Have you ever wondered if you can share your favourite warm, popped snack with your kitty? In other words – can cats eat popcorn? Wonder no more! We’ve collected all the information you need to know about cats, popcorn and whether the two go together! Let’s take a closer look:
Can Cats Eat Popcorn?
Yes and no.
Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as a yes or no answer when we consider – can cats eat popcorn? There are a few factors we need to look at more closely to figure out if your kitty can snack on this tasty human treat:
Are You Hoping To Give Your Cat A Lot Of Popcorn?
If you are, you’re barking, or rather, meowing up the wrong tree. Kitties are obligate carnivores so although they could snack on small amounts of rice or corn safely, realistically they should only be having the best cat food for their age, weight and health as their main diet. That food should be made specifically for cats, providing all the adequate nutrition that they need to thrive.
But… My Cats Food Is Full of Corn
You may be confused as to why it isn’t straightforward as to whether or not your cat can eat popcorn when their food has corn in it. This corn is used as a filler and offers a small amount of plain carbohydrate in addition to mostly protein. Rice is often seen to do the same thing.
Interestingly, popcorn and corn used in cat food are different and tend to be slightly different strains. Each kernel does have vitamin B, iron, protein and fibre, but it is a tiny amount and based on the very small amount of popcorn you might give your cat and the health benefits would be tiny. The risk, based on plain popcorn, would also be very small, as long as you’re careful.
What Can Make Popcorn Bad For Cats?
Cats can eat a small amount of cooled popcorn that is totally plain and ripped into tiny pieces. You should also check there is no shell or unpopped corn in the piece you do give your cat.
Full sized popcorn can present a choking hazard for cats.
In addition, additives in popcorn can be really bad for cats, and even deadly. It is usually these additives that make popcorn really bad for kitters.
So, if you have wondered about any of the following questions:
- Can cats eat buttered popcorn?
- Can cats eat caramel popcorn?
- Can cats eat white cheddar popcorn?
- Can cats eat smartfood popcorn?
The answer is a big no.
They cannot eat these kinds of popcorn or plain sweet or salted popcorn. Can cats eat plain popcorn without any seasonings at all? Yes they can, as long as it is cool and torn into smaller pieces.
If cats eat cheese or dairy covered popcorn they may have digestive problems as they tend to be dairy intolerant. If there is garlic or onion in the mix, things get more dangerous as these kinds of ingredients are toxic to cats.
So… Can Cats Eat Popcorn?
Cats can eat freshly popped popcorn torn up, cooled, seasoning and topping free and with shell and kernel removed. They can only have a small amount with their main diet made up of the best cat food for their age, size and health, as well as the odd cat appropriate treat like steam cooked plain chicken, or specific treats made for cats.
Looks Like Your Kitty Will Need Alternative Treats To You On Movie Night
Although your cat can enjoy a little bit of plain popcorn, realistically, they will enjoy a little bit of steam cooked meat, or cat appropriate treats more when it comes to family movie night. Fluffy popped kernels for you, yummy stinky kitty treats for them – it’s a win win!