Last updated on December 12th, 2021
Have you ever notice your little kitty sniffing at that pita bread? You may be surprised to know that cats love the taste of bread. You may have also seen cats feeding hungrily on bread or running to the toaster when the bread pops up.
Now, you’re probably wondering whether it’s really beneficial for your feline pet to feed on.
Cats can eat pita bread but only once weekly because it’s mostly made up of carbohydrates as well as 13-27 grams of fat from 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil content which doesn’t provide your feline with any nutritional value and overconsumption of this flatbread can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
What is Pita Bread?
Pita bread is a flatbread that consists of yeast, olive oil, water, salt, and white flour, which contains high amounts of carbohydrates. Cats need more proteins and fats in their diets as opposed to carbohydrates.
Pita bread may be tasty for humans when coupled with their favorite stew but it shouldn’t replace the normal dietary intake of your feline pet.
As long as the bread is baked or cooked with no extra ingredients in the form of toppings, it shouldn’t harm a cat if fed in moderate amounts.
So, if you have the habit of throwing out bread to your cat, stop that immediately. Don’t let your cat grow a taste for bread, as they may even consider stealing it when you’re not around.
If your cat starts eating bread daily or in large amounts, it’ll lead to a deficiency of vital nutrients in their body, thus leading to malnutrition and other severe health conditions.
Proteins and fats should be included regularly in your cat’s diet.
Cats need proteins and taurines much more than dogs do.
Therefore, avoid including bread as a portion of alternative food in your cat’s diet as it would disrupt a balanced and complete meal for your feline friend.
Here’s a cat snacking on pieces of pita bread.
Can My Cat Eat Pita Bread?
This commonly asked question has an interesting answer. Yes, your cat can eat bread, but it’s not beneficial for their health.
Bread isn’t recommended by veterinarians and pet dietitians for cats as the food itself doesn’t add any nutritional value to their diet.
Although bread is extremely tasty and healthy for humans, we shouldn’t share this common breakfast item with our cats regularly.
There’s no harm if you feed your cat bread in small amounts once in a while, maybe a small bite or slice of plain baked bread.
You must keep bread contents stored away to prevent your cat from stealing and eating large amounts of it.
Also, abstain from giving your cat seasoned or flavored bread because the added ingredients may be harmful to them as well.
Bread with toppings, such as butter, peanut butter, and other spreads, should be avoided as well because they’re high in calories and fat.
For instance, they’re different types of bread containing garlic, chocolate, and even fruits, which can be hazardous for cats.
Is Pita Bread Safe For Cats?
Pita bread isn’t directly harmful to your cat unless you add other ingredients in the form of toppings, spreads, flavors, etc. However, bread isn’t beneficial to a cat’s health, and it doesn’t provide any essential nutrients for felines.
Furthermore, bread has high-calorie contents and low protein contents and protein is the primary nutrient your cat needs. Now, let’s understand why bread isn’t recommended for cats.
If you include bread in a good portion of your cat’s diet, then you are depriving them of a healthy and nutritional meal.
If your cat takes up too many calories as carbohydrates, it’ll leave little to no room for your kitty to intake the essential nutrients like proteins and fats.
This is why bread should be given sparingly in very limited amounts when feeding your cat.
However, always consult your veterinarian regarding the right diet for your cat before making a change in their diet.
He or she may strictly advise against feeding your cat with bread if they’re underweight or has some health conditions.
Moreover, one slice of bread contains one-fifth of the total calories that your feline pets need in an entire day. An average healthy cat needs around 200-250 calories every day and bread makes up only around 20 calories or less.
So, cats aren’t getting the nutritional value they need from bread. Even if you feed them small amounts, it’s not beneficial for your cat’s overall health.
Are There Any Health Hazards If My Cat Eats Bread?
There is a major problem with cats eating bread. If they eat uncooked or raw bread, the dough can be harmful to them.
A feline’s stomach causes the raw bread dough to expand, which leads to a distended stomach and bloating, thus causing a great deal of discomfort in our feline companions.
In fact, in extreme situations, bloating may even be life-threatening!
Other than that, the yeast that’s used for fermenting the bread dough may be dangerous for your cat as it produces ethanol alcohol, and carbon dioxide.
After eating bread, if the alcohol somehow gets absorbed into the animal’s bloodstream, it may cause respiratory issues and even failure, along with seizures.
Also, the yeast in raw bread may give rise to dangerous stomach issues and digestive problems. Immediately see a vet if your cat shows any of these symptoms.
So, although it’s not recommended, if you’re willing to feed bread to your cat since they like the taste, make sure to limit the amount.
Give your pet plain white, baked bread with no added ingredients or toppings and spreads.
