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Can Cats Eat Graham Crackers?

If you are a happy cat owner, and like me, you want to check everything that your cat eats. You may have wondered about graham crackers, are they a good idea?

Can cats eat graham crackers?

Yes, cats can eat graham crackers. But, it’s not recommended. This is because they are not made for cats and contain too much sugar, salt, and fat. They offer no nutritional benefit for a cat, so no reason to offer it.

Now that you know that they can eat them, but not ideal, let me go on to explain their nutritional content, the risks of feeding your cat too many crackers (in general). As well as if cats can even taste sweet foods and much more. Keep reading…

What are graham crackers?

If you have landed here wondering what Graham crackers are, then don’t panic because I will fill you in. I understand because I never grew up with these crackers, in fact, coming from the UK, I have never actually eaten one in my life.

According to Wikipedia, These crackers are a sweet type of cracker that is made with Graham flour. They often come in the form of honey or cinnamon variations.

They are quite popular in the United States and are often used in various recipes or served with other sweet snacks. They originated way back in the 1880s, so, they have stood the test of time.

Nutritional Content of Graham Crackers

The following nutritional breakdown, according to Wikipedia, is based on a 14 g measure of Graham crackers:

• Calories – 59
• Fat – 1.4 g
• Cholesterol – 0 mg
• Sodium – 67 mg
• Potassium – 19 mg
• Carbohydrates – 11 g
• Protein – 1 g

Risks of serving your cat too many crackers

So far I have explained what graham crackers contain and the fact that they are not ideal for your cat. However, you may be keen to understand what risks these crackers really pose, right?

No nutritional benefits for cats

Think of graham crackers as a treat (Can popsicles be a treat? Click here to see). It is not really needed by us humans as well as cats. For cats, many other nutritional offerings are more beneficial.

How many times have you had chocolate (What about chocolate syrup for cats? Click here), sweet biscuit, or packet of crisps last month? Exactly, probably more than you should, right? My point is, it’s ok in moderation, but we know these foods are not ideal for us. Same with cats and Graham crackers.

Controlling your cat’s weight

One of the biggest concerns is controlling your cat’s weight (Click here to learn how to weigh your cat to check it). Like us, cats can only eat so much per day, before they exceed their calory limit. Beyond this, it starts to make them gain weight.

If this spirals out of control it can lead to obesity (more on this later). So, I am not saying your cat will get fat from one cracker, no, that would be ridiculous. My point is, it starts bad habits, that could spiral out of control if it is not monitored.

Are Graham Crackers the same as digestives?

No, Graham crackers are not the same as digestive biscuits. However, they are quite similar. In some countries, Graham crackers are either quite rare or almost impossible to get (more on this later).

Therefore, some people wonder if they can substitute them with digestive biscuits. Because, in some countries, such as the UK, digestives are very common.

In general, digestives are sweeter than graham crackers. Also, they are not the same texture. Digestives are not as crisp as Graham crackers.

Can you get Graham Crackers in the UK?

Yes, you can get Graham crackers in the UK. However, they are quite hard to find. If you are searching for them in the UK you can find them. But, in comparison to common biscuits like digestives, they are hard to find.

This is why many cooks, who need graham crackers for a specific recipe, tend to substitute them for digestives. Within a recipe, it offers quite a good alternative, in my opinion.

Related Questions:

In this section, I am going to answer some questions related to cats, crackers (what about animal crackers? click here), and food in general. If you have any extra questions feel free to drop me a comment below.

Can we feed biscuits to cats?

No, you should not feed biscuits to your cat. This is because they are too sweet and loaded with sugar. Too much of them can lead to an upset stomach, or even worse, diarrhea. It is acceptable as a one-off treat.

I understand that you may be tempted to offer your cat one of these as a perceived treat. But, you may be surprised to understand that cats really do not view these sweet biscuits as a treat, not like us. This is because their taste buds are different from ours (more on this later).

Is sugar harmful to cats?

No, it’s not harmful. However, if it is overused it is likely to lead to obesity, diabetes, or dental decay. Sugar really has no positive benefits for a cat, and arguably the same for us humans. Therefore, choose another option.

Although this may seem a bit overhyped, the reality is, I need to be harsh to be kind. There is no real reason to be finding your kitty with sugar. We, humans, are still feeling the effects, in general, from years of overeating processed sugary food to this day. So, try and leave your cat out of the loop, are you with me?

Can cats eat goldfish crackers?

Yes, cats can eat goldfish crackers. However, they are not recommended. The simple reason is, they offer very little to no nutritional value to your cat.  If your cat gets hold of one and devours it, it’s not the end of the world.

However, just because it’s not the end of the world, it doesn’t mean you have the green flag of recommendation, it needs to be avoided.

Do cats hate bitter-tasting food?

Yes, cats hate bitter-tasting food. In fact, so much so that there are products that have been created that use sour tastes to deter cats such as “bitter apple”. However, this aversion to sour tastes is important for their survival. It helps them detect poisonous food, etc.

These bitter products are useful if you want to find a way to protect furniture items or even as a clever way t train your cat what she needs to avoid touching, are you with me?

Can cats eat saltine crackers?

No, cats should not be fed saltine crackers. This is because the salt contained in them is way too much for your cat. Again, if your cat gets a taste of one, it won’t be a serious issue. But it is not recommended as regular food for their diet.

To be honest, it’s pretty much the same practice for Graham crackers, which I explained earlier in this article. In moderation, yes. A weekly part of their diet? No way! Are you with me?

What are the dangers of Cat obesity?

So far I have mentioned cat obesity a few times. But, it may not be very clear why this is a real issue. Forgive me if this is obvious.

The thing about obesity, it is more than just the obesity itself, it’s the knock-on effects, are you with me?

Stress on their joints, etc

So, if your cat is obese, she stands a good chance of having joint or cartilage issues. This is because of the additional stress that is put on her body. In particular, her musculoskeletal system.

In addition to this, there are other risks such as arthritis (Click here for the best cat beds for this) and hip problems. And, we haven’t even discussed the biggest issues, such as diabetes and heart disease.

So, in general, it is worth taking note of and avoiding these issues as much as possible. The fact is avoiding treats such as Graham crackers, biscuits, blueberry muffins, etc. Is a great way to help to avoid these problems.

Is honey toxic to cats?

Honey is not known to be toxic to cats. But, it Is not the ideal food for cats. This is because of its high sugar content and lack of beneficial nutrition for a cat. Therefore, if they consume by accident, or eat it moderately it is not expected to be an issue.

Another thing to consider, when considering honey, or honey graham crackers is how cats cannot taste sugar. Their tastebuds are not built to appreciate sugar like us humans. Therefore the honey will not be appreciated in the same way we do.

Can cats eat cinnamon?

Cinnamon is not known to be toxic for cats. But, if it is consumed in high volumes it can be. Therefore, it is best to avoid this food for cats. Also, there are no real nutritional benefits for them consuming this food.

You may have considered the cinnamon Graham crackers, but, again, these are best avoided for this reason.

Do graham crackers go bad?

Graham crackers do go bad. If you look at the expiry date on the box this is the best indication of how long you have to keep them safe. However, they are likely to last longer than the expert date, in some cases 6-9 months. But, to be safe it’s best to discard them before the pass the expiry date on the packaging.

Can dogs eat graham crackers?

Dogs can eat Graham Crackers. But, it is not recommended as part of their regular diet. In moderation, or as a treat should be fine. The reason is, if too much is consumed, it can increase their weight and offer little nutritional benefit for them.

Can cats eat Teddy Grahams?

Cats can eat Teddy Grahams, but they are not an ideal part of a cat’s diet. They do not offer much if any nutritional benefit and may help to increase their weight if fed in high quantities. There are many other purpose-made cat meals so it is not required for cats.