Bread, Safe For Cats To Eat?

thefishyone

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I know it’s not an ideal food for kitties, but Terra the Cat LOVES the taste of bread. So far, she will only lick it, but I know it’s only a matter of time before she takes a bite. To be clear, I only let her lick a slice about a couple of times a month, but will it hurt if if one day she decides she wants to eat it?
 

fiorya

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Grains are generally hard to digest, and cats don't really need carbs like we do. (They're obligate carnivores.)

That being said... and take this with a grain of salt, because it's my opinion and entirely anecdotal... My family has given our cats small treats like pie crust and bread all my life, without any issues. I don't see it as harmful, as long as it's a minimal amount. Like just a pinch of bread, no more than every couple of weeks or so. I don't worry about it too much for my cats, because they eat very few carbs as it is (they're on low-carb wet food). So a little carbs every now and then as a treat is okay to me.

Other users may have stricter opinions on this.
 

FeebysOwner

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A little bread won't hurt. But, I am just curious since you say she is 'licking' it - does it by chance have butter on it? That might be why she is licking it. Maybe not the bread, but the butter - which some people give to cats regularly to help prevent hairballs.
 

lisahe

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A little bread won't hurt. But, I am just curious since you say she is 'licking' it - does it by chance have butter on it? That might be why she is licking it. Maybe not the bread, but the butter - which some people give to cats regularly to help prevent hairballs.
This is a great point! Butter (fat) is a much more natural part of a cat's diet than bread (carbs).

We generally stay away from feeding our cats any people food: one cat used to eat bread after biting through the bag. That's not an endearing habit. ;) And it's a big reason I'd be especially careful not to get a cat used to treats that aren't cat food: I wouldn't want to get them used to thinking something like bread is their food.

The one exception we make is that we don't pick up bits of Parmesan cheese that accidentally get grated on the floor. The former bread-eating cat used to jump on the table to eat cheese out of the dish. She really loves the stuff but we find that an occasional and accidental tiny chunk on the floor doesn't raise expectations as long as nobody makes eye contact with her. And at least the protein and fat of cheese (without the lactose, since the cheese-making process takes it out) are okay for her.
 

Jem

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One of my cats loved bread too. So I would sometimes let him lick my plate after having toast (and leave a small chunk for him too:yummy:). And of course, the added butter to all those crumbs made him super excited!
I wouldn't leave a whole slice out for her, just in case she decides to eat it all (her poor tummy!) but a small bit every once in a while, as long as it's plain or with just a touch of butter, won't hurt her.
 

CHIKITTIES

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I don't think occasional bread crumb will hurt, but better not to establish habit otherwise you might get into this situation ...Whenever I eat baked goods, Saf sits on table right in front of me, stretching out paw claiming her share ... :gingercat:

(she successfully obtained 3 crumbs of seeduction bread, no butter)
upload_2019-7-1_11-21-15.png
 

DreamerRose

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Lily loves bread and I often give her a piece of the crust as a treat. She comes running whenever I make a sandwich. So far, we haven't had a problem with it.
 

MoonstoneWolf

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My neighbors brother was throwing out bread to the cats last year and it was that action that caused me to start feeding cat food to them. I was told years ago by my vet to never feed bread to a cat (but that was 20 years ago so I'm sure things have changed). I personally prefer not to feed any human food to a cat because I just don't want to take that kind of chance (risk) with them and their health. And after some of the stuff happening with the recall of our foods I'm really scared to give them anything that I would eat. I'm just pretty strict that way with the treats even if it is said to be ok in small amounts. I spent too much time working with these cats to do something to jeopardize their health even if it is ok.

And now they won't even go near a slice of bread and why should they when they get yummy food over here? :)
 
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Kat0121

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I had a piece of a turkey sandwich on a plate the other day. Lilith took it, pulled the turkey aff, ate it and then looked around for more. She wanted nothing to do with the bread.

She also did that when I made scrambled eggs once. Someone knocked at the door so I put my plate on the coffee table. When I got back, she was eating the eggs and the dog was inhaling the toast. I guess it got in Lily's way and she pushed it onto the floor. The dog was happy to do cleanup detail.
 

PushPurrCatPaws

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..., but Terra the Cat LOVES the taste of bread. So far, she will only lick it, but I know it’s only a matter of time before she takes a bite. ...
A little bread won't hurt. But, I am just curious since you say she is 'licking' it - does it by chance have butter on it? That might be why she is licking it. ...

Ah, do not forget about baked egg washes on breads and pastries! :yummy:

Milly loves licking croissants... I'm convinced it's the baked egg wash on it. She doesn't eat any -- just licks!

Milly-16Mar2019-croissant.jpg
 

soleiil

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My two have an obsession with bread...they love white, wheat, and whole grain. :lol: I can't leave bread on the counter anymore since it's a guarantee they'll rip up the bag.
 

mizzely

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My sister had to invest in a bread box because her cats would knock the whole loaf to the floor, chew through the bag and then take bites out of half the slices! So crazy!

Lydia occasionally eats saltines (my son leaves opened bags in a cupboard she has figured out) , but I swear she only does it to make me feel sorry for her :lol: she puts it near my feet, gets this sad look in her eyes and stares at me, and barely nibbles on it... And then when I get up to take it from her she runs to her food bowl like, "oh good, you caught on that I'm so starved I would eat those yucky crackers!"
 
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thefishyone

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To answer the question, no, I never butter my bread. I’be given Terra the (very) occasional bit of people food throughout her life, and she remains respectful of my food when I am eating it. That said, she is the house’s self appointed People Food Inspector, and will sometimes come down to the kitchen to indpect my food, but never to steal it.

Terra is an unusual cat, in that regard, but it’s part of her charm, and I wuv her to pieces.
 
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