Can Pets Have Honey? What Cat and Dog Owners Should Know

In a house full of rescued cats and dogs, every jar of honey attracts at least one hopeful face. So we get asked a lot: is it okay to share? The answer depends on the animal, and a little caution goes a long way.

Honey and dogs

For most healthy adult dogs, a small amount of honey is generally considered safe as an occasional treat. Honey isn't toxic to dogs the way chocolate, grapes, or the sweetener xylitol are.

That said, honey is mostly sugar. Dogs don't need it, and too much can lead to weight gain, dental problems, or an upset stomach. Think of it as a rare lick, not a regular part of the diet. Your veterinarian can tell you what's reasonable for your dog's size and health.

Dogs who should skip honey

• Puppies, whose immune systems are still developing. Raw honey can contain bacterial spores that a mature gut usually handles but a young one may not. (It's the same reason honey isn't safe for human babies. See Honey and Sore Throats.)
• Dogs with diabetes, since honey raises blood sugar.
• Overweight dogs, for whom extra sugar isn't helpful.
• Dogs with weakened immune systems or serious health conditions, unless your vet says otherwise.

Honey and cats

Cats are a different story. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are designed to get nutrition from meat, not sugar. They also can't taste sweetness at all. So honey offers cats no real nutritional benefit, and the sugar isn't something their bodies are built to handle well.

A tiny lick of honey is unlikely to cause harm to a healthy adult cat, but there's no reason to offer it. Kittens and cats with diabetes or other health issues should avoid it entirely. When our cats come sniffing around the honey jar, it's usually curiosity, not a sweet tooth.

What about honey as a home remedy?

You'll find plenty of advice online about giving honey to pets for coughs, allergies, or wounds. Some veterinarians do use medical-grade honey on certain wounds, but that's very different from spreading kitchen honey on a sore. Coughing, skin problems, or wounds can have many causes, and some need prompt veterinary care. Please check with your vet before using honey, or any home remedy, to treat your pet.

Watch out for honey-flavored products

The bigger danger is often not honey itself but what comes with it. Honey-sweetened baked goods, candies, and sugar-free products can contain chocolate, raisins, or xylitol, all of which are dangerous for pets. Keep those well out of reach.

Signs to call your vet

If your pet eats a lot of honey or a honey product, watch for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, excessive thirst, or unusual behavior, and call your veterinarian or an animal poison control line if anything seems off.

Bringing home a new cat? Our New Cat Owner Guide shares what we've learned from more than 26 years of rescue and fostering, from the first day home to lifelong care.