What Human Foods Can Cats Eat?
It’s not just dogs who beg at the dinner table, it’s actually very common for your feline to put on the kitty cat eyes too! If you’re tucking into a tasty meal or snack, it’s highly likely your cat will be expecting you to slip a tasty morsel their way too. But it’s important to remember that just because a food is okay for us to eat, it doesn’t automatically make it safe for them too.
We’ve put together this guide to tell you what human food cats can eat so you know what foods you can share, and what you shouldn’t!
What can cats eat?
Unless they have an underlying health problem, your cat will get everything they need from a 100% complete and balanced cat food suitable for their life-stage. There’s no need to add supplements to your pets’ diet, but it’s ok to give them an occasional treat. While it’s best to give treats that are designed especially for felines, here are a few human foods your cat can eat too:
Meats
Cooked, lean meats such as beef, chicken and turkey are all ok for you cat to eat. However, it’s important that you make sure the meat’s cooked through – never give cats raw meat – and remove all skin and bones before feeding.
Eggs
It may surprise you to learn that cats can enjoy a small portion of cooked eggs (scrambled with no fat or seasoning, or boiled) and they’re full of amino acids and protein, so they make a healthy treat. Never feed your cat raw eggs due to the risk of salmonella.
Fish
Cats are widely known for their love of fish and most types are actually fine for your cat to eat! As with meats, make sure the fish is properly cooked and all the bones are removed, and never give your cat raw fish.
Vegetables
Many cats hate vegetables, so they may simply turn their nose up when presented with one. However, if your feline enjoys the odd veggie snack, a few safe vegetables cats can eat are: steamed broccoli, carrots and peas.
Fruits
Much like with vegetables, fruits can also be a bit hit and miss with cats, with many not liking the texture or the taste. In fact, cats are unable to taste the ‘sweet’ flavour profile, which may explain their lack of interest. However, there’s actually quite a few that are safe for them to eat in moderation such as: bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, watermelon (seedless) and peeled apples (deseeded).
Human foods to avoid feeding your cat:
Where there’s lots of human foods that are safe for cats to eat, there’s also plenty that should be avoided. Some of the foods/ingredients that are poisonous or harmful for cats are:
- Dairy: including milk, cheese and yoghurts
- Chocolate: dark chocolate is particularly toxic
- Nuts: particularly macadamia nuts and walnuts
- Grapes and raisins
- Coffee, tea or anything else that contains caffeine
- Foods of the allium family: garlic, onions, chives, leeks, shallots and scallions
- Xylitol: a sweetener usually found in sweets, certain peanut butters and gum
- Coconut milk
- Alcohol
- Seeds
- Raw meat and fish
- Cooked bones
- Raw, uncooked bread dough
For more information on harmful substances and poisonous foods for cats, check out our article.
That’s our guide to what cats can eat! Want more cat feeding tips and advice? Read our article on how to choose the best cat food for your pet, next.
