Food safety

Can Cats Eat Butter?

Safe in small amounts — Butter for cats.

Safe in small amounts

Why: Butter is not toxic to cats, but it is almost pure fat. A tiny lick is harmless for most cats; regular butter can cause stomach upset, diarrhoea and weight gain, and fatty foods can trigger pancreatitis in sensitive cats.

Safe serving: A tiny lick at most, rarely. Do not make it a habit.

If your cat ate butter: No action needed for a small lick. For a large amount, watch for vomiting or diarrhoea and call your vet if it lasts more than a day.

Related: Sour Cream, Milk, Bread

Why this verdict

Butter is not toxic to cats, but it is almost pure fat. A tiny lick is harmless for most cats; regular butter can cause stomach upset, diarrhoea and weight gain, and fatty foods can trigger pancreatitis in sensitive cats.

Safe serving

A tiny lick at most, rarely. Do not make it a habit.

If your cat ate butter

No action needed for a small lick. For a large amount, watch for vomiting or diarrhoea and call your vet if it lasts more than a day.

Related foods

Sour Cream, Milk, Bread

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.