Can Cats Eat Whipped Cream? Not Really — a Lick at Most

Why whipped cream is a poor choice for cats

Whipped cream is heavy cream beaten with air and usually sugar and vanilla. Nothing in plain whipped cream is poisonous to cats, but the ASPCA explains that pets have little lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar, so dairy commonly causes diarrhea and other digestive upset.

Cream is also very high in fat. Cornell suggests keeping all treats to about 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories, and a spoonful of whipped cream uses that allowance with nothing a cat needs. Cats are obligate carnivores and gain no benefit from sugar or dairy fat.

Canned toppings, sugar-free and flavored versions

Aerosol whipped cream and frozen whipped topping contain sugar, emulsifiers and stabilizers, and some non-dairy toppings are made largely of oils and corn syrup. None is toxic in a lick, but all are more likely to upset a cat's stomach than help it.

Check the can of any sugar-free or light topping: the ASPCA lists xylitol among foods dangerous to pets. Chocolate, coffee or mocha-flavored whipped cream carries methylxanthines, which the ASPCA also lists. Whipped cream on hot chocolate, a latte or a cake should be kept away from cats.

If your cat licked whipped cream

A lick or two from a finger or a plate is not an emergency. Offer fresh water and watch for soft stool or vomiting over the next several hours to a day. Most cats show nothing at all after a very small amount.

If your cat ate a large amount, such as a whole cup, watch more closely and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea repeats. If the topping contained chocolate, coffee or xylitol, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A fee may apply.

How much is too much

There is no portion of whipped cream that does a cat good. As a guide to how worried to be, a fingertip lick is unlikely to bother an average adult cat of 8 to 12 lb. A tablespoon or more is a big helping of fat and lactose for a cat and more likely to cause diarrhea.

Cats that are overweight, diabetic, have pancreatitis, digestive problems or food sensitivities should have none. If you want a treat for a cat on a prescription diet, ask your vet which treats fit.

Many cats do better with small, slow portions, and a puzzle feeder or a slow feeder bowl helps with both.

Kittens and whipped cream

Kittens should not be given whipped cream. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that kittens lose much of their ability to digest lactose by about 12 weeks, and diarrhea can dehydrate a small kitten much faster than an adult cat.

Kittens need their mother's milk or a kitten milk replacer while nursing, then kitten food and fresh water after weaning. If you want to reward a kitten, use a commercial kitten treat.

Signs whipped cream disagreed with your cat

Look for gas, a rumbling belly, soft stool or diarrhea, or vomiting, usually within a few hours to a day. These generally pass once the dairy stops. A cat that has repeated tummy upsets or itchy skin after dairy may have a food sensitivity.

Call your vet the same day if diarrhea lasts more than a day, contains blood, or comes with vomiting, lethargy or refusing food. Cats that stop eating can become unwell quickly, so do not wait it out.

Better treats for cats

Lickable cat treats made for cats give the same creamy appeal and are designed for feline digestion. Lactose-reduced cat milk sold for pets is another occasional option, within the daily treat allowance.

For something with real value to a carnivore, a thumbnail-size piece of plain cooked chicken or white fish is hard to beat. Freeze-dried meat treats are easy to portion.

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