Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter?

Plain peanut butter isn’t poisonous to cats, but it isn’t a good treat either. Cats are meat eaters and get nothing from it that their regular food doesn’t already give them. A tiny lick of plain peanut butter is unlikely to hurt a healthy cat. Don’t make it a habit.

Is xylitol in peanut butter a danger to cats?

Some sugar-free peanut butters contain xylitol, a sweetener that is very dangerous for dogs. For cats, the news is better. The Merck Veterinary Manual says dogs are the only household animals with reported xylitol poisoning, and cats are not at risk of the low blood sugar or liver injury it causes in dogs. The ASPCA says the same: people, cats, and ferrets are not harmed by xylitol.

That’s reassuring if your cat gets into the jar. But if you also have a dog, the label matters a lot.

Why peanut butter isn’t a great choice for cats

Cats need meat, not peanuts

Cornell’s Feline Health Center explains that cats are obligate carnivores. That means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats do best on a diet rich in high-quality fats and proteins. A complete and balanced cat food gives your cat what it needs, and peanut butter doesn’t add to that.

It is rich in fat

The ASPCA warns that nuts have a lot of oils and fats, which can upset the stomach and may lead to pancreatitis, a painful swelling of the pancreas. The ASPCA’s list doesn’t name peanut butter, so this is a general warning about fatty nut foods. It is still a reason to keep servings tiny.

Treats add up

Extra calories can lead to obesity and other health problems that may shorten a cat’s life, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Its advice for cat owners is simple: avoid giving table scraps.

Other kinds of peanut butter

Sugar-free peanut butter

Check the label for xylitol. It’s fine for cats according to the sources above, but it’s a real emergency for dogs, so don’t leave it where a dog can reach it. Sugar-free doesn’t mean healthier for your cat, either.

Salted or flavored peanut butter

Skip it. The ASPCA says too much salt can cause increased thirst and urination, and in serious cases vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and even death. A cat that licks a spoon won’t eat much, but plain is the better choice. Also avoid anything with added garlic or onion. The ASPCA notes cats are more sensitive to these.

Whole peanuts and other nuts

Nuts are rich in fat, as noted above, so they aren’t a good snack for cats. We didn’t find a veterinary source that gives guidance on peanuts for cats specifically, so we can’t tell you a safe amount.

What to do if your cat ate peanut butter

If your cat licked some plain peanut butter, watch for an upset stomach over the next day. If your cat vomits again and again, has diarrhea that doesn’t stop, or won’t eat, call your vet. Call sooner for kittens and cats with health problems.

If the jar was sugar-free and a dog also ate it, treat that as the emergency described above.

Better treats for your cat

• Treats made for cats
• A few pieces of your cat’s regular food, given as a reward

Cornell says treats shouldn’t be more than 10 to 15 percent of a cat’s daily calories. The rest should come from a complete and balanced cat food. For foods that are truly dangerous, see our guide to foods that are toxic to cats. Have a dog too? Read can dogs eat peanut butter.