Cats are adorable creatures. They love to snuggle with their owners, play the occasional game of fetch, and enjoy some tasty treats like milk or tuna fish. But what about when it comes to food? Can they eat Oreos? Before you feed your feline Oreos, it’s best to find out whether it’s safe for them or not.
Can Cats Eat Oreos?
No, Oreos do not contain any nutritional value for your four-legged friend and are not recommended for cats. That said, if your furry friend takes a small bite or lick, they’ll be fine, as the cookies are not toxic. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet must consist of meat rather than plant material.
Oreos contain a lot of sugar, which cats should avoid. Feeding them on a regular basis can facilitate weight gain, diabetes, and other health issues.
Pet owners love sharing foods with their furry friends. But as a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to know which foods are toxic and which are safe for your feline friend.
Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about these popular cookies and why you should keep them out of your cat’s or kitten’s diet.
What Are Oreos?
Oreos are a popular sandwich cookie with a cream filling.
They were first manufactured in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco). The company was started by two brothers Jacob and Joseph Loose. The company has changed quite a bit since it was first introduced.
Today, you can find the cookies in a variety of flavors from:
- Chocolate Hazelnut
- Brookie-O Brownie
- S’mores
- Java Chip
- Mit
- Pumpkin spice
The company even offers cookies with double or Mega stuffed, which is nearly double the filling of double stuffed cookies.
(source)
Are Oreos Safe for Cats?
No, while not toxic to cats (and some cats will love them), they contain high amounts of sugar that can be dangerous. Cats unlike us, can’t taste sugar, so won’t realize it as a sugary treat.
The biggest problem with feeding your cat Oreos, or other sugary treats is over time it will cause diabetes, weight gain, high blood sugar, tooth problems, etc.
Nutritional Information for Oreos
One cookie (11.3g) contains the following nutrients:
| Nutrient | Quantity |
| Calories | 53.3 |
| Calcium | 0.3% DV |
| Saturated Fat | 0.7 grams |
| Sodium | 45mg |
| Iron | 2.6% DV |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Potassium | 18.3mg |
| Sugars | 4.7 grams |
| Trans Fat | 0 Grams |
| Protein | 0.3 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.3 grams |
| Total Carbohydrates | 8.3 grams |
Are There Any Benefits of Feeding Cats Oreos?
No, while Oreos are not toxic, they do not provide any benefits to your cat’s diet. In fact, some of the ingredients can cause serious side effects.
Some of the ingredients are:
- Chocolate
- Unbleached enriched flour
- Thiamine
- Monotrate
- Niacin
- Ribolfavin
- Salt
- Soy lecithin
- Cocoa
- High fructose corn syryp
- Palm oil
- Leavening
- Artificial flavors
This list of ingredients may not mean a whole lot, but when you break them down and see how bad they are for us, you’ll know they don’t provide any benefits for felines.
For example, high fructose syrup has been known to cause insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure in humans. It has also been known to cause issues in felines.
Cats’ digestive system differs from ours, in they have a gag reflex that allows them to throw up foods that can be harmful to them. That said, it’s best to avoid feeding them foods that have harmful ingredients that can affect their quality of life.
Can Oreos Kill Cats?
Oreos can’t kill your cat, but if your cat continually eats them, it will have detrimental long-term health effects which can cause death.
For example, if your cat continually eats Oreos or other sweets, it will eventually start to gain weight. Just like carrying around excess weight for us is bad, it’s also bad for cats. Obese cats develop an increased risk for developing cancer, diabetes, hypertension, Mellitus, which can all kill your cat slowly.
In addition, obesity in cats leads to faster degeneration of affected joints. Which drastically affects your cat’s ability to live a healthy and happy life.
Should You Feed Cats Oreos?
No matter how much your cat begs, avoid feeding them Oreos. Cat’s normally don’t beg unless they’ve been fed food human food in the past. Like humans, they can get a taste for certain foods and will beg whenever they see you eating them.
It’s normal to want to feed your cat, especially, if they are meowing really loud. The important thing to remember is that Oreos are NOT good for them.
Kittens under six months of age, should NOT be fed Oreos or other sugary treats.
Instead, opt for high-quality foods formulated for young cats that are packed with essential nutrients. All cats, especially, kittens need a balanced diet, rich in protein for proper growth and development.
Can Cats Eat Golden Oreos
Some people think that because golden Oreos don’t have chocolate they are considered vegan. However, that isn’t the simple truth.
All Oreos contain a trace of dairy, which makes them unsafe for vegans. Regardless, Oreos should not be a part of your cat’s regular diet, regardless of the flavor.
That said, if your cat loves Oreos, it’s better to feed them the Golden variety. Although you may want to remove the sweetest portion, which is the filling.
How To Keep Your Cat From Eating Oreos?
Cats are curious critters. They are also very agile – most felines can jump on counters, pantries, etc without any issues. Some have even been known to open pantries with their paws.
If you always have a bag of Oreos in your kitchen, it’s important to keep them where your kitty can’t access them.
Here are some tips for keeping Oreos or other toxic foods away from your feline friend.
- Keep Oreos away from your kitty’s reach: Put them in an airtight contain and high enough or a pantry your can’t can’t open.
- Make sure everyon in the house follows the rules: Set the rules to both adults and young children in the home that your cat can’t have Oreos and NOT to feed them. Instead, buy healthy treats so they can give your furry friend.
- Secure your trash can: Most cats are not dumpster divers like dogs. However, if they smell something tasty in the garbage, they’ll do everything they can do to get into it.
What to Do If Your Cat Eats Oreos?
That said, sometimes you do everything right and they still manage to get their paws on them. Don’t panic, look at the package to see how many they consumed.
If they only took a few bites, they should be fine. The cookies will most likely pass through their digestive system on their own. That said, it’s important to monitor them for any unusual behavior.
Here are some signs and symptoms that your cat ate something they shouldn’t have. It can take between 10-24 hours for the food to move through the entire digestive tract.
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal tenderness or pain
- Constipation
If you notice any unusual behaviors or your diabetic cat got into your Oreo stash, you’ll want to take them to the emergency vet immediately.
Other Foods That Are Unsafe for Cats
Below is a list of other foods to avoid feeding your cat.
- Cayane pepper
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Doritos
Final Word
Oreos are not good for us, therefore, they are not good for cats. Cats don’t crave sweets and the best way to keep your cat from eating them is not to feed them in the first place.
Taking a few licks or a few bites won’t harm your cat, it doesn’t provide any nutritional value. There is no reason to feed your cats Oreos.
Doing so will only put your cat at risk for obesity, diabetes, cancer, oral infections, insulin resistance, etc.
If you want to give your cat a treat, opt for healthy treats that are recommended by veterinarians.
Sources
https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-diet-nutrition/did-your-cat-eat-something-weird
