By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
A spilled bowl of Crunch Berries on the kitchen floor can be hard for a cat to ignore. If your cat has eaten a few pieces, it is very unlikely to be dangerous. This cereal is not toxic to cats, but it is a sweetened, processed food made for people, and the milk often served with it can cause its own upsets.
Key takeaways
- The US SmartLabel for Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries lists corn flour, sugar, oat flour, brown sugar, palm and/or coconut oil, salt, flavours, food colours, BHT and added vitamins and iron.
- No chocolate, xylitol, onion or garlic is listed on that label.
- A few pieces will usually cause no problems. A large amount may cause vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Cats cannot taste sweetness, so sugar does nothing for them except add calories.
- Milk from the bowl is more likely to upset your cat than the cereal itself.
- Related reading: vomiting and diarrhoea in cats, can cats eat chocolate.
What is in Crunch Berries?
On the PepsiCo SmartLabel page for US Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries, the ingredients are corn flour, sugar, oat flour, brown sugar, palm oil and/or coconut oil, salt, sodium citrate, malic acid, Red 40, reduced iron, natural and artificial flavour, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6, BHT (a preservative) and several B vitamins. Recipes can differ between countries, so check the box you have.
Why sugary cereal is a poor cat snack
Cats do not taste sugar. Research published in PLoS Genetics in 2005 found that cats carry a nonfunctional sweet taste receptor gene, which helps explain their indifference to sugar. Your cat is more likely to be interested in the crunch or the smell of the milk.
Empty calories. Cornell's Feline Health Center describes obesity as the most frequently observed nutritional disorder in domestic cats and lists diabetes mellitus among the conditions linked to it. Cornell also suggests treats should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories.
Not cat food. RSPCA Australia explains that cats are obligate carnivores and do not have some of the enzymes and body processes other animals use to digest and convert plant nutrients. Cereal grains and sugar give them little of what they need.
You may read that the colours and preservatives in cereal are toxic to cats. There is no good evidence that the small amounts in a few pieces cause harm. The bigger issues are sugar, calories and stomach upset.
What about the milk?
The ASPCA explains that pets do not have significant amounts of lactase, so milk and other dairy products can cause diarrhoea or other digestive upset. Cornell notes many cats are lactose intolerant. If your cat lapped up the milk from a cereal bowl, loose stools are the most likely result.
Check what else was in the bowl
If the cereal was mixed with chocolate cereal, chocolate milk or raisins, those carry different risks. The ASPCA lists chocolate as dangerous to pets, with signs including vomiting, diarrhoea, panting, excessive thirst, hyperactivity, tremors and seizures.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea or loose stools
- Bloated or uncomfortable belly
- Reduced appetite
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 cereal mixed with chocolate or another food you are worried about, or if you are not sure what was eaten.
Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day, if your cat stops eating, or if your cat has diabetes or another condition that needs a careful diet.
Seek urgent care if your cat collapses, has repeated vomiting or seems very unwell.
How vets help
Your vet will ask what was eaten, how much, and whether there was milk or anything else in the bowl. Plain cereal usually only needs monitoring at home. If your cat has a stomach upset, your vet can advise on a bland feeding plan and check for dehydration.
Better treats for cats
- Commercial cat treats
- Small pieces of plain cooked chicken or fish
- Play time with a wand toy instead of a food reward
FAQ
My cat ate a few Crunch Berries. Is that okay?
Yes, a few pieces are unlikely to cause problems. Watch for a mild stomach upset.
Are the food colours dangerous?
The small amounts in a few pieces are not known to harm cats. It is still not a food to share.
Can my cat drink the leftover cereal milk?
It is best not to. Dairy often causes diarrhoea in cats.
Is plain cereal better than sugary cereal?
Plain cereal has less sugar, but neither provides what a cat needs.
Talk with a vet
If your cat got into a cereal bowl and you are not sure what was in it, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you decide what to do next. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- PepsiCo SmartLabel. Cap’n Crunch’s, Large Size, Crunch Berries Naturally & Artificially Flavored, Sweetened Corn & Oat Cereal - SmartLabel™.
- Li X, et al. PLoS Genet. 2005;1(1):e3. Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Obesity.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I feed my cat?.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- 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.