It is clear that humans love bread. Walk into any grocery store and you will see more varieties and brands of bread than you could consume in a lifetime. That does not even include all the homemade versions of bread. It is cheap, easy to make and can feed a lot of people, so it’s one of the most well-known foods around.
But is bread appropriate for your cat to eat? Let’s put it to the test and find out.
A Bit About Bread
Bread is a staple food around the world prepared from dough made of flour and water and then baked with a heat source. It was been popular around the world from the dawn of time and can be served in a variety of forms at any meal of the day.
Bread is even a part of many traditions both sacred and secular – it is one of the few things that can unite almost anyone at any time.
What Does BreadContain?
Bread provides a good portion of the nutrients we need. It is a good source of proteins, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates (carbs). It is usually made with wheat but can be made from just about any grain. Wheat is the only grain with gluten, which is important for a risen loaf of bread.
It is time for your cat to eat bread yet? Let’s find out.
Things To Consider About Bread…And Cats
Cats are carnivores and get the majority of their required nutrition from meat. They do need some grains and vegetables, but they can sometimes get these from the intestinal contents of animals they kill. Bread does not really have a place in their diet – they will get no nutritional value from eating it.
Bread dough, on the other hand, can be extremely dangerous to cats. If they eat bread dough before it rises and bakes, the warm and moist environment of their stomachs will cause the bread to continue rising. This can stretch their abdomen, cause intestinal blockages and lead to severe pain. Blood flow and breathing can also be affected.
On top of that, the yeast from the dough can cause sugars in the cat’s stomach to ferment, which can put your cat at risk of alcohol poisoning. If your cat displays symptoms consistent with drunkenness and disorientation, call the vet right away. They may need to do surgery to get the bread dough out of your cat’s intestinal system.
Verdict- Can Cats Eat Bread?
The answer here is … a little. There is no real benefit to cats eating bread, and the high sugar and salt content can actually do more harm than good. If your cat likes bread, tiny bits are occasionally okay, but there is no real reason to feed them bread. Under no circumstances should they ever have bread dough. If you bake your own bread at home, make sure it is covered while it rises – you don’t want to take the risk that your cat could get a bite.
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