Yes. Cats can eat cake. With the exception of any chocolate flavoured or chocolate cake.
Whether the cake is harmful or not largely depends on its ingredients, the cat’s allergies and sensitivities and personal food preference. When feeding cats however, it is also important to consider the cat’s breed, size and nutrient deficiency. Extreme cases of nutrient deficiency are better advised by certified Vets.
Generally, a cake will constitute flour, sugar, eggs, some kind of fat, a raising agent and any other food flavors that would bake the desired taste. In this state, cake can be considered junk. Even to cats, when taken in regular large amounts. However, there is a flip side to it. The fact that in baking, you naturally choose what to include in the cake, there is freedom to include a healthy combination that meets all the dieting needs of your cat.
Cake ingredients fit for cats
Cat food mixed with high quality human grade ingredients is what vets consider an ideal food for the pet. “Smalls Human – Grade Fresh” is a good global recommendation. It is considered very low in carbohydrates. Cakes fit for cats in the same way, should be low in carbohydrates and high in proteins.
If you decide to bake your own cake for your cat, here are a few recommendations you should give priority.
| Cake Type / Name | Ingredients | Quantity |
| Salmon & Cheese | Tuna | ¾ Can |
| Shredded Cheese | 3 Tablespoons | |
| Baking Flour | 3 Tablespoons | |
| Egg | 1 | |
| Tuna, Chicken & Sweet Potato Cake | Chicken | ½ Cup cooked |
| Mashed Potatoes | 1 | |
| Sweet Potato pure | ½ cup | |
| Rice flour | 1 Cup | |
| Kitty fish cakes | Tuna in water | 2 Cans |
| Egg | 1 | |
| Flax-seed | 3 Tablespoons | |
| Stuffed Spanish olives | 3 |
How to serve cake to cats
Cats as we generally know them are huge fans of fish. Depending on the kind of service you offer your cats during meal times; feeding bowls, tins, plates or your preferred surface, you can consider serving your carefully selected cake brand with tuna, salmon or any other recommended meats. This could be determined by the cast’s favorite.
However, if it’s a treat and the cake is specially baked for the feline, you can serve it in a parchment paper as a stand-alone whole meal. So that they are not addicted or eat too much junk to obesity, it is advisable to feed cats cake once in a while and for special occasions. Anniversaries and occasional rewards would work best. Cats are naturally tidy; you won’t have to worry about dealing with creamy whiskers bunting your face immediately after. Their licked paws will take care of that after their treat.
Possible side effects of cake to cats
As earlier indicated, cats are big fans of fish. Any cake baked with fish as an ingredient would be a treat for them. You should however note that chocolates of any kind would be toxic to cats. Whether milk, dark or white, chocolates contain caffeine, theobromine and high levels of cocoa which would cause the following to your “furry buddy”;
- Persistent vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hyperactivity
- Decreased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Increased Heart rate
- Panting and heavy breathing
- Increased urination
- Restlessness
- Tremors; Repetitive muscle movements alternating between contractions and a intervals of relaxation.
If not treated, the above could lead to death. As much as chocolate could be eradicated from cakes being fed to cats, a controlled amount of any other “safe kind of cake” should also be observed.
Treating chocolate cake side effects
In the event that a cat shows the symptoms listed above, a quick response should be administered to aid the situation.
Infrequent or periodical vomiting in a cat can be solved by giving the cat a couple tablespoons of water every 30 minutes or ice cubes, while withdrawing any kind of food for 12 hours. You can also administer a vet recommended anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) medication after check up. If the vomiting persists, that should be a cue to seek further medical attention.
Low fiber diet and a pro-biotic can help stop diarrhea in cats in a short while. This is because low fiber foods are easily digestible and would ensure a firm stool in a matter of minutes.
For restless cats, isolating the pet into a dark room with soothing sounds will give a calming effect. Meanwhile, a shift in the cat’s routine will distract its normal functioning and still them. In cases of increased thirst, it is advisable to see a vet. It is important to note that a cat naturally drinks a maximum of 100ml of water per Kg of their weight per day. Anything above this is considered increased thirst.
≤ 100ml
In case your cat accidentally eats the chocolate sitting idle on the counter, it is advisable to visit a vet immediately. The vet will induce vomiting to get rid of the toxins before they get to worrying levels. Two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide will induce vomiting in cats too. You can take this action in a case where there is little or no time to get to the vet. Be careful to measure just the recommended amounts.
Conclusion
Whereas cats are known to be largely meat feeding pets, they can also feed on cakes. However, they should be closely monitored to avoid toxic exceptions like chocolates. In doing so, the most important factor to consider is the ingredients used in the baking of the said cake. Too much cake could potentially be unhealthy for the cat. It should be done in moderation.
FAQs
Are cakes harmful for cats
No they are not. Cats can eat cake in tiny portions , with the exception of all chocolate cakes. Though they should be served occasionally as a treat and not be made an everyday meal
What amount of chocolate cake is Safe for cats?
None. Avoid feeding chocolates to cats or any cake with chocolate as an ingredient. Chocolate contains toxins that can be harmful to the point of death due to high levels of theobromine.
Maria Giovanni
Maria Giovanni is a pet lover and does have a variety of pets at home, from the lapdogs to parrots and cats. The latter however seems to be her favorite because she operates a shelter that caters specifically to injured and stray cats. You can also leave your cat with her if you have to travel out of town for a longer period and don’t want to lock your cat inside. Over the years Maria has championed for the rights of animals, because of the many vices that are done to the defenseless animals around the world. Compiling information for the Simple Catguide was quite fulfilling because it allowed her to share knowledge on how best people can care for their pet cats.
