Many cat owners enjoy sharing snacks and treats with their furry friends. If you’ve been curious if your cat can eat those colorful animal crackers in your pantry, you’re not alone. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about feeding animal crackers to cats.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Veterinarians advise against feeding cats animal crackers regularly or in large amounts. While tiny amounts are generally harmless, most commercial crackers contain ingredients that have minimal nutritional value for cats.
Are Animal Crackers Safe for Cats?
Main Ingredients and Nutritional Value
The main ingredients in animal crackers are enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), sugar, palm oil, cocoa, baking soda, salt, soy lecithin, vanillin, and artificial flavor.
While the flour provides some nutritional value, animal crackers are mostly made up of refined carbohydrates and sugar. There are minimal amounts of protein, fat, vitamins, or minerals.
For cats, animal crackers would act as empty calories and fillers rather than providing much nutritional value. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat-based proteins in their diet. Grains like wheat flour do not give them the amino acids they require.
Cats also have no biological need for carbohydrates or sugars. Things like enriched flour and sugar can lead to obesity and diabetes when fed long-term.
So in terms of daily nutritional needs, animal crackers fall short for what cats require. The crackers are high in carbs and low in protein. They lack nutrients cats need like taurine, arginine, vitamins A and B, and arachidonic acid.
While an occasional cracker won’t harm a cat, they cannot constitute balanced daily nutrition for cats.
Toxicity and Choking Hazards
Animal crackers are unlikely to contain anything toxic to cats in the ingredients themselves. However, there are two main concerns – toxicity from preservatives or additives, and choking hazard from the cracker shape.
Many mass-produced baked goods contain preservatives like BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin to prolong shelf life. Studies link these to liver and kidney problems in cats. Artificial colors and flavors also carry toxicity risks.
It is best to avoid animal crackers with a long list of unpronounceable ingredients.
The other hazard is choking. The small size and shape of animal crackers poses a choking risk, especially for kittens. Veterinarians recommend avoiding any human snacks that can block cats’ narrow esophagi. Stick-shaped foods like animal crackers should be avoided.
Benefits and Risks of Feeding Animal Crackers to Cats
Possible Benefits
Feeding animal crackers to cats can have some potential benefits when given occasionally and in moderation. The main possible benefit is providing extra calories and nutrients. Animal crackers contain carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals that can supplement a cat’s diet.
For example, animal crackers contain thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, and phosphorus. These nutrients help support a cat’s healthy skin, coat, cells, tissues, bones, muscles, brain function, energy levels, vision, digestion, and more.
Another possible benefit is that the crunchy texture and sweet flavor can make animal crackers an appealing treat that encourages bonding, play, training, or taking medication. The crackers can be broken into smaller pieces to make them last longer.
In moderation, animal crackers are unlikely to cause harm. According to Dr. Lorie Huston, DVM, cats can generally tolerate small amounts of carbohydrates and wheat-based products as an occasional treat without issues.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
However, animal crackers also come with some risks and potential side effects, especially if cats eat them in excess. One major risk is weight gain and obesity. Animal crackers are high in carbohydrates and calories, so too many can cause cats to gain unwanted weight.
Obesity is linked to diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and a shorter lifespan in cats. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention in 2022, over 50% of cats are overweight or obese.
Digestive upset is another potential side effect. Some cats may get an upset stomach from wheat or milk ingredients. Diarrhea, vomiting, gas, or constipation can occur. These symptoms are more likely in cats with a wheat, dairy, or grain sensitivity.
Other risks include tooth decay from the sugar content and choking hazards from eating whole crackers that get lodged in their throat. Additionally, animal crackers provide empty calories without much nutritional value.
How Many Animal Crackers Can Cats Have?
When it comes to feeding our feline friends treats like animal crackers, moderation is key. As tempting as it may be to give them more than just a few, too many crackers can lead to weight gain or other health issues.
The Occasional Treat
Veterinarians typically recommend limiting treats for cats to no more than 10-15% of their daily caloric intake. For an average 10 lb cat, that’s about 20-30 calories from treats per day. Since most animal crackers contain around 5 calories each, a good guideline is to keep it to 4-6 small crackers one to two times per week at most.
Watch Out for Additives
It’s important to read nutrition labels, as some brands add sugar, salt, artificial flavors or unhealthy oils that cats have difficulty digesting. Seek out all-natural, low-sodium options or tiny kitty treats made especially for cats.
Signs Your Cat Has Had Too Many
Consuming too many animal crackers could upset a cat’s stomach, lead to diarrhea or vomiting, or contribute to weight gain over time. Signs your cat may have had too many include:
- Loss of appetite for regular cat food
- Increased thirst or urination
- Soft stools or diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Weight gain
If you notice any of these symptoms, refrain from giving additional treats and call your vet, especially if vomiting or diarrhea persists more than 24 hours.
Healthy Treat Alternatives
While animal crackers are OK for cats in extreme moderation, healthier options include:
- Freeze-dried meat treats
- Dried fish like salmon or pollock
- Freeze-dried chicken or turkey
- Low-sodium veggie bites
As with any human food, confirm treats are safe for cats before sharing. When in doubt, a call to your veterinarian can give peace of mind.
The Best Types of Crackers and Alternatives for Cats
Veterinarian-Approved Crackers
When choosing crackers for cats, it’s important to stick to varieties that are free of unhealthy ingredients. Here are some veterinarian-recommended options:
- Whole grain crackers – Look for crackers made with 100% whole grains like whole wheat or brown rice. The fiber will help support digestive health.
- Low-sodium crackers – Cats should avoid too much sodium, so choose low-sodium or no-salt-added crackers when possible.
- Simple ingredient crackers – Crackers with just a few recognizable ingredients like whole grain flour, oil, and salt are less likely to contain additives cats shouldn’t eat.
- Unsweetened crackers – Don’t give cats crackers with sugar, honey, high fructose corn syrup, or other sweeteners, as cats have no need for added sugars.
Veterinarians suggest sticking to 1-2 plain crackers per day at most as an occasional treat. For optimal health, a balanced cat food should make up the bulk of their diet.
Healthy Treat Alternatives
While the right crackers can be an acceptable feline snack now and then, there are many healthier treat options to choose from. Here are some great alternatives to crackers for cats:
- Pieces of cooked chicken or turkey – Lean cooked meat makes a nutritious, protein-rich treat.
- Canned tuna or salmon (low-sodium) – Cats love seafood, and it provides healthy fats and minerals.
- Scrambled or hard-boiled eggs – Eggs are full of protein and nutrients, perfect for promoting good health.
- Green beans – Fiber- and vitamin-rich green beans are lower in calories than many treats.
- Carrots – Crunchy carrots are low-calorie and packed with vitamins.
You can also find commercial cat treats made with wholesome ingredients like chicken, salmon, greens, and more. Rotate different healthy treats to keep your cat interested and avoid overindulging. Moderation is key when supplementing your cat’s usual meals.
Introducing Animal Crackers to Your Cat
Things to Keep in Mind
When considering giving your cat animal crackers, there are some important things to keep in mind. First, check the ingredients to make sure there is no chocolate, raisins, grapes, or xylitol, as these can be toxic to cats (1).
Look for crackers made with simple, cat-safe ingredients like wheat flour, sugar, and vegetable oil.
Start by only offering a very small amount of crackers at first to see if your cat likes them and tolerates them well. Just 2-3 little crackers broken into pieces is plenty for the first try. Monitor your cat for signs of upset stomach or diarrhea after introducing anything new into their diet.
Since most cats should not have a lot of carbohydrates or sugars, animal crackers should only be an occasional treat. Too many can lead to weight gain or diarrhea. Stick to offering just a few cracker pieces once a week or so.
Dos and Don’ts
DO:
- Check the ingredient label carefully
- Break crackers into bite-sized pieces
- Give just a few at a time
- Make crackers an occasional treat
DON’T:
- Give crackers with chocolate, raisins, grapes, or xylitol
- Offer too many crackers at once
- Give crackers daily or too often
Use caution and common sense when considering sharing any human foods, like animal crackers, with your cat. A little bit once in a while of a safe, cat-approved human treat can be okay, but their main nutrition should come from a complete cat food made just for their needs.
Check with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about introducing new foods to your cat’s diet.
| References: | (1) Chocolate Toxicity in Pets | ASPCA |
Conclusion
While most cats likely won’t suffer side effects from nibbling a couple of crackers here and there, veterinarians don’t recommend intentionally feeding them as snacks or treats.
Ultimately, cats have unique nutritional needs, and there are much healthier snack options to choose from. But an occasional lick of crumbs probably won’t do major harm as long as you keep an eye on your kitty.
