Frosting is a delicious topping on cupcakes, cakes, and cookies. Why wouldn’t it be? With its main ingredients of sugar, butter, and cream, it adds a sweet, tasty addition that is sure to make anyone want more. If you’re a cat parent, you’ve probably encountered your cat wanting to share in this delight with you, but can cats eat frosting? Is it healthy for them?
While frosting isn’t toxic to cats, you shouldn’t give this sweet treat to them because frosting contains lots of sugar, which is bad for felines. When it comes to cat nutrition, these questions surrounding sugary treats can be a bit more complex than just a yes or no, so come along and let’s get to the bottom of this sweets issue.
Can Cats Eat Frosting?
Let’s put it this way: if your cat gets hold of some frosting and only takes a lick or two, it likely won’t hurt. But if your cat eats a reasonable amount, the frosting will likely cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Cats are obligate carnivores and only need protein to be healthy. However, domesticated cats do well with high-quality commercial cat food because they get the appropriate nutrient requirements, such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Frosting is high in sugar and carbs, which makes it bad for cats. Cats can digest carbs, but that doesn’t mean they should have carbs. Frosting holds no nutritional value for cats, so as a rule, it’s best to avoid giving this sweet treat to your feline pal.
Image Credit:Pixabay
Can Cats Taste Sweet Flavors?
Cats cannot taste sweets because their tongues lack the receptors needed to taste sweetness. If your cat is eyeballing you while you eat frosting, it’s not because it can sense the sweetness, but more because you’re eating something and your cat wants in on the action.
Because cats cannot taste sweets, eating frosting is dangerous as they could eat a ton of it without realizing it and make themselves sick.
Can Cats Eat Icing?
Icing is a little different from frosting. Icing is thin and spreads easier, but it still holds no nutritional value for cats. Icing is made of powdered sugar and some sort of liquid, like milk or cream, none of which are healthy for your cat. Cats are lactose intolerant, so giving them any kind of milk should be avoided.
Image Credit: Pixabay
What Do I Do If My Cat Ate Frosting?
If your cat licked just a little bit of frosting, odds are it won’t be a cause for alarm. However, if you think your cat ate a sizable amount, you’ll probably want to call your veterinarian, especially if your cat starts vomiting, having diarrhea, or becomes lethargic.
Many sugar substitutes are available on the market today, and one of those substitutes is xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sugar found in plants, fruits, and even vegetables. Xylitol tastes sweet, but the benefit is that it doesn’t cause tooth decay. You can find this substitute in peanut butter, pudding snacks, cookies, and yogurt, just to name a few.
Xylitol is toxic to dogs, but so far, there is no hard evidence that Xylitol is toxic to cats, which is debatable. Xylitol does not seem to lower blood sugar in cats, nor does it seem to have liver cell toxicity as it does in dogs. However, this information is not definitive, so it’s best to steer clear of giving your cat xylitol to be safe. What is definitive is that xylitol holds no nutritional value for your cat and it’s risky at best.
Can I Give My Cat Cake On His Birthday?
We know it’s tempting to have a cake for your feline fur baby’s birthday; however, if you do bake a cake, only the humans should actually eat it.
Luckily, numerous pet bakeries make cakes and other goodies for pets that are safe. Even if there’s not a pet bakery where you live, you can order such goodies online, too. You can even make a cake with cat-safe ingredients if you’d rather make it yourself; recipes are at your fingertips online.
Final Thoughts
If your cat gets into the frosting from a cake, it’s no cause for alarm unless your cat consumed a reasonable amount. While it’s not toxic, it’s still a food that cats shouldn’t eat because of the high sugar content, and it could lead to obesity.
If you want to give your cat the occasional taste of frosting, go ahead. Just be sure it’s on rare occasions. In addition, be sure the frosting contains no chocolate.
Rachel Giordano is a Pensacola, Florida-based musician and writer. She lives with her partner and their two dogs, Sophie, a Boston Terrier, and Aero, a Border Collie/Sheltie mix. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and loves writing about all types of cat breeds. When she’s not writing about cats, she loves to write suspense/thriller novels. A musician by night and writer by day, she enjoys sharing her knowledge of the needs and requirements of our furry friends.
