Who wouldn’t like waffles on a peaceful Sunday morning? We know that it is not the healthiest food for humans but how about cats? Can cats eat waffles?

Waffles are made using flour, milk, eggs, butter, sugar and sometimes salt. Actually none of these ingredients are healthy for cats except for eggs and eggs are not even in their best version either when used in waffles. The healthiest form of eggs for cats is boiled eggs without any salt or spices. So you may think that the answer to the question “can cats eat waffles” might be “no” but waffles are not toxic to cats, they are just unhealthy.

Are Waffles Bad For Cats
Can Cats Eat Waffles? 5

Are Waffles Bad For Cats?

Waffles are not the best food for cats and if eaten regularly in excess they may even cause obesity which is an open invitation for many serious health issues for our little friends including but not limited to types of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis and a faster degeneration of affected joints.

There is also the issue of chocolate waffles which are toxic to cats because of the cocoa used in them and other flavored waffles which all depend on the ingredients.

In addition to lots if carbohydrates that are not needed by cats anyway since they are obligate carnivores that receive their nutritional needs from animal proteins, the milk and butter in waffles may cause diarrhea and other gastro-intestinal issues because after kittenhood cats lose their ability to process lactose in milk and dairy products.

On top carbohydrates and lactose, waffles also have sugar or sometimes salt. Sugar is an absolutely unnecessary substance for cats because cats don’t have taste buds for sweetness and giving them such an unhealthy food that they can’t even taste is meaningless.

On the rare occasion of chef’s choice of salty waffles, you should be aware that salt can cause sodium iodine poisoning in cats and the very, very small daily amount of sodium cats need is already included in their cat food whether it is wet or dry. So the extra salt you give your cat is another health hazard for your kitty.

Can Kittens Eat Waffles
Can Cats Eat Waffles? 6

How Much Waffles Can Cats Eat?

Waffles do not immediately hurt cats. They take the long route to cause the damage they do. The average calorie need of an indoor cat is about 20 calories/lb. and 35 calories/lb. for outdoor cats. Since 1 oz. waffle is around 82 calories, your 10 pound cat which needs only 200 calories/day can only eat 2,5 oz. waffles if it doesn’t eat anything else that day.

Considering waffles do not include most of the nutritional elements (proteins, vitamins, minerals, etc.) cats need, such a diet will surely cause nutritional deficiencies.

If your cat really begs for some waffles and you can’t resist it, you may give bite sized waffles as occasional treats and the amount of waffles should not be more than 10% of your cat’s calorie needs.

So let’s ask again. Can cats eat waffles? Yes, they can if given as an occasional treat and in moderation but it is best if they weren’t given any.

Can Cats Eat Vegan Waffles?

Although vegan waffles do not include some unhealthy elements for cats such as milk and butter, we still can not consider waffles healthy for feline consumption due to the amount of carbohydrates and sugar in them. Please keep in mind that unlike humans, cats are obligate carnivores and they get all the nutrition they need from other animals.

Chocolate Waffles, Toppings and Pancakes

Can Cats Eat Chocolate Waffles
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Chocolate waffles include cocoa which is a big “NO” for cats because it is highly toxic and can even lead to death. And that is why chocolate is one of the first things The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) warns cat owners in its list of People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets. Did you know that chocolate poisoning is one of the leading food poisoning issues for pets in the U.S.?

Some popular toppings such as blueberries, bananas, raspberries or maple syrup are harmless to cats however maple syrup, honey and jams don’t make much sense to a cat because it lacks the taste buds to taste sweetness. On the other hand bananas, raspberries and blueberries are healthy snacks for cats as long as they are given in small amounts.

Pancakes are literally waffles that are prepared differently. So everything that is said above for waffles are true for pancakes, too.

Conclusion on Can Cats Eat Waffles?

So the real question here is not “can cats eat waffles”. The real question here is do you want your cat to consume something that you know doesn’t have any health benefits to the kitty and moreover has unhealthy effects in the long term.

Waffles and pancakes are unhealthy for cats for several reasons but a tiny amount of waffles or pancakes every now and then doesn’t really hurt. However it is best to avoid them completely.

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Author Yusuf Can Ekinci

Father of two cats named Tzatziki & Ouzo. Our small family tries to live without harming any living being. I am a small time farmer who tries to apply natural farming methods. Favorite activities: watching wild life at nature, passing time at home with my cats...

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