By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Bagels are dense, chewy bread rings, and cats sometimes take an interest in the toppings more than the bread. A small piece of plain, baked bagel is not toxic to cats. It is simply a lump of starch that a carnivore does not need. The flavour of bagel, and what was spread on it, can turn a harmless crumb into something worth a phone call.
Key takeaways
- Plain baked bagel is not toxic to cats, but it has no nutritional value for them.
- "Everything" bagel seasoning typically contains dried onion and garlic, which are toxic to cats.
- Raisin bagels: RSPCA Australia lists raisins and sultanas as harmful to cats, although evidence in cats is limited.
- Raw bagel dough can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol.
- Cream cheese, butter and smoked salmon toppings are fatty and salty.
- Related reading: can cats eat yeast dough, can cats eat pita bread.
Plain bagels
A plain bagel is mostly wheat flour, water, yeast, salt and a little sugar or malt. Once baked, the yeast is no longer active. Cornell's Feline Health Center explains that cats are obligate carnivores and that their diet should contain minimal carbohydrate. A crumb will not hurt, but a bagel is dense and filling, and a large piece could cause vomiting.
Flavoured bagels to watch
Everything, onion and garlic bagels
"Everything" seasoning typically includes dried onion, dried garlic, sesame and poppy seeds and salt. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes cats as the species most susceptible to onion and garlic poisoning and notes concentrated dried forms are a particular concern. Signs of red blood cell damage usually appear a few days after eating.
Raisin and cinnamon raisin bagels
Grapes and raisins are well known to cause kidney injury in dogs. In cats, the evidence is limited. A 2022 study of cases reported to the Dutch Poisons Information Center found that 2 of 13 cats that ate grapes or raisins developed mostly gut-related signs, and none developed kidney injury. That is a small number of cats, and RSPCA Australia still lists grapes, raisins and sultanas as harmful to cats. Treat raisin bagels as a reason to call for advice.
Chocolate chip bagels
Chocolate contains methylxanthines (theobromine and caffeine), which are toxic to cats.
Blueberry and other sweet bagels
Not toxic, but sugary and of no value to cats.
Toppings
- Cream cheese and butter. Fatty, and dairy may upset lactose-intolerant cats.
- Smoked salmon. Salty. Some cats will steal it.
- Chives and spring onion. Allium vegetables, toxic to cats.
- Peanut butter and Nutella. Fatty. Some peanut butters contain sweeteners, and Nutella contains cocoa.
- Avocado. RSPCA Australia lists avocado among foods not to feed cats.
Raw bagel dough
If you bake at home, keep raw dough away from your cat. The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline both explain that yeast dough keeps rising in the warm stomach, causing painful bloating, and the yeast produces alcohol. This is an emergency.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- A swollen, tight or painful belly and retching (raw dough)
- Wobbliness, sleepiness or slow breathing (alcohol from dough)
- Restlessness or tremors (chocolate)
- Pale or yellow gums, fast breathing, weakness or dark urine a few days later (onion or garlic)
When to call a vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline
Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738) if your cat ate an everything, onion, garlic, raisin or chocolate bagel, chive cream cheese, or any raw dough.
Seek emergency care straight away for a bloated belly, repeated retching, collapse, wobbliness or breathing difficulty.
Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.
How vets help
Your vet will want to know the bagel type and toppings. For onion and garlic exposures, they may induce vomiting if it is early and safe, and monitor red blood cells. For raw dough, they may give fluids, monitor alcohol effects and sometimes remove the dough. For plain bagel, advice is usually to monitor.
Prevention
- Keep bagel bags sealed and off the bench.
- Do not leave breakfast plates on low tables.
- Let home-baked dough rise in a closed oven or room the cat cannot enter.
FAQ
My cat ate a bite of plain bagel. What should I do?
Most cats are fine. Watch for vomiting and call your vet if it continues.
Are poppy seeds on bagels dangerous?
Small amounts on a baked bagel are unlikely to be the main concern. Onion and garlic in the same seasoning are the bigger worry.
Can cats eat bagel chips?
Bagel chips are often seasoned with garlic, onion and salt. Keep them away.
Is cream cheese a good treat for cats?
No. It is rich and many cats do not handle dairy well.
Talk with a vet
If your cat has raided the breakfast table and you are not sure what was on the bagel, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you work out how urgent it is. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- Dijkman MA, et al. J Small Anim Pract. 2022;63(6):447-453. Incidence of Vitis fruit-induced clinical signs and acute kidney injury in dogs and cats.
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I feed my cat?.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Bread Dough.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
- Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia, 1300 869 738). Animal Poisons Helpline | 24/7 Pet Poisoning Advice.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.