Can cats eat Oreos? You might be asking yourself this question since you’ve seen your cat eyeing them up before. And, if you’re like most cat owners, you probably don’t want to give your feline friend anything that might be harmful. So, can cats eat Oreos, and are they a good snack for kitties? Let’s take a closer look at this popular treat to find out.

While there are some variations in opinion, the general consensus seems to be that cats should not eat oreos.

Oreos are high in sugar and fat, both of which can be harmful to cats. In addition, oreos also contain milk, which can cause stomach upset and diarrhea in cats. So it’s best to avoid giving your cat oreos—or any other junk food—and stick to a healthy diet instead.

Cats also need protein and other essential nutrients in their diet, so feeding them oreos instead of balanced cat food could lead to malnutrition.

It’s also important to note that the filling in an oreo contains milk, cream cheese, or butter, which all contain lactose- a substance that many people with lactose intolerance cannot digest.

What Are The Ingredients In Oreos?

If you’re still curious about what’s in an oreo, here are the ingredients, according to the Oreo website:

  • Unbleached Enriched Flour
  • Sugar,
  • Palm and/or Canola Oil,
  • Cocoa (Processed with Alkali),
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup,
  • Leavening (Baking Soda and/or Calcium Phosphate),
  • Salt,
  • Soy Lecithin,
  • Chocolate,
  • Artificial Flavor.

Can Cats Eat Oreos?

Cats should not eat Oreos.Oreos contain cocoa and chocolate as part of their ingredients.Cocoa and chocolate are both incredibly harmful to cats.Cocoa contains a compound called theobromine, which is toxic to cats. Theobromine, in particular, can cause serious health problems in cats, leading to seizures, respiratory failure, and even death. 

Chocolate also contains caffeine, which is another stimulant that can be dangerous for cats. So, even just a small amount of chocolate can be lethal for a cat.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that their bodies are designed to digest and use only animal-based proteins and fats. While they can technically digest some plant material, it’s not their ideal diet and can actually cause health problems.

The sugar and fat content in Oreos is way too high for a cat’s delicate digestive system, so it would be very hard on their stomachs. Plus, the artificial flavors and colors in Oreos could also be harmful to cats.

Oreos contain too many carbohydrates that cats don’t need, such as sugar and flour. Cats also have a very short digestive system, which means they cannot process all the ingredients in an oreo at once. 

So if you’re a cat owner, it’s important to keep all chocolate and cocoa based products such as Oreos ,well out of reach of your feline friends.

Can Eating Oreos Kill My Cat?

Oreos are usually not fatal to cats, even though they contain caffeine and theobromine. It will take a huge quantity of Oreos to be consumed by your cat for it to get affected fatally. However, this does not mean that Oreos are not harmful to your cats.

As I mentioned earlier, theobromine is toxic to cats, and chocolate contains caffeine. Both of these compounds are stimulants that can be very harmful to cats. A small quantity of either can cause seizures, respiratory failure, and other severe adverse effects.

In addition, the sugar and fat content in Oreos is too high for cats and can lead to health problems such as obesity and diabetes. The artificial flavors and colors in Oreos could also be harmful to cats.

So, while Oreos may not kill your cat outright, they are still not a good snack choice for kitties. Stick to a healthy diet for your feline friend instead.

If you suspect that your cat has eaten excessive oreos or any other chocolate based product, call your veterinarian immediately. They will be able to advise you on what steps to take next.

List Of Side Effects Of Oreos On Cats:

  • Can cause obesity:Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that their bodies need meat and animal protein. The sugar and fat content in oreos is way too high for a cat’s delicate digestive system, so it would be very hard on your feline friend’s stomach. Plus, the artificial flavors and colors could also be harmful to kitties.
  • Harmful Carbohydrates: Oreo cookies contain an excessive amount of carbohydrates such as flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and so on that a cat simply cannot digest or use effectively at one time.Carbohydrates take longer than proteins and fats to break down into glucose (the form of sugar used by cells for energy).  Cats lack certain enzymes needed to properly convert these starches into glucose. This can lead to gas, bloating, and diarrhea .
  • Can cause diabetes: Research has shown that eating a high-carbohydrate diet can cause long-term health issues such as obesity and diabetes mellitus in cats. The effects of processed carbohydrates on the body are still being studied, but most veterinarians now agree that feeding dogs and cats diets rich in carbohydrates leads to weight gain and an increased risk for developing serious diseases like diabetes mellitus.
  • Can give cats a stomachache: Just like people, cats can get a stomachache from eating too many Oreos. The sugar and fat content are hard on their stomachs, and the artificial flavors and colors could also be bothersome.
  • Can cause seizures:Theobromine is toxic to cats, and chocolate contains caffeine. Both of these compounds are stimulants that can be very harmful to cats. A small quantity of either can cause seizures, respiratory failure, and other severe adverse effects.
  • Can cause vomiting:Oreos also have a high sugar content, which can be hard on your cat’s stomach. If your cat eats too many Oreos, she may vomit from the sugar overload.
  • Can cause liver problems:The artificial colors and flavors in Oreos could also be harmful to cats’ livers. Too much of these chemicals could damage the liver and lead to serious health problems down the road.
  • Can Cause Diarrhea:The high carbohydrate and sugar content in Oreos can cause cats to have diarrhea. Artificial flavors and colors can also be a factor. If your cat has consumed excessive oreos, she may have an upset stomach and experience diarrhea as a result.
  • Can Cause Caffeine Toxicity:Cats are very sensitive to the effects of caffeine because their livers cannot effectively process it. A few milligrams per pound of body weight can cause seizures in a cat.

Symptoms of caffeine toxicity in cats usually develops within six hours of ingestion and includes hyperactivity, increased heart rate, abnormal breathing, tremors, seizures, and death.

So as you can see, there are a number of potential side effects that can occur when cats eat oreos. While they may not kill your cat outright, they are definitely not good for her health. So it’s best to keep all Oreos well out of the reach of your feline friends.

What To Do If Your Cat Has Consumed Too Many Oreos?

Side effects are dependent on the amount of cocoa/chocolate ingested, so if they have eaten only one oreo, then it’s not too serious, but I wouldn’t wait till it’s too late before calling the vet! If there is an excess quantity of Oreos that have been consumed by your cat, then this can result in extremely serious reactions such as vomiting, breathing problems, etc .

It’s important to seek veterinary help as soon as possible if your cat has eaten a lot of Oreos, as some of the side effects can be serious and even life threatening.

  • Remove all oreos from the reach of your pet cat and make sure you try to track down any wrappers or containers left behind, because these can also pose a threat!
  • Get them in straight away if there’s any change at all in how they look, such as hyperactivity or behavioral changes, since this could indicate poisoning .  
  • You should also take note; seizures are another potential symptom, along with increased urination and diarrhoea. The vet will be able to do an examination and run some tests.

How Can I Keep My Cat From Eating Oreos?

The best way to keep cats from consuming harmful substances such as Oreos is to prevent them from ever getting their paws on it.

Here are some things you can do:

  • Do not leave Oreos unattended so that your cat not only does not smell or taste it, but is also is out of its reach!
  • Store all Oreos high above ground level where cats cannot reach them, or try storing them higher off of ground level, like on top of a refrigerator.
  • If possible, ask guests not to bring any Oreos into the home if there’s a possibility that your cat could get hold of them. Ensure that your guests are fully informed and educated about the dangers of feeding Oreos by accident to your cat.
  • If you have to leave oreos unattended, make sure that they’re in a sealed container like an airtight can or jar, and place something on top of the lid as well (e.g., unopened bag of cat food).
  • Make sure all of the lids are tightly closed to keep them from smelling the oreos and eating them out of curiosity.
  •  Strictly instruct all the children in the house about Oreos and their toxicity to cats. Give clear instructions to the children to never to feed oreos to cats. They should also be advised never to leave oreo pieces lying around unattended in the house.

Alternatives To Oreos For Cats:

There are a number of alternative snacks that you can give your cat instead of Oreos. These include:

  • tuna fish
  • roasted chicken
  • boiled eggs
  • turkey pieces
  • boiled rice

All of these foods pose no threat to cats and are safe for them to eat. You can also offer your cat some wet food, which is always a good choice. Wet food contains plenty of moisture, as well as important nutrients that cats need in order to stay healthy.

Parting Words

Cats are sensitive to caffeine and theobromine. These two ingredients can be found in Oreos, so cats should not eat them. Also, obesity is a potential side effect of eating too many cookies, and if your cat falls into this category, it’s best for you to keep him away from these sweets altogether! 

A general rule of thumb would be that any food containing chocolate or coffee should also be off limits to your feline friend.

It is not safe for cats to consume any human food that contains caffeine or theobromine, which are found in many common foods like coffee and chocolate. These substances act as stimulants when consumed by our feline friends and can lead to obesity, hyperactivity, excessive thirst, vomiting, heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), seizures/convulsions (grand mal convulsion) or death in some cases!

If you want your cat to live a long, healthy life without these risks, then it’s best if they don’t eat anything other than their regular diet of wet cat food mixed with water served twice daily.

I hope this blog post has answered any nutrition related questions you had about whether cats can eat Oreos or not ! If there is anything else I didn’t cover in detail or if you still have more specific questions on this topic, feel free to reach out with your concerns by clicking the contact button below.

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Meow for now 🙂

XoXo

Genie