By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
The orange dust on your fingers is often what draws a cat in. If your cat has crunched on a dropped Cheeto or licked your hand, it is very unlikely to be an emergency. Cheetos Crunchy are not a known poison, but they are a salty, fatty snack made for people, and some other Cheetos flavours carry extra risks.
Key takeaways
- The US Cheetos Crunchy SmartLabel lists enriched corn meal, vegetable oil, whey, cheddar cheese, salt, corn maltodextrin, flavours, whey protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, citric acid and Yellow 6.
- Onion and garlic are not listed on that US label, but recipes vary between countries and flavours.
- Spicy and seasoned flavours may contain chilli, onion or garlic. Always check the bag you have.
- Salt, fat and dairy can cause thirst, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- One or two pieces is unlikely to cause harm. A cat that raids the bag needs closer watching.
- Related reading: can cats eat onions, vomiting and diarrhoea in cats.
What is in Cheetos Crunchy?
On the PepsiCo SmartLabel page for US Cheetos Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks, the ingredients are enriched corn meal, vegetable oil (corn, canola and/or sunflower), whey, cheddar cheese, salt, corn maltodextrin, natural and artificial flavours, whey protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, citric acid and an artificial colour (Yellow 6). The label notes that product versions can differ, so the bag in your pantry may not match.
You may read that Cheetos Crunchy contain onion or garlic powder. That is not what the current US label lists. It is still worth checking, because Cheetos sold in other countries and other flavours have different recipes.
Why Cheetos are not a cat snack
Salt. The ASPCA notes that excess salt causes increased thirst, and that signs of salt toxicity can include vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors and seizures. A cat would need to eat a lot of Cheetos to reach that point, but salty snacks are best kept away.
Fat. Fried, oily snacks can upset a cat's stomach and add calories quickly. Cornell's Feline Health Center describes obesity as the most frequently seen nutritional disorder in cats.
Dairy. The ASPCA explains that pets do not have significant amounts of lactase, so dairy ingredients can cause diarrhoea or other digestive upset.
Nothing to gain. 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. Corn snacks offer them nothing.
Flavoured varieties
Spicy flavours typically contain chilli, which irritates the mouth and gut. Many savoury snack seasonings contain onion or garlic powder. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes cats as the species most susceptible to onion and garlic toxicosis, with concentrated forms such as powders often involved, and notes effects can appear several days later. If your cat ate a flavoured variety, read the label before deciding how worried to be.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Drinking or urinating more than usual
- Drooling or lip licking (especially after spicy flavours)
- Reduced appetite
If the flavour contained onion or garlic, also watch over the next several days for pale gums, weakness, faster breathing or red or brown urine.
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 more than a few pieces, ate a flavoured variety that lists onion or garlic, or if you are not sure what was eaten.
Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day, or if your cat is unusually thirsty.
Seek urgent care for wobbliness, tremors, seizures, pale gums, collapse or breathing difficulty.
How vets help
Your vet will ask what was eaten, how much and when, and check the label if you have it. A few pieces usually only need monitoring. If salt or onion is a concern, they may give fluids or suggest blood tests.
Snack time ideas for cats
- A commercial cat treat while you snack
- A small piece of plain cooked chicken
- A food puzzle with part of your cat's daily meal
FAQ
My cat ate one Cheeto. Should I worry?
No. Offer fresh water and watch for a mild upset stomach.
Can my cat lick the orange dust?
It is best not to. It is salty and contains dairy and flavourings.
Are Flamin' Hot Cheetos worse?
Spicy flavours can irritate the mouth and stomach. Check the label for onion or garlic and call your vet if you are unsure.
Are cheese puffs or other brands the same?
Similar snacks vary a lot by brand. Check the ingredients for onion, garlic and chilli.
Talk with a vet
If your cat got into a bag of flavoured snacks and you are not sure what was in them, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Frito-Lay SmartLabel. Cheetos, Crunchy, Cheese Flavored Snacks - SmartLabel™.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Obesity.
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I feed my cat?.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- 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.