Cats are the cutest animals ever. They enjoy cuddling with their owners, playing fetch, and eating tasty foods like milk and tuna. How about when it comes to eating, though? How about Oreos? Find out if Oreos are safe for cats before you start feeding them to yours.
Can Cats Eat Oreos?
Oreos are not healthy for your cat because they contain no nutritional value.
However, the cookies are safe for your pet, so don’t worry if they get a taste or two. Because of their obligate carnivorous nature, cats can’t survive on a plant-based diet.
Pet owners frequently feed their pets table scraps. However, as a pet owner, it is up to you to determine whether or not a given food is harmful to your feline friend.
Let’s take a deeper dive into these popular cookies and all the reasons why you shouldn’t feed them to your cat or kitten.
What Are Oreos?
In 1912, the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) began producing them for the first time. Jacob and Joseph Loose, brothers, founded the company. Since its inception, the company has undergone significant transformation.
The cookies are now available in a wide range of flavors from:
- Hazelnut Chocolate
- Brownie-O Brownie, Brookie
- S’mores
- Java Chip
- Mit
- Seasonal pumpkin
The company also sells cookies that are “double stuffed” or “Mega stuffed,” which have nearly twice as much filling as their standard counterparts.
Are Oreos Safe for Cats?
The main problem with giving your cat Oreos or other sugary treats is that it will lead to health issues like diabetes, obesity, hyperglycemia, tooth decay, and more in the long run.
Nutritional Information for Oreos
The following nutrients can be found in one cookie (11.3g):
| Nutrient | Quantity |
| Calories | 53.3 |
| Calcium | 0.3% DV |
| Solid Fats | 0.7 grams |
| Sodium | 45mg |
| Iron | 2.6% DV |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Potassium | 18.3mg |
| Sugars | 4.7 grams |
| Trans Fat | 0 Grams |
| Protein | 0.3 grams |
| Fiber for the Diet | 0.3 grams |
| Carbohydrates, Total | 8.3 grams |
Are There Any Benefits of Feeding Cats Oreos?
Although Oreos are safe for consumption by your cat, they do not add any nutritional value to its diet. Some of the ingredients, in fact, have been linked to potentially fatal side effects.
These are a few of the ingredients:
- Chocolate
- Raised, unbleached flour
- Thiamine
- Monotrate
- Niacin
- Ribolfavin
- Salt
- Peanut oil
- Cocoa
- Corn syrup high in fructose
- Palm oil
- Leavening
- Flavor enhancers
This list of ingredients may not seem like much at first glance, but when you consider how harmful they are to humans, you’ll realize they offer no advantages for cats.
High fructose syrup, for instance, has been linked to insulin resistance, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension in humans. It’s also been linked to health problems in cats.
Cats have a gag reflex that causes them to vomit potentially harmful foods, which is not present in the human digestive system. So, it’s best to stay away from giving them foods that contain chemicals that could compromise their health.
All the Reasons Your Cat Can’t Eat Oreos
There are a lot of reasons why your cat shouldn’t eat Oreos. This chocolatey junk food offers no nutritional value to your cat and may even upset its stomach.
Oreos Are Full of Empty Calories
The term “empty calories” gets thrown around a lot in the world of health food, but what does it actually refer to? The lack of nutrients in a food indicates that it is useless. No matter how tasty they may be, Oreos are loaded with pointless fat and sugar.
Chocolate Toxicity for Cats
Oreos, with their shiny packaging and uniform row of tempting cookies, certainly don’t look dangerous. Oreos contain chocolate, which is extremely poisonous to cats and dogs.
Let’s be clear: your cat probably won’t die from eating a single Oreo, but they can get very sick from eating even one. To be honest, no one wants to clean up a carpet ruined by diarrhea or vomit.
Can Oreos Kill Cats?
Your cat will gain weight if you feed it treats like Oreos and other cookies on a regular basis. Excess weight is harmful for cats just as it is for humans. Cats that are overweight are at a higher risk of developing fatal diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and Mellitus.
The rate of joint degeneration is also accelerated in overweight cats. Which significantly compromises your cat’s chances of living a long, healthy life.
Should You Feed Cats Oreos?
Don’t give your cat any Oreos, no matter how much it begs. Cats rarely beg for food from humans unless they have been socialized to expect it from humans in the past. Much like humans, they develop preferences for specific foods and will constantly beg for them if they catch sight of you eating them.
It’s only natural to want to appease a loud meowing cat with a meal. Keep in mind that despite popular belief, Oreos are NOT healthy.
Do NOT give your kittens any Oreos or other sugary treats if they are younger than six months old.
Instead, feed your kitten premium cat food especially made to meet its nutritional needs at this stage of its development. Kittens, and cats in general, need a high-protein diet for healthy growth and development.
Can Cats Eat Golden Oreos
Since golden Oreos don’t contain chocolate, some mistakenly assume they’re suitable for vegans. But that’s not the plain truth.
Oreos are not suitable for vegans because they all contain traces of dairy. No matter the flavor, you shouldn’t feed Oreos to your cat on a regular basis.
However, if your cat has a penchant for Oreos, you’re better off giving them the Golden variety. The filling is the sweetest part, so you might want to take that out.
How To Keep Your Cat From Eating Oreos?
Curiosity is a natural human trait, and cats are no exception. Cats are also very nimble and can easily leap onto countertops, cupboards, and other high surfaces. Some of them can even use their paws to open cupboards.
Keep your cat away from the kitchen if you keep a bag of Oreos there at all times.
Keep your cat away from Oreos and other potentially dangerous treats by following these guidelines.
- Don’t tempt fate by feeding your cat Oreos: Store them somewhere cool and dry that you won’t be able to get into, like a high cupboard.
- Make sure everyone in the home is abiding by the regulations: Make it clear that nobody, including the kids, is allowed to give your cat any Oreos. Instead, get your pet some nutritious treats.
- Most cats are not likely to go dumpster diving like dogs, so keep your trash can locked up. But if they detect the aroma of food in the trash, they will resort to any means necessary to obtain it.
What to Do If Your Cat Eats Oreos?
However, despite your best efforts, they may still get their hands on them. Don’t freak out, just count how many were left on the package.
If you think your cat may have eaten something they shouldn’t have, keep an eye out for these symptoms. The average time it takes for food to pass through a human being’s digestive system is 10 to 24 hours.
- Inability to eat
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pain or tenderness in the abdomen
- Constipation
You should get your pet to the emergency vet right away if you see any worrying signs, like your diabetic cat eating your Oreos.
Do Cats Like Oreos?
Your cat probably won’t eat your Oreos even if you give them to it. The primary reason for this is that, unlike your friendly neighborhood dogs, cats must eat meat in order to survive. This means that meat is the only essential food group for their survival.
Although modern cat food has improved greatly since the days of serving raw meat, it is still made with the cat’s unique preferences and dietary requirements in mind. There is nothing in Oreos that would make your cat want to try one.
However, cats can be prone to letting their inquisitive natures get the best of them. They’re eager to get a taste for themselves. It’s likely that after your cat tries one Oreo and doesn’t like it, they won’t try again.
Cats Can’t Taste Sweetness
Not only should your cat not have sugar as a regular part of its diet, but it actually can’t taste sweetness. Because nothing in their natural diet provides them with this sugar, they lack the genetic predisposition to enjoy it.
Other Foods That Are Unsafe for Cats
Please see the list of foods that should not be given to your cat below.
- PEPPER, CAYANÉ
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Doritos
Alternative Snacks
You need not limit your cat’s treats to just canned food. A few human foods probably won’t hurt, though. When possible, it’s best to feed your cat treats designed specifically for felines. Listed below are a few suggestions worth thinking about.
- Meats like chicken, beef, fish, turkey, and duck, boiled and with no seasonings
- Dry cuts of meat
- Normal Eggs
- Natural, unflavored stock
Traditional commercial cat treats are also a safe bet. It’s up to you to decide!
Cats Oreos: Final Thoughts
You should never give your cat the chocolatey, creamy, crunchy snack you love.
Cats can’t taste sweetness, so it’s unlikely they’ll try eating Oreos, but you should still be on the lookout. Any unattended cat will get into trouble.
Keep in mind that the inclusion of human foods should be kept to a minimum, and that some, like Oreos, should be eliminated entirely. Your cat thinks it’s great that you’re so well-informed. Thank you, and best wishes. You can hoard all the Oreos you want without feeling bad about it.