Can Cats Eat Bread?

Most human food poses no threat to cats in moderate amounts, including bread. However, excessive consumption of bread can be harmful to feline health.

Each species has different dietary needs, and despite a common misconception, cats don’t always know better what food will benefit them.

If you decide to feed your cat bread, learn about the risks beforehand to guarantee the safety of your four-legged friend.

Is Bread Safe for Cats?

The short answer to “is bread safe for cats?” is no. Plain bread doesn’t contain any elements toxic to felines, so it won’t cause food poisoning or death, but bread consumption can have numerous other unfavorable consequences.

Cats are obligate carnivores, and their gastroenteric tract has developed to digest primarily protein. Cats simply cannot digest large amounts of carbohydrates, so a cat’s diet should contain no more than 20% of carbs.

White bread is relatively high in calories, most of which come from sugars.

A cat’s body is not designed to convert sugars into energy like the human body, so frequent bread consumption can lead to diabetes, heart conditions, and obesity in the long term.

Bread is also high in sodium. Salt is an integral element of a cat’s diet, maintaining proper fluid balance and muscle fiber health. However, over 41 milligrams of sodium a day is toxic for cats.

Furthermore, bread contains gluten, a common allergen for humans and cats. Gluten is a protein necessary for the dough to rise, giving the bread an elastic texture. Unfortunately, many cats can’t tolerate gluten.

Even if a cat has no issue with digesting gluten, it may be allergic to any other ingredient contained in bread. For this reason, the owner must be cautious when feeding a cat bread for the first time.

Cats with underlying medical conditions requiring a strict diet should never eat bread because it may worsen their health state.

To conclude, occasional bread consumption in moderate amounts shouldn’t harm a healthy adult cat.

However, carbohydrates in bread are empty calories for cats that primarily feed on protein, and frequent bread consumption may lead to the development of chronic health conditions.

Does Bread Have Health Benefits for Cats?

Cats never eat grain in nature, so the health benefits of feeding a cat bread are doubtful. On the one hand, bread is rich in fiber, folate, manganese, niacin, iron, and riboflavin.

Fiber is an integral part of the feline diet, necessary to maintain proper digestion. A lack of fiber in a cat’s diet can lead to chronic constipation. However, bread isn’t the best source of fiber for cats.

Folate, also known as folic acid, is a vital element of a cat’s DNA synthesis and red blood cell production. Manganese is responsible for the proper metabolism, transforming nutrients into energy.

Niacin, known as vitamin B, is also involved in energy metabolism. A niacin deficiency can cause anorexia, inflammation, and gastroenteric upset. Iron is essential for proper oxygen transportation throughout the body.

Lastly, riboflavin, known as vitamin B2, helps break down fats into carbohydrates, transforming them into energy and ensuring proper oxygen supply to organs. But if bread contains so many essential elements, why shouldn’t cats eat it?

The caveat is that dry cat food already contains all the necessary nutrients and microelements, so the risks of feeding a cat bread outweigh the benefits.

In fact, a surplus of specific vitamins or minerals is equally dangerous as a deficiency. For example, excess consumption of fiber may cause diarrhea, and excess iron can cause stomach and liver damage.

How Much Bread Can Cats Eat?

Moderation is key when feeding cats human food, but how much bread can cats eat, exactly? According to veterinarians, treats should account for no more than 10% of the cat’s total daily calorie intake.

The math is straightforward. An adult cat should consume 22-30 calories per pound daily, so a ten-pound cat should consume 220-300 calories. Treats account for up to 10% of the daily calorie intake or no more than 30 calories.

Bread is high in calories – one slice of white bread contains approximately 68 calories, and a slice of sourdough bread has roughly 93 calories. Therefore, a cat should eat one-third of a bread slice at most.

However, even such a small piece of bread is extreme because of the high sodium and carb content. As a rule of thumb, the bread serving for a cat should be about the size of your pinky fingernail to avoid upsetting the nutritional balance.

The Difference Between Bread Types

“Can cats eat bread?” is a very generalized question because bread can be different – white, sourdough, whole-grain, rye, to name a few. Each bread type has varying nutritional values and, consequently, differently affects feline health.

Rye bread is perhaps, the best option for cats because it’s relatively low in carbohydrates and calories, containing about 90 calories and 17 grams of carbs per slice.

Whole-grain bread contains roughly 140 calories and 22 grams of carbs per slice, while white toaster bread contains 98 calories and 18 grams of carbs, most of which come from sugars.

Whole-grain bread has the highest fiber content of four grams per slice, followed by rye bread with two grams per slice and white bread with only one gram per slice.

Rye and whole-grain bread also have higher protein content, which is beneficial for felines. So, if you decide to feed your cat bread, choose whole-grain or rye bread over white bread.

Bread often has add-ons, such as herbs, garlic, bananas, pumpkin, nuts, dried fruits, or seeds.

Bananas and pumpkins are safe for cats, but banana bread often contains sugars that can make a cat hyperactive and increase blood sugar levels.

Garlic bread is delicious and has a powerful smell attracting many cats. However, garlic is extremely toxic to felines, so a cat should never eat garlic bread. The same applies to onions and chives.

Most nuts, including walnuts, peanuts, and almonds, pose no threat to cats, but Macadamia nuts are toxic. Dried cherries and raisins are also toxic to felines, while other fruits aren’t.

The bread crust is generally safe for cats. However, if the crust is hard, it may be difficult for a cat to chew and damage the delicate mouth tissues, so it’s best to remove the crust beforehand.

Possible Bread Side Effects

A cat’s stomach is delicate, and food not intended for feline consumption can easily cause a gastroenteric upset in your pet.

If your cat is going to try bread for the first time, start with a tiny piece and monitor your pet’s body reaction.

The symptoms of food intolerance in cats include diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gases, bloating, and abdominal discomfort. In most cats, symptoms manifest within an hour of bread consumption and last for up to 12 hours.

However, each cat’s system is different, and the symptoms may occur later or last longer. Therefore, don’t leave your pet without supervision.

If the symptoms are mild, there’s no need for urgent veterinary intervention, but you should ensure your cat has access to fresh water and constantly monitor its condition.

However, if the symptoms are severe, you may have to administer your cat prescription medications or intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration.

How to Spot an Allergy

True food allergies in cats aren’t common – typically, owners confuse allergies with food intolerances because the symptoms are similar. However, food intolerance originates in the gastroenteric tract, and allergy is an immune system’s response.

The problem with bread is that it contains a common allergen, gluten. Apart from gastroenteric symptoms, gluten allergy in cats can cause topical and respiratory reactions, including skin irritation, itchiness, coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing.

Unfortunately, the only way to diagnose a food allergy in cats is the exclusion trial method.

Frankly, there’s no need to distinguish between an intolerance and allergy if your cat experiences any of the symptoms – simply refrain from feeding it bread ever again.

If the symptoms are severe, the treatment of food allergy in cats may include antihistamines, steroid injections, intravenous fluid administration, and the local application of soothing topicals.

Why Does My Cat Want Bread?

Most cats prefer meat, fish, or milk (which, by the way, also isn’t recommended for cats). However, some felines have odd preferences and crave bread or other foods not intended for cat consumption.

The easiest explanation for why a cat loves bread is curious feline nature. Some cats are just attracted to the new flavor and texture and lose interest after trying a bit.

However, a cat’s regular craving for bread doesn’t yet indicate an abnormality in its health. Perhaps, the cat likes the soft, elastic texture, smell, or specific additives.

If your cat demands bread frequently, consider providing it with a healthier alternative, like special cat treats or lactose-free cheese.

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