Can Cats Eat Graham Crackers?

Cats are known to follow their stomach and are considered curious creatures. For instance, whenever you have graham crackers as a snack, your feline friend will start to meow at you for a little bite. So, it’s rational to ask, can cats eat graham crackers?

As we know, most vets discourage offering human foods to our feline friends. However, cats can be quite persistent – especially when it comes to food. As long as you are talking about graham crackers, Yes, you can offer them to your feline. Graham crackers are not toxic or poisonous for cats. 

However, these treats are not an ideal addition to your cat’s diet either. Therefore, if you love graham crackers, offer them to your feline in moderation. Read on to learn everything you need to know about cats and graham crackers:

Cats and Graham Crackers

As their name suggests, graham crackers are made of “Graham” flour. When it comes to nutritional value, these crackers are similar to other crackers out there. The main ingredient of graham crackers includes honey, milk, butter, salt, sugar, and of course, graham flour. 

When it comes to nutritional value, the 5 graham crackers provide:

• 1g of Protein
• 4.4g of Sugar
• 11g of Carbohydrates
• 67mg of Sodium
• 1.4g of Fat
• 59cal of Calories

Due to the high value of carbohydrates, cats love to consume graham crackers. Including carbohydrates, none of the above-mentioned nutrients are ideal for your feline. Therefore, we don’t think the graham crackers are an excellent addition to your cat’s diet.

Are Graham Crackers Bad for Cats?

A tiny bite of graham crackers won’t cause any problem in cats. However, if consumed on a daily basis, these little treats can cause some severe health complications in your cat. Here are some of the main reasons why graham crackers are not an excellent food for your feline:

Salt

It’s nearly impossible to find a graham cracker that is not loaded with salt. Unfortunately, salt is a condiment that your feline friend should never consume. Even a lick can lead to salt poisoning in cats. If not treated in time, salt poisoning can even lead to the death of your little furball.

The common symptoms of salt poisoning in cats include:

• Incoordination
• Lethargy
• Frequent Urination
• Loss of Appetite
• Dehydration
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Coma
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Death

Fats

Fats are considered essential for your feline friend. Healthy fats are believed to be an energy source for your feline friend. However, the fat available in graham crackers does more harm than good. These fats can lead to obesity and other weight-related health issues.

The fats available in graham crackers can also cause:

• Dehydration
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Laxative Effects

Sweeteners

Along with salt, graham crackers out there also contain several sweeteners, including xylitol, chocolate, or sugar, that are without any doubt toxic for your feline friend. For cats, sugar can lead to diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and heart diseases. 

Furthermore, if you offer your little furball chocolate graham crackers, it can lead to some serious health problems. This is because the ingredients of chocolate are caffeine and theobromine, all of which are poisonous for your cat.

Graham Flour

For humans, graham flour is an excellent source of crucial nutrients. However, that’s not the same for your feline friend. Cats are generally carnivores, meaning they get most of their crucial vitamins and minerals from meat, such as seafood and small rodents.

So, if you feed a plant-based diet to your cat, it might cause some serious health complications. For instance, as graham is loaded with carbohydrates, fats, and plant-based protein, it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures in cats. 

Variations of Graham Crackers

We, humans, love graham crackers because of their full-bodied flavor and texture. Therefore, we have created numerous variations of graham crackers with different ingredients. So, to help you out, below, we have compiled a list of different flavors of graham crackers and their effect on cats:

Can Cats Eat Honey Graham Crackers?

Besides sugar, honey is one of the most common ingredients used as a sweetener in graham crackers. As honey is completely harmless to cats, you can offer honey graham crackers to your feline. However, remember that honey graham crackers also contain salt and fats. So, you should offer these crackers to your feline in moderation.

Can Cats Eat Saltine Crackers?

Saltine crackers are surely a no-no for cats. As mentioned earlier, salt is considered toxic for your feline, so you should not give saltine crackers to your feline. Other than salt poisoning, saltine crackers can lead to obesity and dehydration. In some rare cases, these crackers can also lead to the death of your feline friend.

Can Cats Eat Goldfish Crackers?

Goldfish crackers are also non-toxic for your cats. So, you can feed these crackers as a treat to your feline. However, this should be done in moderation because these crackers do not offer any important nutrients.

Can Cats Eat Cinnamon Graham Crackers?

Cinnamon is also used as a sweetener for graham crackers. The small consumption of cinnamon is not harmful to your cats. However, if consumed in higher volumes, cinnamon graham crackers can also cause several health problems.

Best Alternative to Graham Crackers

As graham crackers usually contain salt and fats that are not an ideal condiment for your feline, you should try to avoid feeding them to your feline altogether. So, the real question is, what should you offer your feline instead of graham crackers?

Well, stick to a diet that is created by your veterinarian. You should never alter your cat’s diet without consulting your vet. However, if your feline is begging for a snack, you can offer the following items:

• Anchovies
• Chicken
• Salmon
• Fruits and Greens

Final Verdict

Can cats eat graham crackers? Graham crackers are not considered poisonous for your feline friend. So, you can offer these crackers as a treat to your feline. However, this should be done in moderation because a higher volume of these crackers can lead to several health complications, including salt poisoning, diarrhea, obesity and more.