Wheat Thins are a line of crackers that are quite small and are often found as a snack with other types of cracker, cheese, or other foods. There is a huge range of Wheat Thins out there with all sorts of flavors. Veggie thins falls under this banner as well.
Wheat Thins are pretty popular with people because they are not a terrible unhealthy snack, there are lots of varieties and they go well with other food. But are they ok for your cat to eat as well?
Can cats eat Wheat Thins?
Short answer: The plain Wheat Thins certainly won’t hurt your cat, but they’re really not an ideal snack either. And when you get into the flavored Wheat Thins, you can run into a host of potential problems, so it’s better to avoid them for cats. It’s probably better to just find a snack that is all around better for your cat than Wheat Thins.
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Do Cats Like Wheat Thins?
This will depend on the cat. My cat has never shown the slightest interest (and we don’t know about the new one -she hasn’t come across them yet), but I have heard plenty of stories of cats going after their owner’s snacks.
It’s likely that they are attracted to the salt since cats don’t need to eat grains to be healthy (and really can’t digest them properly anyway). They also may enjoy crunching on them or even batting them around!
So, while my cats shrug at them, I’m not at all surprised to hear that other cats really like them. A lot of cats love salt after all!
Do Cats Hate Wheat Thins?
Just like there will be cats who like them, there will be cats who don’t like them or care for them. My cats have never shown any interest in crackers of any sort, let alone Wheat Thins.
Since there’s nothing in them that cats will miss out on by not eating them, it’s not really a big deal – just means I don’t have to worry about noses in my food!
Can Eating Wheat Thins Kill My Cat?
Although Wheat Thins aren’t really useful for cats to eat, the plain ones at least aren’t really dangerous either. There is always a concern about salt content – too much salt can lead to sodium poisoning and since cats are much smaller than humans, it takes a lot less exposure to make them very ill.
Crackers like Wheat Thins are also mostly carbs which cats don’t derive much use from beyond what they get from their regular food, and too many carbs can easily lead to weight gain and obesity.
Cats who are obese are more likely to have further health problems like stress pain, arthritis, heart disease, cancers, and diabetes.
Even the so-called low-fat crackers will cause this problem in the long run with too much exposure because they don’t really make a cat feel full, so they overeat on their own food.
But not all Wheat Thins are the same – there are several varieties of them and depending on their ingredients, they are more, or a lot less, safe for cats to eat.
Take a look for yourself:
Flavor | Safe? |
---|---|
Original | Should be fine with a small nibble once in a while |
Reduced-fat | Like the Original flavor, should be fine in very small amounts once in a while |
Sundried Tomato and Basil | No. The onion and garlic powder in them is toxic |
BIG | Yes, they’re just Original, but bigger. |
Ranch | Definitely not. Onion and garlic powder is toxic, while the buttermilk, cheddar cheese powder, and Lactose will make your cat sick |
Hint of salt | Far less salt than original, so arguably the “best” of the bunch |
Multigrain | Onion powder, so nope. The sheer number of grains might make your cat feel sick too. |
Cracked pepper and olive oil | Nope, garlic powder, and onion powder. The black pepper may also give them stomach problems. |
As you can see, none of the flavored varieties are safe for cats, leaving only original, reduced fat, and a hint of salt or BIG, with Hint of Salt, probably being the best since it has less salt compared to the rest of them.
However, cats shouldn’t have more than a small bit of a plain wheat thin once in a while because it’s still a lot of carbohydrates and basically empty calories for them with no real payoff. They’re far better off eating snacks and treats that are meant for cats, not humans.
You may also find that if your cat has too many Wheat Thins, they may end up constipated or having other bowel issues, mostly because they cannot digest the cracker properly and the fibre may be too much for them to handle. This would lead to one uncomfortable cat!
How Many Wheat Thins Can My Cat Eat?
If your cat insists on eating Wheat Thins, you can at least control the amount. They shouldn’t have more than a small piece of one once in a while (like once a month or less).
There’s nothing in a wheat thin that is really beneficial for cats, and you don’t want them getting used to eating them.
Furthermore, eating them too regularly can lead to other health issues like weight problems and joint problems, so better to steer cats towards their own snacks and food.
But part of one cracker once in a while shouldn’t hurt a cat, as long as it is the plain crackers, not any of the flavored ones. And of all of them, the hint of salt ones are probably the best ones to get.
What About Other ‘Thins’?
Wheat Thins have produced ‘spinoff’ crackers, so you may be wondering if any of those are safe for your cat.
- Veggie Thins: No. Garlic and onion powder are toxic to cats
- Oat Thins: Yes, in very small amount due to the brown sugar and dried honey
- Rice Thins: Only Original flavor. The rest have too many things that can make your cat sick
- Pita Thins: Yes, as long as it’s Plain flavor. In small amounts
Any of the thins should only be given to your cat in small amounts and only the plain flavors to stay safe.
Wheat Thins aren’t the best snack for cats, but many of them like it anyway! If this is your cat, control their intake and make sure it’s none of the flavored ones.
Does your cat like Wheat Thins? Or do they just want the salt!
Pam is a self-confessed cat lover and has experience of working with cats and owning cats for as long as she can remember. This website is where she gets to share her knowledge and interact with other cat lovers.