Why
Peanut butter is plant fat and plant protein, and a cat needs neither. PetMD's veterinary guide describes peanut butter as empty calories for a cat, with a large amount of fat and none of the meat protein that an obligate carnivore depends on. The guide's bottom line is that it is best to keep peanut butter away from cats.
Peanut butter is still not a poison for most cats. PetMD's guide says that a healthy cat that eats less than a teaspoon of peanut butter without xylitol will likely be fine, perhaps with mild vomiting or diarrhea. The real concern is the label: some peanut butters are sweetened with xylitol, and PetMD's guide treats a cat eating peanut butter that contains xylitol as a potentially life-threatening emergency.
Risks to watch for
- Xylitol, sometimes listed as birch sugar, in the ingredient list
- Large amounts, which can cause vomiting or diarrhea
- Cats with pancreatitis, liver disease, diabetes or gut disease, which are more likely to react
- Whole peanuts, especially in the shell, which can cause choking or a blockage
- Peanuts coated in salt, sugar or honey
- Peanut snacks such as cookies, crackers and peanut candy
How to share safely
- Do not offer peanut butter as a treat. Cats get nothing useful from it.
- If your cat licked some, check the label for xylitol straight away.
- If the peanut butter contains xylitol, call your vet or an emergency animal hospital now, even if your cat seems normal.
- If there is no xylitol and your cat ate only a small lick, watch for vomiting or diarrhea over the next day.
- For a high-value treat, use a small piece of plain cooked chicken or fish instead.
How much?
There is no recommended amount of peanut butter for cats. PetMD's veterinary guide says a healthy cat that eats less than 1 teaspoon of peanut butter without xylitol will likely be fine, possibly with mild vomiting or diarrhea. That figure describes an accident, not a serving.
Why the label matters more than the peanut
Peanut butter is usually a simple product, but some brands add xylitol, a sugar substitute. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center warns that xylitol can cause low blood sugar and possible liver damage in pets, and PetMD's veterinary guide on peanut butter tells owners to see a vet immediately if a cat eats peanut butter containing xylitol.
Peanut butter labels can be easy to misread, so check the full ingredient list rather than the front of the jar. Products sold as sugar-free or reduced-sugar deserve an especially close look. If you cannot tell, call your vet and have the jar in hand.
Peanuts, peanut candy and peanut sweets
Peanuts themselves are not much safer than peanut butter. PetMD's guide warns that whole peanuts can cause choking or an intestinal blockage, especially if swallowed in the shell, and that some peanuts are coated in salt or in sweeteners such as honey. The ASPCA adds that the oils and fats in nuts can cause vomiting and diarrhea and, in some pets, pancreatitis.
Peanut sweets, such as peanut brittle, peanut cookies, sweet peanut soup and the ground peanut powder sprinkled on snacks, combine peanuts with sugar, fat or flour. None of them belong in a cat's diet. A crumb is not an emergency, but these snacks should be stored where a cat cannot reach them.
Using peanut butter to give a cat a pill
Peanut butter is a well-known trick for hiding pills in dogs, and some owners try the same thing with cats. Peanut butter is a poor choice for this, because cats are usually not interested in it and because the fat can upset a stomach that is already unwell.
Soft pill treats made for cats, a small amount of the cat's own wet food, or a technique your vet can show you will usually work better. If your cat refuses a medicine, ask your vet whether it comes in another form, such as a liquid.
Common questions
Is peanut butter good for cats?
Only in limited ways. Peanut butter is plant fat and plant protein, and a cat needs neither. PetMD's veterinary guide describes peanut butter as empty calories for a cat, with a large amount of fat and none of the meat protein that an obligate carnivore depends on.
Is peanut butter bad for cats?
It can be. Risks to watch for: xylitol, sometimes listed as birch sugar, in the ingredient list; large amounts, which can cause vomiting or diarrhea.
Are cats allowed to have peanut butter?
Only in small amounts and the right form. Do not offer peanut butter as a treat. Cats get nothing useful from it.
My cat licked peanut butter. Is that dangerous?
A small lick of peanut butter without xylitol is unlikely to harm a healthy cat, though it may cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Check the label first: if the peanut butter contains xylitol, PetMD's veterinary guide treats it as an emergency, so call your vet or an emergency animal hospital right away.
Can cats eat peanuts?
Peanuts are not a good snack for cats. PetMD's veterinary guide warns that whole peanuts can cause choking or a blockage, especially in the shell, and that many peanuts are coated in salt, sugar or honey. Peanuts are also high in fat and give a cat nothing it needs.
Sources
- PetMD. Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter? (Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
If your cat has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital or an animal poison control service right away, even if your cat seems fine. Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.