We love our furry children so much that we wish our pets could enjoy the same pleasures as we do. I was having a pancake for my breakfast the other day and wished my cats too could eat this delicious food for a change. The strange smell from the cat food makes me think how felines find could find their food tasty at all. Well, before we discuss the food in question, let’s make it a point to keep in mind that cats have different nutritional needs than humans, and not all human foods are safe for them.

The short answer is yes, cats can eat waffles and pancakes. But they shouldn’t be your cat’s meal or a considerable part of the meal. In simpler words, cats can have a small piece of pancakes or waffles but shouldn’t eat in large amounts. A cat won’t need medical attention if he has eaten pancakes or waffles as it’s not toxic.

Let’s Look at Waffles and Pancakes Closely

Maybe you like pancakes more than waffles and enjoy the debates some guys did over these two delicious desserts on YouTube. But for the sake of this article, pancakes and waffles are identical because they both have almost the same ingredients.

The basic ingredients required are flour, water, eggs, milk and other dairy products, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and different toppings, etc.

Milk and Other Dairy Products

It’s unfortunate that many cat parents do not know that most adult cats are lactose intolerant. If an adult cat consumes milk and other products, he may develop some digestive problems including an episode of diarrhea.

Both desserts have milk, butter, and sometimes whipped cream. But a small portion of a pancake or waffle does not have enough lactose to cause any digestive problems in a cat. Considering that, if your cat takes a bite, it won’t harm him. Also, please see there’s not too much cream added. That’s a lot of plain calories and lactose for your feline buddy.

However, kittens can digest lactose because they are being fed on their mom’s milk. But again, that doesn’t make a pancake the right food for them. We will discuss that in one of the later sections.

So Are Vegan Pancakes and Waffles Way to Go?

This lactose intolerance leads to another question. And the answer to this question is ‘not necessarily’. Definitely vegan cakes will prevent your cat from gulping down even the smallest amount of dairy. But as a whole, a waffle or pancake is not wholesome for a cat regardless of it’s vegan or not.

Cats are obligate carnivores. Meaning they need to eat meat in order to thrive. Their diet is loaded with quite a lot of protein. If you compare the nutritional value of a cat’s prey and a waffle, you will be able to see the difference in protein levels, carbohydrates, and sugar especially. So imagine, if you’re feeding your cat a vegan waffle just because it’s tasty and not harmful to your cat, you’re actually promoting different nutrient deficiencies. All in all, a vegan pancake won’t approve you to feeding your cat the desserts.


The sugar content of waffles and pancakes is quite high compared to your cat’s wholesome canned and dry food. The commercial cat food is tailored specially for cats according to their nutritional needs. For instance, Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food has chicken, salmon, lentils, as well as some berries too to make it wholesome and balanced.

In addition, if your cat is diabetic, it’s a big no for even a single piece of a pancake or waffle. You may like to add maple syrup to your pancake or waffle, and those additional calories are definitely harmful to cats. If you want to really let enjoy a piece of a waffle, please keep it plain without any toppings. It’s good for his health.

A pancake or waffle is made up of flour and has more carbohydrates and less protein. This again makes a waffle or pancake an unhealthy junk for cats.

Diversity of Flavors

There are so many different flavors of waffles you have to choose from. For instance, if the waffle is of chocolate flavor, it has cocoa powder in it. Chocolate or cocoa powder is lethal for felines. So, again, you should never offer chocolate or any chocolate flavored food item to your kitty.

Keep a list of human foods harmful to cats. See if there are any of those ingredients present in the pancake or waffle or not. Moreover, avoid feeding any frozen waffle or pancake. Those have different preservatives and ingredients harmful to cats; one of which is xylitol.

Are Pancakes Safe For Kittens?

The answer is No. Kittens are growing animals needing a high-protein and nutrient-rich diet. Despite the fact that they are not lactose intolerant it is not safe to feed them pancakes or waffles. Of course, kittens have less appetite than adult cats. Considering that, if they eat any of the desserts, even a small piece of it can be a huge part of their meal. A growing cat’s nutritional needs are high and a waffle for a meal is not a good option.

The EndNote

It’s okay to think that your cat deserves to enjoy the tastiest foods we have around. But always consider the fact some of them can even kill, for instance, chocolate or raw dough. I never would feed my cat a waffle or a pancake because I know it’s a piece of junk for them. Maybe it’s tasty but it’s unhealthy too. However, you can feed your cat a small piece if you want to. If you’re not sure whether that food is safe for your cat or not, you can always look up for that on Google or ask a veterinarian. I hope you have got the answer to the question and if you still have any questions, let us know in the comment section below.


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