Can Cats Eat Flour?

It depends.

Flour is powder that comes from grinding raw grains, beans, nuts, roots, or seeds. Common types of flour include cereal flour (wheat being the most popular), corn flour, rye flour, and more.

Technically speaking, flour is non-toxic for cats. In fact, some commercially sold cat food contain small amounts of flour. The danger lies in which form it is eaten and what it is mixed with.

Raw flour can contain bacteria such as E. coli, so it is not advisable to let your cat consume it. Uncooked flour dough is also dangerous to cats. When eaten, the dough continues to rise in the stomach and causes gases to release, leading to a condition called gastric-dilation volvulus or bloat.

How to feed flour to your cat: Only a small percentage of cats are allergic to grain-based food, but to be on the safe side, speak to your veterinarian before you try to include flour in your cat’s diet. Cats with grain allergy may display symptoms such as scratching, skin abrasions, bumps, irritations, yeast infections of the skin, and lethargy.

When preparing homemade food or treats with flour, make sure that the ingredients mixed with it are safe for her. Certain fruits and vegetables taste great when baked or cooked with flour. However, never give her anything with sugar, salt, onion, and garlic as well as unhealthy fried food.

Here are three ideas for flour-based treats your cat will love:

Try oat flour for this carrot and catnip kitty cat treats recipe.
Is your cat turning a year older? Surprise her with homemade cake!
Tuna, egg, and whole wheat flour are combined to make these puffed up treats.

In summary: Flour can be a good addition to your cat’s diet when given sparingly, prepared with the right ingredients, and cooked properly.

Discover which human foods you can safely feed your pet cat through our “can cats eat” blog category.