Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Can Cats Eat Carrot Cake? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Can Cats Eat Carrot Cake

Every cat lover wants to celebrate their furry friend. If you plan on throwing a party for your cat, you’ll want to hold off on the cake–even if it is carrot cake. While a single bite of carrot cake isn’t likely to cause many issues for your cat, it isn’t part of a healthy cat’s diet.

Even more, some common ingredients in a carrot cake are unsuitable for cats. This article will examine the carrot cake ingredients and discuss how they affect your cat.

divider 3 paws

Common Carrot Cake Ingredients

While every carrot cake recipe may be different, there are some common ingredients that most of them share. If you want to learn more about how ingredients specific to your special carrot cake recipe affect your cat, you may need to consult your vet.

The typical ingredients in a carrot cake include:
  • Carrots
  • Flour
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Allspice
  • Salt
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Light brown sugar
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vegetable oil
  • Raisins
  • Crushed pineapple
For the cake’s icing, the common ingredients are:
  • Unsalted butter
  • Cream cheese
  • Vanilla extract
  • Powdered sugar
  • Crushed walnuts

Carrots

Although cats are obligate carnivores, carrots are safe for them to eat. Carrots provide a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin A. Since they are low in calories, carrots can be a great treat for cats on a weight-watching diet.

You can offer your cat carrots that are cooked or raw, but you should never add any seasonings to the carrots. While unseasoned carrots may sound bland, your cat doesn’t feel the same. Furthermore, seasonings can be unhealthy and potentially dangerous for your cat, so stick to plain carrots.

On the downside, carrots are high in sugar. This can lead to digestive issues for your cat, such as diarrhea. Giving your cat whole carrots or large carrot chunks will also present a significant choking hazard. Therefore, all carrots must be cut into small, manageable pieces.

Cinnamon and Allspice

While the amount of cinnamon and allspice included in a carrot cake is not likely enough to cause serious issues, it is still important to be aware of these spices’ effects on your pet.

Exposure to too much cinnamon powder (around one tablespoon for cats) can lead to low blood sugar, vomiting, and diarrhea. In more extreme instances, your cat may experience alterations to their heart rate or even liver issues. Due to the severity of the possible consequences, it is best to keep cinnamon away from your cat.

As for allspice, it contains a compound known as eugenol. Eugenol can lead to liver toxicity in cats, making it hazardous and inadvisable for your cat’s consumption.

Granulated Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, and Powdered Sugar

Sugar is a tasty treat for humans but isn’t appropriate for cats. There are no health benefits to serving sugar to your cat. Moreover, your cat can’t even taste the sweetness, so sugar isn’t even an exciting treat for your pet. Cats are biologically incapable of tasting sweet flavors, so there is no point in feeding sugary foods to them.

Eggs

While eggs are not recommended as the primary source of protein in your cat’s diet, they are a perfectly fine supplement to add to their meals. Eggs provide an excellent source of protein and healthy fats, so they are a beneficial snack for your pet.

Raisins

Raisins should never be fed to your cat under any circumstances. While uncommon, there have been instances of grape toxicity recorded in felines. Around 15% of cats that eat grapes will experience signs of toxicity, such as restlessness, a poor appetite, and vomiting. In severe instances, acute kidney disease may occur.

Raisins, which are dried grapes, are not safe for your cat to consume due to the health risks. Theoretically, they are even more toxic than grapes since they are concentrated versions of grapes.

Furthermore, the toxin in grapes has not been concretely identified, but toxicity can occur in both seedless and seeded grapes, so you cannot avoid the possibility of toxicity by choosing certain grapes or raisins. Therefore, keep grapes and raisins away from your cat, no matter the circumstances.

raisins in wooden table
Photo Credit: Cheese78, Shutterstock

Cream Cheese and Butter

Cream cheese and butter are essential ingredients of a carrot cake’s icing and should not be given to your cat. They are not technically toxic, but they can lead to significant gastrointestinal upset because most cats are lactose intolerant.

divider 3 paws

What to Do if Your Cat Eats Carrot Cake

If your cat snuck a bite of carrot cake, you likely have no cause for concern. Most ingredients in carrot cake are not toxic, so a small bite isn’t likely to cause much harm. The worst they may experience is some gastrointestinal upset. Still, monitor them closely and watch for any signs of significant distress. If you are concerned, contact your vet as soon as possible.

Contact your vet immediately if your carrot cake recipe contains a potentially toxic ingredient (such as raisins). Even one raisin can lead to disastrous health consequences, so don’t delay contacting a professional.

If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!

PangoVet_Mention-in-Content for PangoVet2 save money

Are There Safer Alternatives to Carrot Cake?

Although some fruits, vegetables, and human treats are safer for cats than carrot cake, high-quality cat food, and commercial treats are more suitable for your cat. Meals and snacks we enjoy are not formulated with a feline’s nutrition. If you want to treat your cat to a homemade meal, contact your veterinarian first. They can suggest appropriate meals designed by veterinary nutritionists that are healthy for your cat. Coming up with a recipe on your own is complicated and not recommended.

russian blue cat eating a treat
Photo Credit: DSchmidtArt, Shutterstock

divider 3 paws

Conclusion

Carrot cake may not be the best way to celebrate your kitty friend, but plenty of other options are available. While a single bite of carrot cake isn’t likely to cause issues, keeping the dessert away from prying paws is best. Some ingredients in common carrot cake recipes are considered toxic, so if you believe your cat has ingested something dangerous, don’t hesitate to contact your vet.


Featured Image Credit: Fatin, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Can Cats Eat Pecan Pie? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Pecan Pie is a delicious dessert traditionally served in the United States during the winter and fall. It is mouth-wateringly sweet and contains...

Can Cats Eat Pecan Pie

Can Cats Eat Kiwi? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

Kiwi is a delicious summer fruit to enjoy in a fruit salad, smoothie, or simply on its own; plus, it has a host...

Can Cats Eat Kiwi

Can Cats Eat Corned Beef? Vet Approved Risks & Nutritional Information

Cold corned beef and boiled cabbage may be a St. Patrick’s Day staple for many Americans, but unfortunately, this dish is another human...

Can Cats Eat Corned Beef

Can Cats Eat Vanilla Pudding? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ

Cats are independent creatures, but they rely on us humans to take care of their nutritional needs. Commercial cat food is the easiest...

Catster_Can Cats Eat Vanilla Pudding_v1_Dec 4 2024

More related

Can Cats Eat Deli Meat (Lunch Meat)

Can Cats Eat Deli Meat (Lunch Meat)? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

If you’ve ever looked up from a leisurely lunch to find your cat eyeballing your meal, you know our feline friends can give...

little ginger kitten eats wet food on a plate

Cat Cake Recipes: 5 Vet-Approved Homemade Treats

What’s more festive or celebratory than a decadent cake? We can’t imagine a birthday or holiday without one, and sharing these moments with...

cat on a counter above the washing machine

What Can Kill a Cat? 16 At-Home Items Vets Tell Us To Watch Out For

Being a cat parent is a responsibility that should be taken seriously. Your cat needs water, food, frequent litter changes, grooming, playtime, and...

Can Cats Eat Crab

Can Cats Eat Crab? Vet-Approved Nutritional Facts & FAQ

We’ve all been there. You go to crack open a can of crab to make some dip, or maybe whip up some delicious...

Keep reading

Does Catnip Calm Cats? Vet Approved Facts, How It Works & FAQ

While humans often see catnip as a “drug” for cats, it does not work in this way. Instead, catnip contains an oil that is similar to a pheromone that cats produce. This substance is called nepetalactone and can cause a...

cat smelling catnip

Can Cats Eat Tamales? Vet-Approved Facts & Alternatives

While cats are obligate carnivores that require a primarily meat-based diet, not all forms of meat are healthy for cats. Tamales, for example, can be stuffed with protein-packed ingredients like beans, meats, and cheeses, but can you share them with...

Can Cats Eat Tamales

Holiday Foods That Are Safe for Cats: Vet-Reviewed Safety & Nutrition Facts

Disclaimer: Check with a veterinarian before adding any new foods to your cat’s diet, particularly if your pet has any underlying health conditions or is on a special diet. While the advice in this article has been fact checked and...

tabby cat eating on metal bowl

Is It Better to Have Two Cats (or More)? Factors to Consider & Tips

Cats are some of the most misunderstood animals. Many ideas people have about them are anecdotal or based on folklore. We know that they are closer to their wild side, and many of their behaviors are instinctive, such as chasing...

two cats side by side each other

Is It True That All Cats Hiss? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

When coming in contact with a strange cat you’ve never met, your first reaction may be to pet them. Reaching your hand out and hoping for a head bump or nuzzle is natural for cat lovers. Unfortunately, that isn’t always...

Abyssinian cat hisses

Are Lilacs Poisonous to Cats? Vet-Verified Facts & Info

If you love the look and smell of lilacs and tend to pick a few when out walking, you may be wondering if lilacs are poisonous to cats. You don’t have anything to worry about because the common lilac plant...

Catster_Are Lilacs Poisonous to Cats

How to Tell If a Cat Is Going Into Labor: 6 Vet-Approved Signs to Look For

If your cat is expecting kittens, it can be an exciting time waiting for those adorable little bundles of fluff to arrive. You’ll want to make sure you have everything ready, so you should start watching for early signs of...

pregnant cat lying on the table

5 Vet-Verified Reasons Why Cats Need a Scratching Post

A scratching post may seem like an unnecessary purchase for your cat, but this cat-friendly item is actually critical for your cat’s comfort, happiness, and their ability to develop their instincts. Plus, scratching posts help to keep the rest of...

Bengal cat plays with a plush mouse on a scratching post