Can Cats Eat Syrup

Well, your pet cats must be curious whenever they see you consuming syrup, right? So, “Can cats eat syrup?” is the million-dollar question that every cat owner wants to know. And, the short answer is Yes, cats can eat syrup.

However, the syrup is not something that should be included in your cat’s regular diet as it does not give any nutrition to your furry friends. 

If you are also in need of more info about this topic, then trust me you’ve hit the appropriate place. In this article, I am going to give a detailed idea on this topic that will definitely draw your attention. 

So, let’s get straight into it!

Can Cats Eat Syrup (In-depth Explanation)

Yes, as I said earlier, they can eat syrup. But, mind you, although sugar syrup is not toxic to your cats, it is not beneficial either.

Since it contains plenty of sugar, it will increase the chances of weight gain and will eventually fuel up health issues for your feline friends. Undoubtedly, you won’t like this, will you?

Moreover, sugar syrup contains riboflavin, zinc, amino acids, and calcium but it does not provide any essential protein or fat. 

As we all know, sugar is high in energy. But unfortunately, your cats don’t need that type of energy. It is not a good option for your four-legged friends either.

Plus, there is a high chance of liver failure if the syrup contains artificial sweeteners like Xylitol which is highly toxic to cats and causes hypoglycemia. That’s why we discourage you from feeding high amounts of syrup to your furry friends.

Can Cats Eat Maple Syrup?

Maple sugar is like a treat for your furry friends but a generous amount can create problematic situations. But relax! a small amount won’t create any havoc!  Let me explain how!

First let’s understand what maple syrup is. It is a natural sweetener that is derived from the xylem plasma of sugar maple, black maple, or red maple trees.

Maple syrup contains high amounts of sugar which can cause not only intestinal problems but also diarrhea in cats. Also, there are chances of allergic reactions for your pet friends!

Remember that natural maple syrup is not dangerous if it is given in a tiny amount but it does not serve any nutritious value. Then why should we keep our cats in touch with this unhealthy item?

But, if your cat is begging you and you are feeling guilty, then you may give a small amount of maple syrup along with pancakes to your cats but that should not be on a regular basis.

Why Does My Cat Like Syrup?

Let me tell you an interesting thing about cats. They like to imitate you. Yes, you heard it right! They are extremely fond of copying, no matter what you do.

They don’t have the ability to taste sweetness but they are keen to taste it as you are doing it in front of them. Otherwise, they won’t take any interest in this matter.

Perhaps, your adorable companions have seen you eating syrup and now they want it too. Or it could also be possible that once you have given them sugar and they want that taste again.

However, as sugar syrup is not toxic or harmful for your pets, you can provide them an appropriate amount so that they easily digest it without any difficulties!

Can Cats Taste Sweet?

You’ll be surprised to know that most of the cats can’t taste sweetness as by birth they do not have the necessary receptors for this job.

Also, cats are known as “Sweet Blinds” in the view of many scientists. Plus, cats have lower taste buds (470) in comparison with humans (9000) and dogs (1700). 

In 2006, researchers examined the concept of the 2 genes which are responsible to recognize sweet taste namely Taslr2 & Taslr3. However, it was found that in cats, Taslr3 is a more expressed and functional receptor than Taslr2.

Hence, with the help of one sweet receptor (Taslr3), cats can slightly taste sweetness but not fully. Apart from this, receptors contain protein through the cells of the buds to help the brain recognize different flavors. 

Quite scientific talks, right? Well, as a pet owner, knowing every single detail about your feline friends feels great, doesn’t it?

Also Read: Can Cats Eat Grape Jelly?

Benefits ✅

There are no benefits of sugar syrup for your furry friends as it contains a high amount of sugar.

Risks ❌

Now, this part is the center of attraction for every conscious cat owner. In this section, I’ll let you know the demerits/risks of feeding syrup to your cats at a glance. Here we go:

• The first and foremost disadvantage of syrup is that it increases the weight of your cats which may gradually lead to obesity.
• An ample amount of sugar can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
• Continuation of eating sugar syrup can invite tooth decay.
• Artificial sweeteners present in the syrup may increase the chances of hypoglycemia.
• As syrups are highly sugary, they can increase the sugar level in your pets body and may cause Diabetes. 
• Last but not the least, this food item can create gastrointestinal issues following abdominal pain.

So, we can say that there are several disadvantages of consuming syrup for your furry friends!

Servings 🍽️

• The safest way of serving maple syrup is to spread a tiny amount of syrup on the plate or onto the pieces of good-quality pet food.
• In order to give a food new texture and flavor, you can use it but only in an appropriate amount

Wrapping Up

Finally, I want to put a full stop here as I think you must have got an overall idea about this particular topic ”can cats eat syrup?” Don’t you?

Let me conclude by saying that your cats can have sour syrups like cough syrup if there is any need. But sugar syrups are something which you must avoid!

Also, I would like to give you advice on a few things to keep in mind about your cat’s diet, such as:

• Simple snacks
• Low carbohydrates
• High protein 

If you follow this routine, then you have nothing to worry about.

That’s all about this topic. Have a nice day!

Parvez Khan

Hi, This is Parvez Khan. I’m the owner and chief editor of The PetLiker. I have couple of dogs as well as a cat. I’m observing those pets so closely over the years. On this website, I prefer to share all the experiences I gathered with my pets. Here I also like to explore the information that is relevant to pets.

Also, I write reviews about pet food and offer the best advice for keeping your pet healthy and active.