Can Cats Eat Pizza?

No, it is not recommended for cats to eat pizza because its toppings could be toxic for her.

Pizza is an Italian-inspired dish with a round-shaped crust and topped with various ingredients. Common toppings include tomato sauce, cheese, mushrooms, garlic, onions, and processed meats. Most of these are considered harmful for cats and may cause immediate health complications when consumed. Additionally, the oil, salt, and herbs used to prepare the pizza may not sit well with her.

Frozen, store-bought pizza is known to be high in calories and fat. Though it may be harmless for her to nibble on a portion of the baked plain crust, it will not be good for your cat to get used to eating it. She may get tempted to swipe and munch on a pizza slice topped with toxic ingredients without your knowledge.

What to do if your cat accidentally eats pizza: Check all the ingredients found on your pizza and try to determine how much pizza she ate. If harmful ingredients are found in it, contact your veterinarian immediately and report your findings. Also, watch for signs for cat poisoning. These may include: vomiting; diarrhea; salivation; twitching and fitting; difficulty in breathing; shock or collapse; inflammation or swelling of skin; depression or coma; and changes in drinking, urinating and appetite. Other symptoms may manifest depending on the ingredients she ate.

When baking pizza at home, keep your cat away from the raw dough. Cats should never be fed uncooked dough because the yeast may expand in her stomach and cause severe pain. It may also create alcohol in her stomach and poison her.

In summary: Pizza may be a tasty treat for humans, but it offers little to no nutritional value for your cat. Instead of pizza, pet parents can serve controlled portions of veterinarian-approved fruits and vegetables to their cats. Browse through our “can cats eat” category to discover healthier options.