Can cats eat pancakes? In a nutshell, only in moderation.
But before deciding to add pancakes to our feline friend’s diet, we need to understand why this popular breakfast choice isn’t a great idea.
Not only do milk and butter — two common pancake ingredients — contain lactose, but there are other items often found in this delicious dish that need consideration.
Where lactose is concerned though, cats lose the ability to digest it as they get older.
The naturally occurring enzyme, lactase, which usually helps break down lactose, becomes depleted as cats mature. This can lead cats to suffer from diarrhea or an upset tummy.
In addition to the lactose intolerance issues with pancakes, another main ingredient — eggs, is also a concern.
Are Eggs in Pancakes Safe for Cats?
Eggs are one of the main ingredients of most pancakes. When taking our kitty’s health into consideration regarding the consumption of eggs, it’s all about the quantity.
It’s true, eggs are packed with protein. Something our feline pets need — right?
Cats do benefit from protein in their diet, but we still need to be mindful of our cat’s calorie intake.
This is why it’s crucial that we don’t overdo it with the amount of pancake we give our cat.
A minuscule amount of eggs shouldn’t have too much of a negative effect on cats, though.
Needless to say, kitties that eat a stack of egg-based pancakes are on a collision course with their health.
Are Eggs in Pancakes Good for Cats?
There are numerous health benefits that cats can get from eating pancakes with eggs.
For a start, eggs are rich in B vitamins. They also provide us with vitamins A, D, E, and K.
However, before going ahead with feeding our kitty with pancakes made from eggs, we should check with our local veterinary first.
An animal expert should be able to provide us with a guideline that outlines the safe number of calories for our cat — eggs should only make up a tiny amount of our cat’s daily calorie intake.
And one thing is for certain — raw eggs should definitely be off the menu. Some of the harmful bacteria found in some uncooked eggs are Salmonella and E. coli.
Raw egg whites contain a high amount of avidin, which is often responsible for kitties failing to absorb the B vitamins they need. By cooking the eggs, we may be able to eliminate most of the avidin.
Can Cats Eat Vegan Pancakes?
If we think vegan pancakes are a better option than egg-based pancakes as they help our cat avoid issues with lactose intolerance, we may need to think again. Cooking up a vegan version could lead to other problems.
The main issue with these types of pancakes is that they’re not packed with nutrition.
Although egg-free pancakes would seem like a logical choice in pancakes to treat our cat on occasions, it’s not all that straightforward.
Cats are carnivores. This means they need their lion’s share of protein.
The amount of nutrition these feline pets receive is, of course, of great importance.
So, by not getting their required amount of protein, our cat is potentially heading towards fairly serious health issues.
It also needs to be pointed out that, in general, it’s not good for our cat to get used to filling up on food that doesn’t contain required levels of nutrients.
Can Cats Eat Sugary Pancake Contents?
Although not toxic to cats, sugar is something we need to keep an eye on in terms of how much we feed our kitties.
In moderation, sugar is really useful in a cat’s diet — it helps to maintain energy levels for a start. However, most responsible pet owners won’t be surprised to learn that many of the chubby cats they see in the neighborhood get through way too much sugar.
And it’s not just obesity that we need to keep in check, but also the potential for diabetes. Too much consumption of sugar by cats can lead to feline diabetes.
Some of the sweet pancake toppings popular today require plenty of caution on our part.
Chocolate, for example, as enticing as it is for us and to some cats, is extremely dangerous for our kitty companion. Not just because of the potential obesity issue outlined above, but also because it contains caffeine and theobromine — these are quite toxic to cats.
Large quantities of caffeine in cats could lead to an elevated heart rate and possibly a seizure.
Too much theobromine might lead to chocolate poisoning for your purring pet.
So, Do We Avoid Giving Pancakes to Cats?
In short, feeding our furry friend just a small portion of a pancake is fine, but it should be done sparingly. By no means should we get our cat too keen to chomp on pancakes every time we have some for breakfast. Keep the vast majority of this sweet treat to yourself.
