Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter?

Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter


Cats are curious by nature and they are difficult to monitor at all times. So they could get into something you don’t want them to. What if they accidentally eat something they aren’t supposed to? Today, we will look at the safety and value of peanut butter to cats.

Peanut butter is a good treat for dogs. And many cat owners might be asking the question of whether or not their cat can also eat peanut butter. The easy answer is yes, cats can eat peanut butter. The harder answer will require a more detailed response in the post below.

Do Cats Like Peanut Butter?

One question you might want to ask yourself before giving your cat any kind of new food is will my cat even like this. Cats are natural carnivores and get all their nutrition from animal products. Most if not all of their foods, processed or not, contain some kind of meat product. So cats don’t normally enjoy other foods.

Some cats may be different and could enjoy the taste of peanut butter but because this is not a natural food for their diets, peanut butter provides no nutritional value to your cat. As a treat just like for dogs, peanut butter is acceptable to give to your cat.

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Is Peanut Butter Safe For Cats?

Now that you have decided if your cat wants peanut butter or not, the next question might be is peanut butter safe for cats. The answer is that it depends on quite a few factors. 

One of the factors is xylitol. Because many items these days are sugar free due to the demand for anti-sugar products, many companies are substituting xylitol in for sugar. Not many pet owners know this but xylitol is extremely toxic to animals so be on the lookout for anything with xylitol in it that your cat might eat not just peanut butter. It is important to know this when getting peanut butter your cat might eat so you can buy a xylitol-free peanut butter.

Another factor is that peanut butter can be a choking hazard. Because of the thick and sticky consistency of peanut butter, it can get caught in a cats throat and cause them to choke. Even a small lick or spoonful can cause harm so it is important to stay with them as they eat the peanut butter so you can monitor them. If they have trouble with the snack, make sure there is clean, fresh water nearby to help them wash it down. 

Peanut Butter And Cats

A third factor is allergies. Just like with people, cats can also be allergic to certain things. As with all allergies, the severity can vary between itchy skin and life-threatening conditions. As stated above, it is important to monitor your cat when giving them something new as they may be allergic to it. 

The final factor is gastrointestinal upset. Now this, like allergies, will not be present in every cat but it cannot be ruled out. Cats digestive systems are not made to handle types of food that are not part of their normal diet so they could have stomach issues such as pain, vomiting and diarrhea when fed new or different foods. 

Should you feed your cat Peanut Butter?

It was mentioned above that peanut butter has no nutritional value for cats, and I wanted to dive into that a little deeper. While it does not give any direct benefits to cats nutritionally. Some cats may enjoy the taste and want it for an infrequent treat. It may help with administering pills or medicine if your cat has trouble with them. But it is important to focus on the word “infrequent” that was used.

While peanut butter does not harm cats immediately if vetted for certain ingredients and given with supervision. There are long term affects peanut butter can have on a cat’s health. 

Peanut butter very high in fat and some of these fats like trans fats are very harmful to your cat. High sodium in most brands of peanut butter are also bad for you cats health. Peanut butter is also very calorie dense. And indoor cats especially can gain weight very easily from eating too much peanut butter.


So, can cats eat peanut butter? After reading all about peanut butter and cats, hopefully you have enough information to make an informed decision about giving your cat peanut butter. My opinion after researching this and looking at all the information given above would be to limit giving your cat peanut butter. Or just skip it altogether.

If peanut butter was a bit healthier and provided some kind of nutritional value to your cat I might have changed my opinion. But because of the lack of nutrients and the various risks in giving peanut butter to cats, I would say avoid it if you can.

There is no need to risk your pet’s health to give them a treat they most likely won’t enjoy. Cat treats are made for a reason. And there is proof cats definitely like those so hold off on peanut butter and try these treats instead.

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