Can cats eat cinnamon?

Why

While the spice itself is not poisonous, the essential oils in cinnamon can irritate a cat's mouth, throat, and digestive tract. Ingesting large amounts or inhaling the powder can lead to coughing, vomiting, or difficulty breathing, so it is best to keep it out of their reach unless used in a very tiny, controlled amount.

If you do feed it

• Use only a tiny pinch of plain, ground cinnamon as a rare treat, never as a regular food item.
• Avoid cinnamon sticks, bark, or essential oils entirely as they pose a choking hazard and are highly concentrated.
• Do not give cinnamon in sweetened forms like baked goods, as sugar and xylitol are dangerous for cats.
• Monitor your cat closely after any exposure for signs of coughing, drooling, or vomiting.

Watch out for

• Cinnamon essential oils and extracts
• Cinnamon sticks or bark (choking hazard)
• Baked goods containing cinnamon (sugar and xylitol toxicity)
• Cinnamon powder that can be inhaled causing respiratory irritation

Better choices