Can cats eat honey?

Updated 21/09/2023

From wound care and allergy defense to countless antioxidants and its antidepressant nature, the claims about honey’s health benefits are almost never ending for us humans. But can cats eat honey and get the same benefits as us humans, or is honey poisonous to cats? Let’s find out.

Can cats eat honey?

Is honey safe for cats and can our feline friends reap the benefits of a certain bear’s favorite snack, just like us humans can? Unfortunately, cats can only stomach (literally) one lick of honey on the odd occasion before adverse effects start kicking in. Honey is full to the brim with carbohydrates in the form of natural sugars, which cats have a hard time digesting. Why? Well cats are obligate carnivores, so their digestive system is well-adapted to break down protein, not carbohydrate. In fact, your cat’s liver doesn’t produce glucokinase, which is the enzyme that helps to break down glucose and fructose.

Is honey good for cats?

Not at all, you shouldn’t be feeding your cat honey. Cats don’t have the correct enzymes to break down the sugars, and as you’ll know, honey is seriously high in sugar. If a cat were to gulp huge amounts of honey, there’s a high chance that gagging, regurgitation, vomiting and diarrhea will come as a result.

Along with all the stomach upset, honey is also seriously high in calories. Like all carnivores, your kitty was built to thrive off an animal protein-based diet. So, anything particularly high in sugars or carbohydrates is bad news on the health front for our feline friends, and repeated sugary foods can cause obesity as well as tummy upsets. A sudden burst of sugar from honey may also cause your cat’s insulin levels to spike, and raw honey can also contain botulism spores, which can cause illness, especially in young kittens.

What to do if your cat eats honey

Unlike some ‘human’ foods, honey isn’t toxic to cats, so you don’t need to panic if you catch them licking at a small drop spilt from your breakfast. Just keep an eye in case any gastrointestinal reactions follow (like vomiting and diarrhea) to make sure you’re close by if it happens.

Can honey soothe allergies in cats?

In the human world, eating local honey is a common way that we try to combat allergies. So, we wouldn’t be surprised if pet parents are wondering whether it can have the same positive effects on their kitties. While honey may help to suppress allergy symptoms like runny noses in cats, honey is far too unhealthy for cats to eat for it to be an option over hay fever season. Instead, do your best to track down what your cat is allergic to, and consult your vet about any fixes.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lizzie

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lizzie Youens BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lizzie graduated from the University of Bristol in 2011, and has been working in first opinion companion animal practice. She has worked in a variety of clinics across the UK, from large hospitals to small branch practices. She enjoys doing a mixture of medicine, surgery and emergency work. Lizzie currently works in a small rural practice where she enjoys working in a close-knit community. 

Foods unsafe for cats

Unfortunately, many of the foods us humans enjoy and reap the benefits from are unsafe for our feline friends. While some are toxic to cats, others are downright unhealthy and should be avoided in large quantities. Like any responsible cat parent, be sure to get in the know about what’s safe for cats to eat. To get you started, here are a few foods you should never serve up to your cat.

• Chocolate
• Onion
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Raisins