You’re dunking your favorite cookie—an Oreo—into a glass of milk and your feline is staring you down. As their eyes of curiosity check out what you have, you might wonder if you can give them a little sample. We all know how Oreos stack up against a head of lettuce when it comes to healthy choices for cats or humans, but are these delicious cookies actually toxic or harmful to your cats?
Felines, just like our canine friends, are very sensitive to chocolate, and should not be served Oreos under any conditions. Let’s talk a little bit more about why Oreos are such a kitty no-no as well as some suitable alternatives.
Oreo Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 160
- Total Fat: 7 g
- Sodium: 135 mg
- Potassium: 50 mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Iron: 8%
All the Reasons Your Cat Can’t Eat Oreos
Your cat shouldn’t eat Oreos for myriad reasons. Your cat benefits in absolutely no way from this chocolatey junk food, and it can even be not very pleasant to their system.
Oreos Are Full of Empty Calories
You might hear the term “empty calories” kicked around quite a bit in the health food world, but what does it mean exactly? It means that a food is void of any valuable nutrients. Oreos are chock-full of empty calories, no matter how delicious.
Chocolate Toxicity for Cats
Sure, Oreos look harmless in their shiny wrapping, lined up neatly in one mouth-watering row. However, one of the main components of Oreos is chocolate, which is highly toxic to cats and dogs.
Now, let’s be clear that a single Oreo very likely won’t kill your cat, but it can make them very sick. Who wants to clean up diarrhea or vomit from your carpet?
Seek veterinary advice if you’re concerned about your pet’s well-being.
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 personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Upsides to Cats Eating Oreos
We looked high and low, and there is no upside to your cat eating Oreos—sorry, kitties!
Do Cats Like Oreos?
It is highly unlikely that your cat would want anything to do with your Oreos. The main reason is that, unlike your lovable canine companions, cats are obligate carnivores. This means they only need meat in their daily diet to thrive.
Sure, cat food has come a long way from a fresh kill, but it’s still formulated specially to target a feline’s taste and nutritional needs. Oreos have no ingredient that would spark your cat’s desire to sample them.
Sometimes, however, cats like to let their curiosity get the best of them. They want to take a bite to see what it tastes like. If your cat had a nibble or lick of an Oreo, they probably wouldn’t try again, but every case is different.
Cats Can’t Taste Sweetness
On top of sugar not being part of your cat’s main diet, cats are quite literally incapable of tasting sweetness. They don’t have the ability in their palate, as no natural food they eat contains this sweet substance.
Alternative Snacks
There are plenty of alternative goodies you can share with your cat. However, a few human foods won’t hurt. We recommend you buy or make kitty-specific snacks when you can. Here are a couple of ideas you can consider.
- Boiled, plain protein like chicken, beef, fish, turkey, or duck
- Dehydrated meats
- Plain eggs
- Plain organic broth
You can also rely on good old-fashioned commercial cat snacks. The choice is yours!
Cats + Oreos: Final Thoughts
Now you know that your kitty should never delight in this chocolatey, creamy, crunchy snack you likely enjoy. Even though it’s highly unlikely that your cat will snack on Oreos due to their inability to taste sweetness, you should still keep an eye out. Any kitty left unsupervised can get into mischief.
Remember that human foods should stay minimal and some, like Oreos, should be completely off the menu. Your kitty appreciates you doing your research. And congratulations. You can keep your Oreo stash to yourself—guilt-free.
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