Cats can eat a small piece of plain, air-popped popcorn: it is not toxic, but it gives them nothing a complete cat food doesn't already provide. The real risks are the toppings (especially onion or garlic seasoning and chocolate), unpopped kernels and hulls, and the calories, so popcorn is best kept off the cat's menu.
Picture it: you settle in front of the TV with a big bowl of popcorn, and your cat appears beside you, begging. If a plain piece fell off the couch and your cat got to it first, that is usually not an emergency. Flavored popcorn is a different story.
Is Corn Toxic to Cats?
No. Corn is not toxic, and many dry cat foods include grain. Cats digest properly cooked starches well, but carbohydrates are not an essential nutrient for healthy adult cats. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products (Cornell Feline Health Center). So corn is fine as one ingredient in a complete and balanced cat food (one formulated to meet all of a cat's nutritional needs), but extra corn on the side adds nothing.
One naming trap: the houseplant called "corn plant" (Dracaena fragrans) is not corn at all, and the ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats. Signs include vomiting, drooling and dilated pupils.
Which Popcorn Toppings Are Dangerous for Cats?
The popcorn itself is rarely the problem. What we put on it is. Toppings fall into two groups: toxic, and unhealthy but not poisonous.
Toxic: call your veterinarian or poison control
- Onion and garlic powder. Common in ranch, garlic-parmesan and "everything" seasonings. Cats are the most susceptible species to onion and garlic toxicosis, and concentrated forms such as powders are the usual culprit. These compounds damage red blood cells and can cause hemolytic anemia (red blood cells breaking down faster than the body replaces them). Weakness, pale gums or yellowing can appear several days later, so call even if your cat seems fine. Read more about anemia in cats.
- Chocolate. Chocolate-drizzled popcorn contains methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.
- Xylitol. Some "sugar-free" sweet coatings may contain this artificial sweetener, which is on the ASPCA's list of foods to keep away from pets. Check the label.
Unhealthy, not toxic
- Salt. Salty popcorn makes a cat thirsty and urinate more, and in large amounts salt can cause salt poisoning, with vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures.
- Butter and oil. Fats can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
- Cheese powder. Many cats are lactose intolerant, so dairy can cause diarrhea or other stomach upset. Cheese popcorn is usually salty too.
- Sugar and caramel. Sugar isn't on veterinary toxic-food lists for cats, but sweet coatings add calories a cat doesn't need and can upset the stomach.
Side Effects of Eating Popcorn
Even plain popcorn can cause trouble in a larger amount. It is high in fiber and starch a cat doesn't need, and too much can lead to vomiting or diarrhea. If your cat keeps vomiting, see our guide on why cats throw up and call your veterinarian.
Choking is the other risk. Unpopped kernels and hulls are small and hard, and they can get stuck, as can a piece too big for your cat's mouth. Any treat should be an appropriate size and shape to reduce the risk of choking (WSAVA).
When Is Popcorn Okay, and When Is It Bad?
A small piece of plain, air-popped popcorn is unlikely to hurt a healthy adult cat. If your cat snuck a rogue piece that fell from your bowl, don't panic. Check what was on it, and if it was plain, just watch your cat for signs of stomach upset.
Popcorn becomes a problem when it carries a toxic or heavy topping, includes unpopped kernels or hulls, or your cat eats a lot of it.
Choking is an emergency. If you think your cat is choking on popcorn, go to the nearest veterinary or emergency clinic right away.
How Much Popcorn Is Too Much?
Treats, including table scraps like popcorn, should make up no more than 10% of a cat's daily calories, according to both WSAVA and AAHA.
Popcorn eats into that allowance fast. One cup of plain air-popped popcorn is about 31 calories (kcal), based on USDA nutrient data. WSAVA puts the daily treat allowance for an average healthy adult cat of about 4 kg (9 lb) at around 22 kcal. So one cup of plain popcorn is more than that cat's whole daily treat budget, before any butter. These figures are approximate; your veterinarian can tell you the right treat amount for your cat.
Alternative Cat Treats to Popcorn
Treats made for cats are a better choice. Meat-based commercial cat treats, such as freeze-dried chicken, fit a carnivore's diet. Another good option is a few pieces of your cat's regular food.
That trick is especially useful for cats with food allergies or on a special diet, such as a kidney diet. If your cat has a medical condition or eats a veterinary-prescribed diet, ask your veterinarian which treats fit.
Treats are just that, a treat. A complete and balanced cat food should make up the vast majority of what your cat eats.
Which Human Foods Are Toxic to Cats?
Some human foods that are toxic to cats may surprise you:
- Alcohol in beverages or food
- Onions, garlic, chives, leeks and shallots
- Heavily salted snack foods and salt itself
- Xylitol (an artificial sweetener)
- Caffeinated drinks
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Raw yeast dough
Raw eggs are also unsafe. They can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, and raw egg white contains an enzyme that can interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins.
If you think your cat has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. It is available 24/7, 365 days a year; a consultation fee may apply. Have ready your cat's age and size, what it ate and how much.
Can Kittens Eat Popcorn?
Kittens should not eat popcorn, because even a tiny piece or a kernel could be a choking hazard. Feed a complete and balanced kitten (growth) food instead, which provides the protein and the essential nutrient taurine that kittens need. If you think your kitten has eaten popcorn, contact your veterinarian for advice.
Is There Any Nutritional Value in Popcorn for Cats?
Popcorn does contain some B vitamins, iron, fiber, minerals and protein, but for a cat on a complete and balanced food these amounts are negligible. Its protein also comes from a plant, and plant proteins contain no taurine, an amino acid cats must get from their diet (Merck Veterinary Manual). Skip the popcorn and offer a bit of cat food instead.
Is Popcorn Safe for Senior Cats?
A small piece of plain, air-popped popcorn is likely safe for a healthy senior cat, but it adds nothing to an older cat's diet, so it is best avoided. The topping rules above apply at every age.
If your cat swallowed some plain popcorn without any trouble, watching for signs of stomach upset is usually enough. Contact your veterinarian if your cat:
- may have eaten popcorn with onion or garlic seasoning, chocolate or xylitol;
- may be choking (go to a clinic now);
- keeps vomiting or has diarrhea.
Originally written by Helen Roberts. Updated by the I Love Veterinary editorial team.
Sources
- ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- ASPCA: Animal Poison Control
- ASPCA: Corn Plant (Toxic and Non-toxic Plants)
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Feeding Your Cat
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Salt Toxicosis in Animals
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee: Feeding Treats to Your Cat
- AAHA: Weight Management
- USDA FoodData Central: Snacks, popcorn, air-popped
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
