Vet experts reveal if cats can taste sweet foods and if sugar is bad for them
If your curious cat has ever shown an interest in your ice cream or sugary cereal milk, you may have wondered: Can cats eat sugar?
Registered Veterinary Nurse Helen Crofts explains why sugar is not a healthy option for your cat and what happens if they sneak a taste of your sweet treats.
Can cats taste sweet foods?
Cats can't taste sweetness at all. Humans have around 9,000 taste buds. But cats only have about 500 and none of them can detect sweet flavours.
This is because cats are carnivores. Their bodies are built to eat meat, not carbohydrates or sugar. Since sugar plays no role in their natural diet, they’ve never evolved the ability to taste it.
Why is sugar bad for cats?
Even though sugar isn’t toxic to cats, it’s still unhealthy for them. Feeding your cat sugary treats can lead to several health problems, including:
- obesity. Sugar adds unnecessary calories, which can quickly lead to weight gain
- diabetes. Over time, too much sugar can cause insulin resistance and eventually diabetes. This is a serious condition that requires lifelong management
- dental disease. Sugar contributes to cavities and gum disease
Sugar offers no nutritional value for cats. They can’t taste it, they don’t need it, and it can actively harm them.
How much sugar is safe for cats?
Technically, cats can have a little bit of sugar and it won’t immediately harm them. But that doesn’t make it a good idea.
Cats can digest tiny amounts of sugar, but more than a few grams can cause:
- digestive issues like diarrhoea or stomach upset
- long-term health problems like obesity and diabetes
If your cat accidentally licks a sweet treat, there’s no need to rush them to the vet. But regularly giving your cat sugary foods could lead to health problems.
It’s also important to remember that one of the most popular sugary treats can be lethal for cats. Chocolate contains a chemical compound called theobromine which is toxic to cats. Even eating a small amount of chocolate can prove fatal. Find out more about why chocolate is poisonous for cats.
Why do cats like sugar?
Even though cats can’t taste sugar, they sometimes show an interest in sweet treats. This is because they’re reacting to other ingredients in the food. Many sweet foods also contain fat, amino acids or umami flavours. Umami is the taste associated with amino acids, which is found in meat, fish and other animal-based proteins. This flavour signals to cats that a food is rich in the nutrients they need.
If your cat is oddly obsessed with things like peppermint candy, that’s not about the sugar either. The smell of mint contains compounds like those found in catnip, which can attract cats. But mint essential oils are toxic to cats, so keep your sweets safely out of your cat’s reach.
Can cats have brown sugar or sugar water?
- Brown sugar is still sugar. It may sound healthier, but to a cat’s body, it’s no different than white sugar
- Sugar water might occasionally be used by vets in emergency situations to provide a quick energy boost to a sick cat. But this should only be done under veterinary guidance
Does dry cat food contain sugar?
Some dry cat foods contain small amounts of natural sugars. Especially if they use ingredients like grains, fruits or vegetables. Even if sugar isn’t listed on the label, carbohydrates can break down into sugar during digestion.
When choosing cat food, look for products that prioritise high-quality animal proteins and keep added sugars to a minimum.
