Can Cats Eat Bacon?

No, you shouldn’t intentionally share bacon with your cat. 

A small bite of plain bacon won’t harm a healthy cat, but it’s still the kind of food that creates more risk than benefit. Unlike plain, cooked meat, bacon is cured, meaning it’s preserved with large amounts of salt and often additional seasonings or additives. That makes it much higher in sodium and fat than the simple meat-based foods cats do best with.  

If you want to share something protein-based, better cat-safe options are plain tuna or chicken. 

If you want to give your cat a taste of bacon without the risk, you can also try these cat-approved treats: 

Bacon is a poor fit for cats for several reasons: 

• Too much salt: Bacon is heavily cured, so even a few bites can be saltier than what cats should have, especially those who are on diets to help manage kidney disease or heart disease. 
• Too much fat and grease: Bacon is very high in fat, and the greasy drippings are even more concentrated. Rich, fatty foods can upset your cat’s stomach and may be especially hard on cats with pancreatitis or other digestive issues.  
• Artificial flavors and preservatives: Bacon is a heavily processed meat, which means it’s made with preservatives, smoke flavoring, and other additives to improve flavor and shelf life. Cats don’t benefit from these ingredients. 
• Added seasoning: Maple, peppered, spicy, or heavily seasoned bacon can be even harder on cats. These types often contain added sugar, extra sodium, and seasonings that may include ingredients toxic to cats, such as garlic or onion. 

If your cat ate some bacon, don’t panic. Figure out how much they ate and what else it may have contained.  

If your cat only ate a small amount of plain bacon, they’ll probably be fine and you may just need to keep an eye on them.  

If they ate a lot of bacon or got into bacon grease or heavily seasoned bacon, watch for signs such as: 

• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Low appetite 
• Belly discomfort 
• Lethargy 

Call your veterinarian if: 

• Your cat ate a large amount of bacon or bacon grease. 
• The bacon was heavily seasoned. 
• Your cat already has stomach, pancreas, kidney, or heart issues. 

If you can’t reach your veterinarian right away, you can also call the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). 

The best way to prevent your cat from eating bacon is to keep it out of reach. Here are some tips that can help: 

• Don’t leave cooked bacon on the counter. 
• Wipe up grease spills right away. 
• Keep bacon drippings and pans out of reach. 
• Offer cat treats or lickable cat treats instead of table scraps. 

If your cat loves savory treats, these options can satisfy their cravings without the extra fat and sodium found in bacon: 

Is bacon bad for cats? 

Yes, bacon can be bad for cats because it’s heavily processed, high in salt and fat, and may contain seasonings, like garlic and onion, that are toxic to cats.  

Can cats eat turkey bacon? 

No, cats shouldn’t eat turkey bacon because it’s still processed and usually high in sodium. 

Can cats eat bacon grease? 

No, cats shouldn’t eat bacon grease because it’s very high in fat and can upset your cat’s stomach. 

What human food can cats eat instead? 

Plain, cooked chicken, turkey, and tuna are better choices than bacon for cats. That said, you should still keep portions small and make sure treats make up no more than 10% of your cat’s diet.