Can Cats Eat Bacon? Only a Tiny Bite — It's Too Salty

Why bacon is a poor choice for cats

Cats are obligate carnivores, so meat is exactly what they are built for, but bacon is meat that has been heavily processed. It is cured with salt, usually smoked, often sweetened with sugar or maple, and around half its calories come from fat. The ASPCA specifically recommends avoiding processed meats such as lunch meat and bacon because they can be high in salt.

A cat's whole daily calorie need is small, a fraction of a person's, so even one strip of cooked bacon is a large share of what a cat should eat in a day, and nearly all of it is fat and salt rather than the lean protein cats need.

Salt, fat and seasonings

Too much salt makes a cat very thirsty and can upset its stomach. The ASPCA notes that excessive salt causes increased thirst and urination, and that salt toxicity can bring vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures. A cat would need to eat a lot of bacon to reach that point, but small, regular servings still add an unhelpful sodium load.

Fat is the other problem. Greasy foods commonly cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats, and very fatty meals have been linked with inflammation of the pancreas. Bacon bits, bacon grease and fat trimmings are the worst forms, and anything cooked with onion, garlic or garlic powder is unsafe for cats and should not be shared.

If your cat ate bacon

A cat that stole a crumb or licked a plate usually needs nothing at all. Make sure fresh water is out, skip any other treats for the day, and keep an eye on the litter box and appetite. Most cats that react show a single bout of vomiting or a soft stool and are fine by the next day.

Call your vet if your cat ate a whole strip or more, drank bacon grease, or ate bacon cooked with onion or garlic, or if it is a kitten, a senior or a cat with kidney, heart or pancreatic problems.

How much bacon is okay?

If you choose to share, keep it to a crumb about the size of a pea, cooked crisp, with the fat blotted off and no seasoning, and only occasionally. That is a taste, not a treat portion. Cornell's Feline Health Center advises keeping all treats to no more than 10 to 15 percent of daily calories.

Bacon should never become a regular reward or a meal topper. Cats with weight problems, chronic kidney disease or heart disease, or on a vet-prescribed diet, should not have it at all, because the salt and fat work directly against what those diets are designed to do.

A feeding mat under a ceramic bowl keeps any shared food in one place and easy to clean up.

Kittens and bacon

Kittens have small stomachs and are still settling onto their food, so rich, salty meat is more likely to cause vomiting or diarrhea, and diarrhea dehydrates a small kitten quickly. They also need every bite of their day to come from a complete kitten food that supports growth.

It is best not to offer bacon to a kitten at all. If you want to reward a kitten with people food, a shred of plain cooked chicken is a better choice. Keep plates and frying pans out of reach, since kittens are quick to climb counters after anything that smells of cooked meat.

Signs bacon disagreed with your cat, and when to call a vet

Signs of a bacon-related upset usually appear within a few hours to a day: vomiting, soft or greasy stools, drooling, a reduced appetite or an unusual interest in the water bowl. Many cats get over a mild episode within 24 hours.

Call your vet the same day if vomiting is repeated, if your cat will not eat for more than a day, hides, seems lethargic or has a painful belly, or if you notice wobbliness or tremors. Cats that stop eating can become seriously ill quickly, so do not wait several days to see if it passes.

Better meaty treats for your cat

Plain cooked chicken or turkey breast without skin, bones or seasoning is the closest safe swap, and most cats love it. A flake of plain cooked salmon or white fish, a little cooked egg, or a commercial freeze-dried meat treat all work too. The ASPCA lists small amounts of lean, cooked, boneless, unseasoned meat as acceptable.

Cut treats into small pieces and use them for play, training or a little bonding time rather than leaving them in a bowl. If your cat has a medical condition or is on a special diet, check with your vet before adding any extra food.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.