Food safety

Can Cats Eat Barley?

Safe in small amounts — Barley for cats.

Safe in small amounts

Why: Plain cooked barley is not toxic to cats. It is a grain, so it adds little a cat needs — cats are obligate carnivores — but a small amount of plain cooked barley is harmless as an occasional extra.

Safe serving: A teaspoon of plain cooked barley mixed into food, occasionally. Skip seasoned, salted or buttery preparations.

If your cat ate barley: No action needed for plain barley. If it was seasoned or heavily salted, watch for an upset stomach.

Related: Bread, Beans, Bok Choy

Why this verdict

Plain cooked barley is not toxic to cats. It is a grain, so it adds little a cat needs — cats are obligate carnivores — but a small amount of plain cooked barley is harmless as an occasional extra.

Safe serving

A teaspoon of plain cooked barley mixed into food, occasionally. Skip seasoned, salted or buttery preparations.

If your cat ate barley

No action needed for plain barley. If it was seasoned or heavily salted, watch for an upset stomach.

Related foods

Bread, Beans, Bok Choy

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.