The Happy Cat Site

All you need to find a kitten and raise a happy, healthy cat

  • Cat Types
    • Pure Breeds
    • Mix Breeds
    • Coat & Patterns
    • Cat Comparisons
    • Color Variations
  • Kittens
    • 8 Week Old Kitten
    • 12 Week Old Kitten
    • 4 Month Old Kitten
    • 5 Month Old Kitten
  • Cat Care
    • Feeding Your Cat
    • Litter Box Problems
    • Cat Health
    • Cat Grooming
    • Breeding
  • Names
  • About
You are here: Home / Cat Care / Cat Health / Manuka Honey For Cats – Does It Really Work?

Manuka Honey For Cats – Does It Really Work?

December 15, 2022 By Kristin Hitchcock 6 Comments

manuka honey for cats

Manuka honey is given to cats world wide in an attempt to cure various ailments. Honey has some antibacterial properties, but Manuka is claimed to prevent infections, speed healing and even cure the plague and ebola. But this supposed miracle liquid has come under some serious scrutiny recently. Is it possible that it actually does nothing to help with a lot of the things it was supposed to treat?

Contents

  • What is Manuka honey?
  • Does it really work?
  • How effective is honey as a treatment?
  • Can Manuka honey cure cancer?

One pet owner has been charged with causing suffering to an animal after trying to treat her cat’s cancer with Manuka honey. And this has caused a huge uproar over its effectiveness and safety.

Where Does Manuka Honey Come From?

Manuka honey is produced by bees that specifically frequent the Manuka bush. An evergreen shrub native to Australia and New Zealand with spiky green leaves and white or pink flowers.

It is famous for surviving in poor conditions, and is often the first plant to re-establish itself after wild fires or deforestation. The high concentration of compounds from this particular plant give Manuka honey different properties from regular honey.

Does Manuka Honey Work?

Manuka honey is thought to be antibiotic and antiseptic. This because it naturally contains hydrogen peroxide and higher than usual concentrations of methylglyoxal. However, when compared with other honeys there is no discernible difference in antibacterial properties.

There are some studies which have shown interesting medical results though. Like one on rats that showed improvement on gastric ulcers, and human studies that suggested some benefits to indigestion and dental problems. But it took A LOT of honey for this effect to become apparent – far more than you could probably ever convince your cat to eat.

manuka honey for cats

Is Manuka Honey for Cats Effective?

Although there are a lot of tales of manuka honey improving cats conditions, none of these have been replicated by veterinarians or in laboratories. Of the improvements foundIt is important to point out that nearly all these studies were done on rats.

Perhaps the most dramatic claim made about Manuka honey is that it can cure cancer. These days it is a sad truth that everyone knows a person or a pet who has been affected by cancer. It’s a cruel disease, and we’re desperate to fight back against it.

Manuka Honey for Cats with Cancer

Compared to everything we know about treating this condition (and huge sums of money are spent in pursuit of this every year), research into Manuka honey is absolutely in its infancy.

That said, there have been some interesting revelations. In 2003 researchers in Japan found that Manuka honey inhibited tumor growth in mice. And in 2013 researchers in the UAE also found that Manuka honey inhibited tumor growth and improved the efficacy of chemotherapy in mice.

These results are thought to be due to the antioxidative properties of Manuka honey. However, whilst these findings raise the need for further research, there is still a lot to learn. Cats’ and humans’ bodies work very differently to mice, and more studies are needed before we’ll know whether Manuka honey can be used safely and effectively to complement existing cancer treatments.

What About Safety?

There is nothing initially wrong with a cat eating a small amount of Manuka honey. Itis not toxic or anything of that sort. But, there are some long-term problems that could evolve if your cat eats too much honey over a long period of time.

Firstly, Manuka honey is obviously sugary. It is honey, after all. Eating too much of this syrup can cause obesity if your cat continuous consumes it regularly. Due to the sugar content, eating a large amount even only once can cause a spike in blood sugar. This can cause issues if your feline has any underlying health issues, such as diabetes.

Secondly, if Manuka honey is used alone as the first line of treatment for an illness, and it doesn’t work, the illness will continue to progress until they receive a treatment that does work. Of course, the longer a condition is allowed to develop, the harder it will be for a veterinarian to treat it later. This can cause unnecessary complications and even death.

Manuka Honey for Cats

Although the potential for manuka honey is fascinating, research is in it’s infancy. There is to date no proof that it is effective at treating many of the conditions it is advertised to. On top of this, too much honey has the possibility of causing unpleasant side effects in your feline.

Always take your cat to the veterinarian if they appear ill, and never attempt to treat them at home by yourself.

Have you seen any other claims about Manuka honey for cats? Join in the debate using the comments box!

Manuka honey for Cats - Health and feeding advice for your cat.

Comments

  1. Dawn says

    January 18, 2019 at 7:03 pm

    can anyone tell me if the Manuka Oil is safe for cats topically? Is Manuka honey safe topically for cats also?

    Reply
    • Pippa says

      January 22, 2019 at 9:33 am

      Hi Dawn, This isn’t a straight forward yes or no, unfortunately. Check out the section entitled ‘Is Manuka Honey Safe for Cats?’, which covers the details.

      Reply
  2. EILEEN Noden says

    October 13, 2021 at 4:41 pm

    Hi can anyone advise me, I am looking after a puss that was treated with Manuka honey on its leg, the fur is now all stuck together, and driving the poor puss crazy, is there a safe effective way I can remove from the cats fur, thank you

    Reply
  3. Sue Sutcliffe says

    January 5, 2023 at 11:10 am

    Hi I am thinking of trying a bit of Manuka honey to treat my cat’s bad mouth sore. So far 2 trips to vets injections and courses of tablets have not completed healed it up. Doesn’t help as he keeps licking himself clean! If I do try it what concentration would I need? I would only try for a bout a week to see if any improvement and probably only a 1/4 of a teaspoon daily.

    Reply
    • Samantha says

      February 10, 2023 at 3:46 am

      Coincidence or not. My kitten received a claw puncture on his head by one of my older cats, it was swelling a lot and I’m thinking great an abscess and costly visit to the vet. Then I remembered about manuka honey, I just put a dab straight on it, it’s terrible for their fur but it started to get better so quickly I’m not taking him to the vet 🙌 he has a little sore on the side of his mouth, I’m going to use it for that too!

      Reply
  4. Chua Beechin says

    September 29, 2023 at 12:31 pm

    A stray cat is living in my yard. He doesn’t allow himself to be touched. I trapped him took him to the vet for bleeding behind his ears. Vet said it was skin erosion. Gave him steroid injection. He was released but his skin erosion got worst. I got steroid pills and gave him manuka honey instead of antibiotics . He is on his way to recovery.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Happy Cat Handbook(paid link)

Recent Posts

3 month old kitten

3 Month Old Kitten

Your 3 month old kitten might have been in … More...

what to feed a sick cat that wont eat

What to Feed a Sick Cat that Won’t Eat

Knowing what to feed a sick cat that won’t … More...

Names For White Cats - Our Top 100 White Cat Names

Names For White Cats – Our Top 100 White Cat Names

White cat names don't just have to show off … More...

tortoiseshell cat

33 Fascinating Tortoiseshell Cat Facts

The tortoiseshell cat has black and orange … More...

The Happy Cat SiteThe Happy Cat Site by Red Cat Media - copyright 2017 Red Cat Media Ltd. - Logo by Toby Mattinson Animation
The Happy Cat Site is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk
The Happy Cat Site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
View Privacy Policy