Can cats eat cornbread? How about any other type of food that has corn as a main ingredient? And are there any other alternatives out there besides corn based food for your cat?
Well in today’s article, we will dive in and answer these questions so that you can make sure that what your cat is eating is both appropriate and healthy enough for them.
Table of Contents
Can Cats Eat Cornbread?
While it is perfectly fine to give your cat cornbread from time to time, it is not something you should be feeding your cat on a regular basis. If you have any leftover cornbread from a previous meal, it should be perfectly fine for you to give a little to your cat as a snack.
To be on the safe side, it’s best if the cornbread doesn’t have any toppings or butter on it. Butter is a dairy product and most cats are lactose intolerant, so this might mess with your cat’s digestive system.
Can Cats Eat Corn?
Chances are high that if you feed your cat regular commercial dry cat food, then they are most likely consuming corn on a daily basis. Corn happens to be a common ingredient in many cat food brands on the market today. This is mainly because corn is a cheap filler ingredient, but it doesn’t give your cat any decent nutritional value.
However, if you’re wondering about normal corn that us humans eat, it is best to steer away from giving them too much corn. Because they have a small digestive tract, and corn takes a while to complete the digestion cycle, corn is very hard for cats to digest.
However, if you do decide to give your cat some corn anyway, they should only be fed moderate amounts. Also make sure there is no butter or other flavorings on the corn that may be harmful to your feline companion.
A main staple of a cat’s diet is protein, and while corn may have enough protein for us, it’s usually not enough for their body types. Also, corn is one of the main food ingredients that cats are allergic to.
If your cat is sneezing, vomiting, or has a sudden bout of diarrhea after you’ve given them corn, then they may be allergic to it, since these symptoms are common with cat food allergies.
Can Cats Eat Corn Husks?
Some cats like to chew on plant-like material, and this is basically what corn husks are. The simple answer is that cats can chew on them but shouldn’t really be eating them. If your cat does end up eating a corn husk, it could cause a blockage in their intestines.
This will result in a trip to the veterinarian to correct the blockage, so I would highly recommend not taking any chances. It’s important to remember that just because your cat seems to absolutely love a certain food, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s good for them. 
Instead of allowing your cat to chew on corn husks, a better alternative might be cat grass. This will still give your cat a plant material to chew on, but is much healthier and easier for them to digest.
Best Alternatives to Feeding Your Cat Corn
The best way to be sure that your cat is not consuming too much corn in their diet is by feeding them grain free cat food. Grain free cat food is formulated to be similar to that of their feline ancestors, and may also prevent your cat from coming down with any food allergies.
In my opinion, the best grain free cat food by far is the American Journey brand of grain free dry cat food. I especially love the varieties they have available such as chicken, salmon, turkey, and even duck flavored cat food. More importantly though, my cats absolutely love these flavors and it’s healthy for them. I would say the only real drawback to this brand is that it is a tad pricey.
If you’re on a budget though, another great option is the Purina Cat Chow Naturals Grain Free. This dry cat food option uses real meat in their ingredients and because of that, you can be sure your cat is getting the protein it needs.
Final Thoughts
In small quantities, cornbread and other corn related foods should be okay for your cat to consume. Obviously, you should never have corn be the main staple in their diet. And if your cat happens to like chewing on corn husks, that’s fine as long as they’re not actually eating them.
Corn itself is really hard for cats to digest and may cause serious food allergies. It’s best to stick with the healthier grain free alternatives that were mentioned above. And if you must include corn in their diet, remember that moderation is key.
