Can Cats Eat Donuts?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
No. Keep donuts away from cats. A donut is sweet dough fried in oil and then glazed, frosted, sugared or dipped in chocolate. It gives a cat fat and sugar and nothing a cat food does not already supply, and some of the most popular kinds add chocolate.
Why Donuts Are a Problem for Cats
Donuts soak up oil as they cook, so they are heavy in fat. The ASPCA notes that the oils and fats in nuts can cause vomiting, diarrhea and potentially pancreatitis in some pets. Tufts veterinary nutritionists say a 10-pound cat should get no more than about 20 calories a day from treats, and a few bites of a donut can pass that.
Glaze is powdered sugar and milk, and frosting is sugar and fat. A 2005 study in PLOS Genetics found that cats lack a working sweet taste receptor, so a cat gets calories from the sugar without even tasting it as sweet.
Chocolate frosted, chocolate glazed and chocolate cake donuts all bring methylxanthines, which the ASPCA lists as the reason chocolate is a risk to pets. The Merck Veterinary Manual says chocolate can cause life-threatening heart rhythm problems.
Fillings and flavors add more. Boston cream and custard filled donuts contain milk, and the ASPCA explains that pets lack much lactase, so dairy can cause diarrhea. Old fashioned and cake donuts are often spiced with nutmeg, which the ASPCA says can cause problems when large amounts are eaten. Coffee glazed and maple bacon donuts are popular too, and WSAVA lists caffeinated drinks such as coffee among foods to keep from cats. Bacon adds salt.
Signs to Watch For
A cat that eats a bite of a plain glazed donut may have nothing more than a mild upset stomach, with vomiting or soft stool. If the donut had chocolate or coffee, the Merck Veterinary Manual warns of heart rhythm problems, so watch for restlessness, a racing heart, vomiting or diarrhea. A cream filled donut is more likely to cause diarrhea.
What to Do If Your Cat Ate a Donut
If your cat ate a donut with chocolate, coffee or a large amount of icing, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away. Do not try to make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to. Keep the box so the vet can see which flavor it was.
If your cat has diabetes, pancreatitis or a weight problem, ask your veterinarian before sharing any sweet or fried food.
Common Questions
Can cats eat chocolate donuts?
No. Chocolate donuts contain chocolate or cocoa, and the ASPCA lists chocolate among people foods to keep from pets because of its methylxanthines. The Merck Veterinary Manual warns that chocolate can cause life-threatening heart rhythm problems. If your cat ate a chocolate donut, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away.
Can cats eat glazed donuts?
A glazed donut is fried dough covered in sugar, and it offers your cat nothing it needs. Tufts says a 10-pound cat should get no more than about 20 calories a day from treats, and a few bites of donut can use that up. The fat can also cause vomiting or diarrhea. Offer a cat treat instead.
Can cats eat powdered sugar?
There is no reason to give a cat powdered sugar. A 2005 study in PLOS Genetics found that cats lack a working sweet taste receptor, so sugar adds calories without the taste. A lick of powdered sugar off a donut is unlikely to cause harm, but sweets often come with chocolate, cream or nuts, which bring their own problems. Keep pastries out of reach.
Can cats eat donut holes?
No. Donut holes are the same fried dough as a full donut, just smaller, and they are often glazed, rolled in sugar or covered in chocolate. Their size makes them easy for a cat to grab and carry off. The ASPCA notes that the oils and fats in nuts can cause vomiting and diarrhea. If the donut holes were chocolate, call your veterinarian.
What happens if my cat eats a donut?
A bite of a plain donut usually causes no more than an upset stomach, and many cats will show nothing at all. If the donut had chocolate, coffee glaze or cream filling, the risk goes up. The ASPCA lists chocolate and caffeine among foods to keep from pets, and Merck says chocolate can cause heart rhythm problems. Call your veterinarian and tell them which kind of donut it was.