Yes, in moderation
Plain, air-popped popcorn is not toxic to cats, and a piece or two is fine. Buttered, salted or flavored popcorn is not, and unpopped kernels and hulls are choking hazards.
| Can cats eat it? | In moderation |
| Calories | About 1 kcal per piece of plain popcorn |
| Main benefit | Plain popcorn is not toxic |
| Main risk | Butter and salt are unhealthy for cats |
| Kittens? | In tiny amounts once on solid food; kittens have sensitive stomachs |
Free · instant · based on veterinary formulas
Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One piece of plain popcorn has about 1 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult cat could have in a day if popcorn were the only treat.
| Cat weight | Daily treat budget | Max popcorn per day |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 18 kcal | 17 × piece of plain popcorn |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 22 kcal | 22 × piece of plain popcorn |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 26 kcal | 26 × piece of plain popcorn |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 30 kcal | 29 × piece of plain popcorn |
| 14 lb (6.4 kg) | 34 kcal | 33 × piece of plain popcorn |
Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your cat seems unwell.
Check your cat's full daily needs with the cat food calculator.
Plain, air-popped popcorn is not toxic to cats, and a piece or two is fine. Buttered, salted or flavored popcorn is not, and unpopped kernels and hulls are choking hazards.
It is best not to. Butter and salt can upset a cat's stomach.
Many cats like the smell of butter or the crunchy texture.
Small amounts of plain cooked corn are not toxic, but cats do not need it.
Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Kittens have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete kitten food.
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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.
In moderation
Plain, air-popped popcorn is not toxic to cats, and a piece or two is fine.