Can Cats Eat Gingerbread

Can Cats Eat Gingerbread?

Let’s admit it! We all love spoiling our feline friends with most of the foods we eat. Gingerbread is an excellent snack for humans, and you’ll get tempted to throw your cat a piece.

But can cats eat gingerbread? Yes, cats can eat gingerbread, but they shouldn’t. It’s not safe!

Gingerbread is rich in sugar, herbs, spices, and other harmful ingredients.

ASPCA considers it as one of the poisonous cat foods. It can affect your cat’s immune system, digestion, and general health.

Keep reading to discover why cats shouldn’t eat gingerbread:

Why Cats should Not Eat Gingerbread

Cats can eat gingerbread if you give them. But the aftermath won’t be good for you and your feline friend. Gingerbread contains lots of ingredients that are harmful to your cat.

So cats should not eat gingerbread as it is not safe! Here are our detailed reasons why you should not give your cat gingerbread:

1. Stimulants

Cats that eat gingerbread may develop a condition known as ‘ginger jag.’ This is because gingerbread contains stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine. Both are hazardous to your cat’s digestive system and overall health.

2. Herbs and Spices

Cats should not eat gingerbread because of the herbs and spices that form part of its ingredients.

Some of these include nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon. These spices can cause nausea in cats, while some may be toxic to them.

Cinnamon

This herb can be unsafe for kitties. If consumed in large quantities, cinnamon can cause oral blisters, severe vomiting, and diarrhea.

When inhaled, cinnamon may irritate your cat’s lungs.

Cloves

These are poisonous to cats because they contain eugenol, which is toxic to them. This compound may cause liver toxicity and general discomfort to the affected kitty.

Allspice

This herb has shown toxicity in cats though there aren’t many reports of the same. Nevertheless, its ingestion can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and depression in cats.

Nutmeg

Even a tiny dose of nutmeg can poison cats and cause extreme pain in their abdominal area, seizures, and even death.

This herb may also cause:
• mild stomach upsets
• hallucinations
• increased heart rate
• dry mouth
• high blood pressure
• disorientation

3. Artificial Sweeteners

Gingerbread contains artificial sweeteners such as refined sugar and xylitol. It is one of the harmful ingredients in your cat’s digestive system. Therefore, it can cause severe conditions like diabetes if not treated immediately.

Xylitol causes an increase in insulin production that may result in hypoglycemia (a drop of blood sugar). The majority of the cases involve dogs, but cats can also get affected.

Refined sugar isn’t good for your cat either. It causes obesity and other health conditions like hyperactivity, diabetes mellitus, dental problems, kidney disease, and liver disease.

4. Oily Foods

Cats cannot digest oily foods like gingerbread well. This means that their food will slowly go through their digestive systems. The specific period will depend on the size of your cat.

5. Hypoglycemia

Another reason your cat should not eat gingerbread is that it causes hypoglycemia, particularly in cats who suffer from diabetes mellitus.

The high concentration of sugar in gingerbread can cause this medical condition.

What Happens If Your Cat Eats Gingerbread

Apart from the dangers of giving your cat gingerbread, what happens when he eats it? Some several symptoms and conditions may spring up in cats who eat gingerbread:

1. Vomiting

If you give gingerbread to your feline friend, he may throw up right after or a little later. This is because gingerbread contains stimulants that cause nausea in cats, just as they do in humans.

2. Hyperactivity

Cats can become excessively hyperactive from eating gingerbread. This happens mainly if the cat eats small amounts of gingerbread over a longer period. The high level of sugar in gingerbread causes this hyperactivity.

3. Lethargy

Gingerbread can also cause lethargy in your cat if he eats it over a longer time. Its high sugar content affects the blood flow to his brain. This makes him feel tired and thus unable to be as active as usual.

4. Weight Gain

Gingerbread contains a lot of sugar and oil, which can make your cat obese if he eats them over a longer period.

This is the reason why you should not give your cat gingerbread. That’s particularly cats who are on a strict diet for weight loss or gain under their vet’s supervision.

5. Diarrhea

Gingerbread contains many harmful ingredients that can affect your cat’s digestive system if he eats them over time. These ingredients may cause diarrhea, stomach upset, and vomiting in your feline friend.

6. Liver Disease

Your cat can also suffer from liver disease or other complications because of gingerbread. This happens when he eats small amounts of gingerbread over a long period.

In case of such symptoms, contact a veterinarian immediately:

7. Death

There is a possibility that your cat can die due to gingerbread toxicity. This happens mainly because of the stimulants in gingerbread, particularly the ones that cause nausea.

Cats are susceptible to nausea and vomiting. These can lead to dehydration and loss of consciousness.

Can cats eat ginger snaps?

Yes, cats can eat ginger snaps. They are a better alternative to gingerbread if you want to give your cat a treat during the holiday season.

However, it is still best not to give them any treats. They can make them obese and suffer from other health problems.

Can cats eat gingerbread cookies?

Unfortunately, gingerbread is not good for your feline friend. The high sugar and oil content can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, increased thirst, and urination.

It may also cause weight gain, liver disease, or other complications like hypoglycemia. Plus, it’s best to keep them away from gingerbread, mainly if they are on a strict diet.

Can cats have ginger biscuits?

Yes, ginger biscuits are a better alternative to gingerbread for cats. They do not have the same harmful ingredients that cause problems in your feline friend if he eats them over a longer time.

However, they still contain more sugar than regular cat food, so it is best not to give him any treats during the holiday season.

Can cats eat gingerbread man?

No, gingerbread men are not suitable for your feline friend. Neither are ginger snaps or ginger biscuits.

That’s because they contain the same harmful ingredients that can affect their health if they eat them over time.

It is still best to keep them away from all treats during the holiday season so you can avoid giving them things that may harm them.

Conclusion

Gingerbread is a sweet treat you should not give to your cat as the ingredients can be harmful. Symptoms of gingerbread poisoning include:
• vomiting
• lethargy
• weight gain
• diarrhea
• liver damage
• hypoglycemia
• allergic reactions
• death

Professional medical attention is vital if your cat eats gingerbread because his symptoms are severe.

Authoritative Links
http://www.cat-world.com.au/toxic-foods-for-cats
http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/holiday-foods-make-your-pet-sick?page=2
http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/can_cats_eat_bread.htm
https://www.petfriendly.co.uk/blog/top-10-toxic-foods-to-avoid/#incoming
http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/holiday-foods-make-your-pet-sick?page=3