Can Cats Eat Bread?
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The post Can Cats Eat Bread? by Erica Dermer appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.
I never thought that I would catch myself googling “Can cats eat bread?” but I recently did — along with yelling “Don’t eat that!” to my sneaky kitty. During a recent round of product testing in my test kitchen, I found my cat trying to steal a slice of gluten-free bread. He jumped to the counter and started licking each slice of bread, neatly laid out for human consumption (well, at least it was intended for human consumption).
At first, I thought it was the butter slathered on the bread, but he was stealing plain bread slices. He would try to pick up a piece of bread by the crust and drag it back down to the floor. I was shocked by the behavior, as he has only successfully stolen chicken nuggets off the counter before. So, do cats love bread? Is this a secret they’ve been holding from us? Can cats eat bread, even?
Can Cats Eat Bread and Other Breaded Products?
Here’s my cat licking bread … but is this okay? Can cats eat bread? Photography by Erica Dermer.
When it comes to wondering “Can cats eat bread?” I’m not alone. My friends chimed in and told me about their carb-loving cats. One told me about his cat that loved stealing pizza crusts to get to the doughy insides. Another one was in love with a particular brand of pancake mix — both cooked and uncooked dough. My friends didn’t understand if it was the toppings on the bread (like butter, cheese or pepperoni) or the bread itself. They, too, were wondering, “Can cats eat bread?” and if cats eating bread was something that was safe.
Can Cats Bread? Is It Dangerous to Cats?
So, is bread safe for cats? Thankfully, bread isn’t that much of a danger for cats. So, the answer to “Can cats eat bread?” is technically “yes”— but it’s not really recommended. Cats don’t have a need for bread in their diets.
But Can Cats Eat Bread That Isn’t Cooked?
Dr. Heather Loenser, Senior Veterinary Officer of the American Animal Hospital Association, warns of the dangers of eating raw or rising bread dough. “The biggest danger to cats would be eating raw dough because the fermentation from the yeast in the dough can cause the dough to expand in the cat’s stomach,” she cautions. “This can cause severe abdominal pain, and theoretically, cause the stomach to perforate.”
Dr. Loenser adds, “since alcohol is a byproduct of fermentation, alcohol poisoning is possible. Signs would include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty walking or looking drunk. Fortunately, few cats seem to be drawn to eating raw bread dough — it’s much more of an issue with dogs.”
Can Cats Eat Bread With Certain Toppings or Add-Ins?
When wondering, “Can cats eat bread?” we also run into some trouble because of what’s on or in the bread. We’ve asked before if cats can eat cheese, a common topping on bread. Can cats eat cheese? Yes, but only sparingly because cats are lactose intolerant after kittenhood.
But can cats eat bread with toppings that aren’t dairy? “Other potential ingredients in bread that could be problematic include garlic and onions, which can cause red blood cell damage and anemia,” says Dr. Loenser. Even in small quantities, garlic can cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea in cats. Seek veterinary attention if you believe that your cat has consumed garlic.
So, Can Cats Eat Bread? Some Final Thoughts
Dr. Loenser says that after 15 years of practice, she’s never seen a case of illness in a cat due to bread or dough ingestion, so it’s not necessarily a common danger. So, skip the garlic bread and keep the onion spreads away from any bread that might be in kitty’s path.
Thumbnail: Photography © glenkar | iStock / Getty Images Plus.
About the author
Erica Dermer is a stay-at-home cat mom in Phoenix, AZ. As a former magazine editor, she now using her writing skills to blog at CeliacandtheBeast.com. She recently lost her photogenic tabby named Murphy, and currently lives with his sister, Mushu, the tortie.
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The post Can Cats Eat Bread? by Erica Dermer appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.
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