Can Cats Eat Bread? What You Need to Know About Feeding Bread to Your Cat Learn the pros and cons of feeding your little carnivore some bread. By Adrienne Kruzer Adrienne Kruzer Adrienne Kruzer is a veterinary technician with more than 15 years of experience providing healthcare to domestic and exotic animals. She is trained as a Fear Free Certified Professional to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 04/19/26 Credit: LCLPhoto / Getty Images Key Takeaways A small amount of plain bread is safe for cats occasionally, but it shouldn't be a regular part of their diet.Bread with toxic ingredients like raisins, garlic, or onions can harm cats and should always be avoided.Bread offers minimal nutritional value for cats and can lead to health issues like obesity or diabetes if overfed. Even though cats are carnivores, they find a lot of different foods enticing and may try to snack on things you wouldn't normally feed them, including bread. But can cats eat bread? Knowing what might happen if your cat eats bread will put your mind at ease as a pet owner. We talked to veterinarian Scott Huggins, DVM, a veterinarian at Farmina Pet Foods, about what considerations to keep in mind when it comes to sharing bread with your feline friend. Is Bread Safe for Cats? Yes, a small amount of bread is safe for cats to eat occasionally, but it shouldn't be a regular fixture in their diet. "Although plain bread is not toxic to cats, it should not be given routinely to them, Eric Shreves, DVM, says. "A small amount rarely as a treat should be ok, but be very mindful of any additional ingredients that could be included in bread that are toxic to cats, like the raisins in raisin bread." Bread, in its basic form, is made using flour, water, and oil—ingredients that aren't dangerous to cats— but most breads, especially store-bought breads, contain many other ingredients, not all of which are safe for cats. Nutritional Content of Bread The average slice of store-bought white bread contains a very small amount of vitamins, minerals, and protein, all of which are okay for cats in appropriate amounts. Despite this, bread also contains sugar, starch and carbohydrates, ingredients of which cats need very minimal amounts. To summarize, bread is not a necessary component of any cat's diet. And any food outside of their regular cat food diet should be considered a treat and limited to only 10% of their diet. Potential Health Risks While small amounts of bread aren't considered overly harmful to your cat, eating large amounts of bread can cause some issues, including: Gastrointestinal issues, like vomiting and diarrhea Allergic reaction, like itchy skin Obesity Diabetes Guidelines for Feeding Bread to Cats If you want to share a small morsel of bread with your cat, first be sure it doesn't contain ingredients that can be toxic to cats in small amounts, such as: Garlic Onions Chives Chocolate Raisins Grapes "Some cats may enjoy bread as a treat because of the texture and smell, Scott Huggins, DVM says. "Cats, however, don't traditionally eat a lot of carbohydrates so be aware that bread would be empty calories. Don't overdo it!" Other Cat-Safe Foods Bread isn't the most nutritious snack your cat could snack on, but there are plenty of options to choose from that pose more benefits than bread, including: Blueberries Apples Pumpkin Carrots FAQ Can bread be a regular part of a cat's diet? While not typically harmful, bread should not be part of your cat's regular diet. Bread is not a necessary food for a cat, and if fed in large amounts, it can cause issues. What should I do if my cat accidentally eats bread? If your cat accidentally ate some plain bread, it is more than likely not a concern. However, if the bread contains ingredients that are toxic to cats such as raisins or chives, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Are there any types of bread that are safer than others? Yes! Plain, white bread is the safest kind of bread for cats. If your cat has a habit of sneaking a bite of white bread, there is typically minimal risk involved, save for a potentially upset tummy. Explore more: Cats Cat Nutrition & Food Sources The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Feeding your cat | cornell university college of veterinary medicine. Fooddata central.