Can Cats Eat Barley?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Barley is an occasional treat at most, and only when it is plain, cooked until soft and offered in a very small amount. The ASPCA does not include barley on its list of people foods to avoid, but that does not make it useful to a cat. The Cornell Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients found only in animal products, with a natural prey diet high in protein and very low in carbohydrates.
What Barley Offers a Cat
Barley is a cereal grain. Most of its calories come from starch, with some fiber and a little plant protein. A cat has no need for any of that from a dish of grain. You may see barley on the ingredient list of a commercial cat food, and Cornell lists grain and grain byproducts among the ingredients dry foods may include. In that case the grain is one part of a formula built to be complete. Plain barley on its own supplies none of the animal-based nutrients a cat depends on, so think of it as filler that some cats happen to tolerate.
How Much Barley Can a Cat Have?
For a 10-pound adult cat with no known food allergy and no medical condition, 1 teaspoon of plain cooked barley is plenty, and it adds only a few calories. WSAVA advises keeping treats below 10 percent of daily calories, which it puts at roughly 22 to 25 treat calories a day for a cat of about this size. The barley counts toward that allowance. Take a little off the regular meal so the day's total does not creep up. Kittens, seniors and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis or food allergies should not get barley until their veterinarian has weighed in.
How to Serve It
Simmer pearled or hulled barley in plain water until it is very soft, cool it to room temperature and mash a small amount into the cat's usual food. Leave out salt, butter, broth and seasoning. Soups and stews made with barley usually start with onion or garlic, and the Merck Veterinary Manual names cats as the species most susceptible to onion and garlic poisoning. So the leftover beef and barley soup is not a good place to spoon from. Dry, uncooked grains are hard and should not be offered. Beer and other malted drinks are made from barley too, and the ASPCA warns that alcohol can cause vomiting, breathing trouble, coma and death in pets.
If your cat has a medical condition or eats a prescription diet, ask your veterinarian before offering barley.
Common Questions
Can kittens eat barley?
Kittens are better off without barley. A growing kitten needs a complete kitten food, and a spoonful of grain only takes up space in a very small stomach without adding the animal protein Cornell says cats rely on. If a kitten steals a few plain cooked grains, there is no cause for alarm. If the barley came from a soup made with onion or garlic, call your veterinarian.
Is barley in cat food bad for cats?
Barley in a complete and balanced cat food is not a problem on its own. The Cornell Feline Health Center lists grain and grain byproducts among the ingredients dry foods may include, and the full formula is what covers a cat's needs. Judge a food by whether it is labeled complete and balanced for your cat's life stage, not by a single grain on the ingredient list.
Can cats eat beef and barley soup?
No, most beef and barley soup is not suitable for cats. The broth is salty, and the base nearly always includes onion or garlic. The Merck Veterinary Manual calls cats the species most susceptible to onion and garlic poisoning and links concentrated forms such as powders and soup mixes to many cases. Set aside a little plain cooked barley before anything else goes into the pot.
Can cats eat raw barley?
Cats should not eat raw barley. Dry grains are hard and hard to chew, and a cat gains nothing from them. If you want to share a taste, cook the barley in plain water until it is very soft and mash it. Keep the bag of dry barley closed and out of reach, since a curious cat may chew through packaging.
Is barley good for cats with diarrhea?
Barley is not a home remedy for diarrhea in cats. Loose stool has many possible causes, and adding a new food can make the problem harder to sort out. If diarrhea lasts more than a day, or your cat is also vomiting, refusing food or acting tired, call your veterinarian. A vet can recommend a bland diet that fits your cat instead of guessing with grains.