Cats have very strict nutritional requirements. Since they are obligate carnivores, their diet plan mostly consists of protein while fats and carbohydrates come in fewer amounts. Keeping note of what your cat can and can not eat is essential for ensuring that it gets the right type of food. As cat owners, it falls upon us to provide our cats with a nourishing and well-balanced diet. 

Can Cats Eat Bread

Cats can eat bread but it is not a significant part of their diet. Bread has an abundance of carbohydrates that cats do not have much use for. They require meat sources that give them good amounts of protein. However, most cats do love the taste of bread which is why we can usually see cats trying to steal our freshly made toast right from our countertops. While this is generally considered to be okay, it is also important to make sure they don’t eat a huge amount of bread and overload on carbohydrate consumption. 

Why Do Cats Love Bread

Despite having diets that require extensive meat consumption, cats have a knack for snacking on bread. While it is an amusing trait, it does bring a lot of questions as to why cats crave bread. Here are some of the reasons why cats love bread:

They Love The Smell And Taste Of Yeast

Cats have been observed to go crazy for bread, even just plain ones. This is most likely because the smell and taste of yeast are pleasant to them. While there is no solid evidence as to why, it’s pretty clear as day that they just won’t stop eating bread unless stopped. Be sure to keep an eye out for these opportunistic bandits who try to steal every slice of bread they can find.

They Love The Texture

Another possible reason is the bread’s texture. A bread’s texture comes in all forms. Some are soft, chewy, or crunchy. The texture plays a big role in how cats enjoy their food since this is one of their criteria when identifying the food they like.

Breads Unsafe For Cats

Bread is generally harmless to your cat. The only downside to eating bread is that cats do not get the nutrients they need from it. The most acceptable type of bread for cats is plain bread with no additional toppings and flavorings. Plain white, wheat, and rye bread are some of the acceptable types of bread your cat can eat. Bread with additional toppings can bring serious health risks to your cat. Unnecessary ingredients such as sugar can only bring negative effects to your cat. 

Raw Bread Dough

Raw bread by far poses the biggest risks for cats. Uncooked yeast is generally dangerous for consumption and with a cat’s sensitive digestive system, it gets even worse for them. Upon consumption, the raw bread will just expand and cause bloating to your cat. This leads to abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and gas when the yeast releases alcohol as it ferments in your cat’s stomach.

Garlic Bread

Plain bread is fine, but bread with garlic is a toxic hazard to your cats. Garlic has toxic components that can easily enter a cat’s bloodstream when consumed. Upon entering the bloodstream, the toxic chemicals of garlic destroy any red blood cells it encounters. This makes them more likely to be destroyed faster than they are produced in a condition called hemolytic anemia.

Garlic poisoning can be deadly and life-threatening. It is of utmost importance to avoid giving your cat garlic to avoid any extreme complications. 

Banana Bread 

Banana bread contains a high amount of sugar along with several other unnecessary ingredients. The strict dietary requirements of cats highly discourage the consumption of large amounts of sugar. Banana bread also has certain spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. A cat’s digestive system is unable to break down the components of cinnamon which can lead to vomiting and bloating. 

Nutmeg is also toxic for your cats due to the presence of myristicin. If consumed in large quantities, cats may experience complications such as vomiting, dry mouths, agitation, a rapid heart rate, and hallucinations. 

Cinnamon Bread

Cinnamon bread is not exactly the favorite of many cats due to their tendency to hate the smell. But this does not stop other cats from eating cinnamon bread. Cats should never eat cinnamon due to their inability to break it down. Consumption of significant levels of cinnamon may cause irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

In addition to this, cinnamon has coumarin in its composition. Coumarin prevents blood clotting, which can be a serious issue, especially in cats due to their tendencies to fight other cats. 

Chocolate Bread

Any form of chocolate is dangerous for your cat. Chocolate contains two compounds that can cause significant health risks. These are caffeine and theobromine. Consumption of these chemicals can lead to several organ complications which can affect the digestive, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. 

Cats who have consumed chocolate bread may experience vomiting, tremors, and diarrhea. It is important to consult a professional immediately after your cat consumes chocolate. 

Nutty Bread

Bread containing nuts is not suitable for cats due to its high fat and salt content. Cats have difficulty digesting nuts, and certain types, like almonds, can be fatal. Other nuts, such as cashews, hazelnuts, and pine nuts, can cause severely upset your cat’s stomach. Additionally, the high fat content in nuts can lead to serious health issues like pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening for cats. It is generally advised to avoid giving nuts to cats to avoid any potential risks.

What To Do When Your Cat Eats Bread

The type of bread your cat eats usually determines the action you will take. If your cat has eaten a slice of plain and white bread, there’s usually nothing to be worried about. The real concerns occur when that bread contains additives and toppings that are considered dangerous for your cat. When this occasion does happen, it is important to seek immediate care for your cat.

What Nutrients Do Cats Need

Bread holds a significant amount of carbohydrates. Cats usually need a diet consisting of mainly protein-rich food. This makes bread an insignificant part of their diet. Understanding which nutrients a cat needs can become a game-changer in creating a diet plan for your cat. 

Water

Water is the most important nutrient a cat needs. A cat’s body is mostly made up of water and depends on it for most of its bodily functions. Just like in other animals, water can help regulate good body temperature, conduct metabolizing functions, distribute nutrients effectively, and support a cat’s organs. 

Consider providing wet food for your cat in accordance with your veterinarian’s advice. Wet foods provide a good amount of hydration for your cat while still supplying your cat with fresh protein.

Protein

A cat’s diet is mostly focused on protein. Proteins are essential for cats because they aid in tissue building, hormonal balance, enzymatic functions, and the production of antibodies. Cats also use protein as an energy source.

When creating a diet plan for your cat, it is important to create one that is mostly made out of proteins in order to maximize the nutritional value your cat gets. Food such as chicken, beef, and fish are some of the most reliable food sources for cats.

Fat

Just like protein, a cat gets its fat requirements from similar food. Fat is essential as it provides the most amount of energy for cats. Essential fats such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 provide the foundations for good body temperature, vitamin absorption, and overall cell functions. 

Carbohydrates

While carbohydrates do not necessarily play a vital role in a cat’s nutrition relative to the ones above, they still help in giving cats a good amount of energy. When taken in moderation, they become optimal support characters for protein, the main protagonist. 

Vitamins

Vitamins aid cats in a multitude of functions such as vision, blood clotting, metabolism, and the maintenance of bones. Cats only require small amounts of vitamins to thrive. A few vitamins your cat requires are Vitamins A, D, E, and K. 

Minerals

Minerals are inorganic compounds that are completely different from the organic nature of vitamins. Some of the much-needed minerals a cat needs are iron, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium. Cats get their minerals from mineral-rich meat products such as livers, fish, and lean meat. Minerals comprise a variety of functions such as bone growth, protein production, and enzyme formation.

Conclusion

While it is widely understood that cats can eat bread, it is generally a nutrient-empty food source for them. A cat’s diet requires high amounts of protein and fairly low amounts of carbohydrates. This means that bread is not an essential part of a cat’s nutrition. Nevertheless, many cats do enjoy snacking on bread. Therefore, it’s important to control what your cat eats, ensuring it consumes balanced and protein-rich food to help it stay strong and healthy.