little salt. A whole bowl holds much more.

What are the signs of a problem?

After a stomach upset from dairy or fat, you may see:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Not wanting to eat

Onion and garlic act more slowly. Merck says signs usually don’t show until a lot of red blood cells have been damaged, often a few days after eating. Watch for:

• Being tired or weak
• Not eating
• Fast breathing
• Pale or yellow gums or skin
• Dark urine
• Collapse

Call a vet right away if you see any of these.

What should I do if my cat ate mac and cheese?

1. Take the dish away and work out how much your cat ate.
2. Check the ingredients for onion, garlic, onion powder, garlic powder, or chives.
3. If it was just a lick of a plain dish, watch your cat for a day. Mild stomach upset can happen.
4. If your cat ate more, or the dish may have had onion or garlic, call your vet or a poison hotline now.

Early treatment matters. Merck says that after a recent meal, a vet may give a medicine to make a cat vomit and clear the stomach. Never try this at home. Only a vet should do it.

What can I give my cat instead?

Your cat gets what it needs from a complete and balanced cat food. Cornell says treats should be only occasional and should stay under about 10 to 15 percent of a cat’s daily calories. A treat made for cats is a safer pick than people food. To compare, read can cats eat cheese? or see our list of foods that are toxic to cats.