Food safety

Can Cats Eat Sesame Seeds?

Safe in small amounts — Sesame Seeds for cats.

Safe in small amounts

Why: Plain sesame seeds are not toxic to cats. They are high in fat and hard to digest whole, so a sprinkle is harmless but there is no nutritional reason to feed them.

Safe serving: A small sprinkle of plain sesame seeds, rarely.

If your cat ate sesame seeds: No action needed for a small amount.

Related: Sesame Oil, Bird Seed, Cashews

Why this verdict

Plain sesame seeds are not toxic to cats. They are high in fat and hard to digest whole, so a sprinkle is harmless but there is no nutritional reason to feed them.

Safe serving

A small sprinkle of plain sesame seeds, rarely.

If your cat ate sesame seeds

No action needed for a small amount.

Related foods

Sesame Oil, Bird Seed, Cashews

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.