Can Cats Eat Marshmallows? Cat Attitudes

Marshmallows are great for hot chocolate, sweet potatoes, and smores as well as many other special treats. They are puffy confections of yum that are perfect for sweetening up a dessert or eating alone. It is common for our cats to want to have a taste of whatever we are eating. After all, if we are eating it, it must be good. It may be good, but the concern should be about whether marshmallows are safe for your cat to eat.

Can cats eat marshmallows? Marshmallows are not toxic to your cat, but your cat should not necessarily be eating them either. Marshmallows can be a choking hazard to your cat. They also contain more sugar and sodium than a cat should have in a “treat.”

To us humans, marshmallows are sweet and chewy. The experts say that cats cannot taste the sweet taste of food, so it is not the sugar that may attract your cat to marshmallows. Cats love chewy things and the texture of marshmallows is most likely the appeal to your cat. Since cats cannot really “enjoy” the taste of this yummy food, why not make a snack choice that your cat may enjoy more than a marshmallow?

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Can Cats Eat Sugar?

Is sugar going to kill your cat? Probably not. But since your cat cannot taste the sweetness of sugar, why would you want to give it to him? Since a lot of cats suffer from obesity, giving him sugar is only adding to the problem by adding empty calories to his diet. There is no reason to give your cat sweets.

Secondly, a cat’s body does not produce sufficient insulin to be able to breakdown sugar. Cats are also susceptible to diabetes and tooth decay the same way we are. Keeping your cat’s best interests first and foremost, it is best to leave the sugar-eating to the pet parents.

Can Cats Eat Chocolate?

Absolutely not! Chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs. Most cats will not eat it on their own, but it is important to manage any chocolate in your home so it cannot put your cat at risk. In other words, store it where your cat cannot get to it.

Theobromine and caffeine are 2 ingredients that are contained in chocolate and they are both toxic to your cat. Because cats are much more sensitive to these chemicals than people, they can be deadly.

If chocolate has been ingested, you may notice diarrhea and vomiting as well as increased thirst, restlessness, tremors, and other signs of sensitivity. In large doses eating chocolate can lead to seizures, stiffness, rapid breathing and even death.

If your cat eats chocolate, contact your vet immediately. Your vet may instruct you to take action at home (induce vomiting) before you bring your cat in for full treatment of chocolate toxicity.

Sweet Treats for Cats

Knowing that cats cannot taste sugar, there really is no reason that your cat’s treats need to be sweet. But that does not mean that you cannot get your cat tasty tidbits that they can enjoy with you as you indulge in tea and snacks or an after-work glass of wine. So, why not go for something that is made especially for your cat?

Wet Treats – The soft texture of wet treats can be irresistible to your cat and can be a lot better for them than the likes of a marshmallow. Try different soft treats out with your cat to see which ones are her favorites. A small spoonful of wet food also makes a tasty treat for your cat. Check out these treats for rewarding your cat for good behavior or just as an evening snack.

Dry Treats – Some cats prefer the crunchiness of dry treats. If your cat likes crunchy food, give them a small serving of these top 5 dry treats for cats.

Homemade Treats – Homemade treats are a great way to give your cat a tasty treat without giving them something that is unhealthy. Since cats are meat eaters, some chicken, turkey or salmon make the perfect treat for your cat. These foods should be prepared in a healthy cooking method, such as; broiling or baking. Looking for something different? A cooked egg can also be prepared for your cat as a treat.

Small servings make the best treats for your cat. And I have found it is best not to give treats every day unless you are training your cat to do something. Cats can quickly begin to “expect” these special foods and may not want to eat what they normally eat.

Boy, Pixie and Mary’s Story

Boy, Pixie and Mary enjoyed most all treats made for cats that came from the pet store. Being fed treats was an occasional event.

Boy was an eater and thought that if we were eating the food, it must be good. Most of the people food that we gave our cats were things like chicken and salmon.

Pixie and Mary did not usually eat people food treats although they would lick them and then walk away and leave the food behind and Boy came along and cleaned up. The size of the treats we fed our cats were about the size of a nickel.

Boy, Pixie and Mary like salmon a lot, but what they liked more than anything was tuna water. We would drain the water off the tuna and put it in their bowls.

Treats were a rarity at our house because our cats were very competitive and Boy usually ended up getting most of the treat and Pixie usually lost out.

Now that Pixie is the only cat in the home, she has a variety of well-known cat treats. And she frequently confuses the sound of her treat bottle being opened with the sound of a pill bottle being opened. If headache medicine is needed, Pixie will certainly come running for a treat!

Final Thoughts

Marshmallows are tasty and have an interesting texture. They are perfect for jello, hot chocolate and smores made over a campfire. One thing they are not perfect for is giving to your cat as a treat. Cats often see us eating and want what we have, but that does not mean we should give it to them.

There are many treats that you can feed your cat that they will enjoy more than marshmallows and they will also be healthier for your cat. You can spoil your best friend without feeding them something that provides no value!