Better to skip it
It is best not to give cats honey. It is not toxic, but cats cannot taste sweetness and do not digest sugar well, so honey adds calories and may cause stomach upset. Raw honey can carry botulism spores.
| Can cats eat it? | Caution |
| Calories | Not recommended as a treat |
| Main benefit | Not toxic in a small lick |
| Main risk | Sugar can cause stomach upset and weight gain |
| Kittens? | No |
A small amount is unlikely to cause serious harm in a healthy cat. Remove any remaining food, offer fresh water and watch for vomiting, diarrhea, a painful belly or lethargy over the next 24-48 hours. Call your vet if your cat ate a large amount, is small, young or has health problems (such as pancreatitis), or if the food contained onion, garlic, chocolate or xylitol.
These are safe for cats in treat-size amounts:
Check your cat's full daily needs with the cat food calculator.
It is best not to give cats honey. It is not toxic, but cats cannot taste sweetness and do not digest sugar well, so honey adds calories and may cause stomach upset. Raw honey can carry botulism spores.
There is no good evidence for this in cats. Coughing in cats needs a vet check.
A lick is unlikely to cause harm in a healthy adult cat.
No. Cats lack functioning sweet taste receptors.
No. Kittens are smaller and more vulnerable than adults, so it is best avoided entirely.
Browse lists: human foods cats can eat · foods cats can't eat
This guide is general information for healthy adult cats. Cats with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.
Caution
It is best not to give cats honey. It is not toxic, but cats cannot taste sweetness and do not digest sugar well, so honey adds calories and may cause stomach upset.