I love croissants – as does my cat! But, can cats eat croissants? Or more accurately, should we allow them to eat croissants?
The simple answer to this question is ‘no’, cats should not eat croissants.
However, don’t panic if your cat has been having a nibble (as mine has), croissants are not toxic or harmful in small amounts.
The facts are that croissants – and this applies to all bread, pastries, and similar treats – are simply just not good for cats and they do not offer any good nutritional content.
Also, if your cat does eat these kinds of foods over a long period there are some negative health implications.
Here’s a more detailed explanation as to why you should keep croissants to yourself, and what a cats’ dietary needs are:
A Look at What’s In Croissants
As I mentioned, I love croissants. Personally, I don’t know how anyone cannot love these fluffy, buttery, pastries.
But each to their own tastes….
That’s part of the issue right there, though. Croissants are made by rolling and folding dough layered with butter. There is also a pinch of salt, sugar, and some other additives that go into making the perfect croissant.
All ingredients that I’m sure you will not be surprised to hear are not good for cats.
The nutritional content is high in both fat and carbs, too. With the average croissant having around 24 grams of fat and 39 grams of carbs.
Meaning they are not the healthiest of treats for us (sorry), and they’re even worse for cats.
Related – Can cats eat pretzels?
Are Croissants Bad for Cats?
Like most of the foods we eat, croissants are not toxic or harmful to cats in small amounts. If your cat has been finishing off your scraps and having a nibble now and then, it’s not a big deal.
One of the main issues, however, is that cat’s gastrointestinal systems have not evolved to digest foods that are high in carbs. Cat’s mostly rely on nutrients found in animal products. They need high protein diets, with a small amount of fat and very few carbs.
Foods high in carbs are very likely to cause some mild gastrointestinal issues in the short term. Which, as a cat owner I’m sure you’re no stranger to seeing your cat have an upset stomach after eating something they shouldn’t have.
In the long term, if a cat keeps eating croissants and other pastries they are at risk of gaining weight and may predispose to diabetes.
The same applies to other similar foods. So, keep the brioche, French toast, bread, cinnamon buns, and anything else you’d find in a bakery out of your kitty’s reach!
Some Foods That Are Toxic and Harmful
While on the topic of cats eating human foods, I thought it might be worth covering some of the foods that ARE toxic and should be avoided at all costs:
Dairy Products – This often comes as a surprise to most people. Despite what you see on TV, cats are lactose intolerant and find it very difficult to digest milk and other dairy products.
Chocolate – Chocolate is one of our favorites, but one of the worst foods for most animals. There are compounds in chocolate that cats can’t metabolize, it can cause some serious health issues.
Alcohol – You need to be very careful when leaving alcohol out. Even a small amount of a strong spirit can be fatal to cats.
Garlic and Onions – Onions and garlic are known to cause oxidative damage to cats’ red blood cells. This can lead to anemia and some other health complications.
Raisins/Grapes/Currants – These are known to cause acute kidney failure in some dogs. It’s also believed eating raisins will have the same effect on cats.
Raw Eggs – There is a risk of bacteria like E.coli and salmonella with raw eggs. They also contain a protein that is known to cause a vitamin deficiency.
Related – What you need to know about cats and almond butter!
Stick to Cat Treats
If your cat loves snacking and is always bothering you when you’re eating, stock up on kitty treats.
There’s nothing wrong with treating your cat (in moderation) but stick to cat treats. Cat treats have been specially formulated to be good for cats, and some even have some benefits such as being good for their teeth.
They’re just as tasty to cats as our foods, too. Despite having some highly tuned senses, cats actually have a poor sense of taste. They have a few hundred taste buds while we have around 9,000.
That means your cat isn’t even fully appreciating the taste of a delicious croissant!
Here’s the big tub of cat treats I have in the cupboard to bail me out when my cat is eyeing my food:
In Summary
There you have it, several reasons why you should not be letting your cat nibble on croissants;
They’re not ideal for cats nutritionally (that’s being very fair)
In the short term, it can cause stomach issues, and worse in the long term, and
Cat’s can’t even fully appreciate the taste so it’s a waste sharing them!
Resources
Image credits – Photos taken by author, all rights reserved upgradeyourcat.com
An Exploration of the Amazing Cat Senses – Purina.co.uk
