By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Some cats go mad for bread. They will drag a crust off the bench, lick the butter off toast, or sit by the toaster every morning. If your cat has eaten a bit of plain, baked white or wholemeal bread, it is very unlikely to come to harm. The problem with bread is not that it is poisonous. It is that it fills a small carnivore with starch it does not need, and that a lot of bread in our homes is far from plain.
Key takeaways
- A small piece of plain, fully baked bread is unlikely to harm a healthy cat.
- Bread offers cats little nutrition. Cats are obligate carnivores.
- Garlic bread, onion bread, fruit loaves with raisins or sultanas, and chocolate breads are risky.
- Raw yeast dough is an emergency risk. See our separate guide on dangerous breads and dough.
- Buttered toast, spreads and toppings often matter more than the bread itself.
- Related reading: garlic and cats, pita bread and cats.
Why do cats like bread?
Cats cannot taste sweetness, as research on their sweet receptor gene has shown, so it is not the sugar. Many cats are drawn to the smell of yeast, butter and the fat in spreads. Some are simply interested in whatever their person is eating. A cat that begs for toast every morning is often asking for attention as much as food.
Is bread bad for cats?
Plain baked bread is not toxic to cats. But Cornell Feline Health Center explains that cats evolved on prey that is high in protein, moderate in fat and low in carbohydrate, and still need those general proportions today. Bread is mostly carbohydrate. Every bit of bread adds calories and takes the place of food that would have given your cat what it actually needs.
Weight gain is the long-term risk. Cornell describes obesity as the most frequently seen nutritional disorder in pet cats, and links it with diabetes and other health problems. Regular toast crusts will not help.
Breads to keep away from cats
- Garlic bread, garlic and herb loaves, and onion bagels. Cats are the species most sensitive to garlic and onion poisoning, and garlic is three to five times more toxic than onion, according to Merck Veterinary Manual.
- Fruit loaves, hot cross buns, panettone and raisin toast. The RSPCA lists grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants among foods harmful to cats.
- Chocolate brioche, chocolate chip loaves and anything with cocoa.
- Nut breads and seeded loaves with macadamia or other nuts, which the RSPCA also lists.
- Sugar-free or "keto" breads, which may use sweeteners. Check the label and call your vet if unsure.
- Mouldy bread. Mouldy and spoiled food is on the RSPCA harmful list.
Spreads and toppings
Butter, margarine, cheese, peanut butter, Vegemite, jam and honey all change the picture. Butter and cheese bring fat and dairy, which many cats do not digest well. Salty spreads add sodium, and nut spreads add fat. A cat licking butter off toast is getting more fat than bread.
Signs your cat ate something that did not agree
- vomiting
- soft stool or diarrhoea
- gas or a gurgly belly
- in the days after garlic or onion bread, lethargy, pale or yellow gums, fast breathing or reddish brown urine
When it is an emergency
Call your vet or emergency clinic promptly if your cat:
- ate garlic bread, onion bread, or any bread with raisins, sultanas, chocolate or macadamia nuts
- ate raw dough, or has a bloated belly, wobbliness or unusual sleepiness
- vomits repeatedly or seems painful
- has pale gums, weakness or collapses in the days after eating
The Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738) can help you assess the risk. Do not make your cat vomit at home unless a vet or the helpline tells you to.
How vets handle bread incidents
For plain bread, advice is usually to monitor at home. If the bread contained garlic, onion, raisins or chocolate, your vet will ask how much was eaten and when, and may want to see your cat to empty the stomach under veterinary care while that is still useful. They may also check blood tests over the following days. Your vet will decide what fits your cat.
How to manage a bread-obsessed cat
- Keep bread in a closed bread bin or cupboard, not in an open bag on the bench.
- Offer a cat treat or a game at breakfast time so the toaster is less exciting.
- Ask everyone in the house not to share crusts.
- If your cat really wants to chew something, try a measured portion of its own kibble in a puzzle feeder.
If you choose to give the odd crumb of plain bread, keep it tiny and count it as a treat. Cornell suggests treats should make up no more than 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories.
FAQ
Is wholemeal bread better for cats than white?
Not really. Both are mostly carbohydrate. Neither is a useful food for a cat.
Can bread help a cat that swallowed something sharp?
Do not try this at home. If you think your cat swallowed something sharp, such as a fish bone or a needle, call your vet straight away.
Can cats eat toast?
A crumb of plain toast is fine. Buttered or topped toast is less suitable because of the fat, salt or other ingredients.
Is gluten a problem for cats?
Some cats have food allergies, but bread is not a cat food anyway. If you suspect a food allergy, ask your vet about a proper diet trial.
Talk with a vet
If your cat is a bread thief and you are unsure whether a particular loaf was a problem, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can talk through the ingredients with you. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Obesity.
- Li X, et al. Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar. PLoS Genetics. 2005;1(1):e3.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I feed my 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.