What human foods can cats eat?

Cats have very specific dietary needs. For them to stay healthy and strong, they need a diet that mainly includes high protein, high moisture and some fat. Generally, an average adult cat will need 200-250 calories per day, depending on their weight and breed.

But, even if you’re feeding your cat exactly what they need, with all the best nutrients, like human-quality fresh meat food from KatKin, that won’t stop them if they catch a whiff of human food.

Most of the time, no harm comes from them nibbling a small piece of human food. But some food can be toxic to cats. So, it’s important to learn what human food cats can and can’t eat.

Fresh, high-quality meat will always be the best food for your cat. Lean meats like chicken, turkey, beef and lamb are all perfectly healthy for your cat. If you’re planning on giving your cat some meat that you’ve cooked, make sure that it’s unseasoned and that all bones have been removed to prevent any choking hazards.

Never feed them raw meat, as this can put your cat at risk of parasites (like worms, yuck) and isn’t great for you either with the risk of bacteria like E.Coli. While many cats wouldn’t say no to a little cooked chicken as a treat, make sure you’re feeding them a well balanced food (like KatKin) and not just home-cooked meat from the supermarket for the best, nutritionally balanced diet.

Cats love fish. They would eat it all day, every day, if they could. Luckily, most types of fish are safe for cats. And they contain vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that are good for your cat’s health. Like any other meat, raw fish can give your cat salmonella poisoning. Our advice is to avoid raw fish altogether. The best way to feed your cat fish is to steam it and cut it into small pieces. Just like with meat, it should be unseasoned and free from any bones too. Canned tuna in water is also safe for your cats to eat and can even help them if they’re ill, as it encourages their appetite.

Cats don’t need carbohydrates in their diet. In fact, many cat food brands include grains in their food purely as a filler. But it has no nutritional benefit to them. Oats, corn, and cooked rice are safe, but we don’t recommend feeding them to cats – especially regularly. However, if your cat has an upset stomach, a small amount of cooked, plain brown or white rice along with boiled chicken can help to settle it.

Cooked eggs, either scrambled or boiled, can provide a healthy source of protein for your cat. It can also help their fur become thick and shiny. Eggs should only be given as an occasional treat and not replace their regular food. Cats also shouldn’t eat raw eggs as they carry bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, which can make them unwell.

Cats are obligate carnivores. This means they rely on animal protein and need meat to survive and thrive. Vegetables have no place in their regular diet. But as a very occasional treat, or if they do manage to steal some veggies, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, celery, and green beans are best as they have a high-water, low-fat and low-calorie content.

Just like with vegetables, fruits shouldn’t have a regular place in your cat’s diet as there’s no nutritional need for them. If you do feed your cat fruit, only give them very small amounts as fruit is naturally high in sugar. You should also thoroughly wash fruit before feeding it to your cat. Safe fruits for your cat include:

• Apples

• Bananas

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Raspberries

• Pears

• Watermelon

• Pumpkin

A couple of teaspoons of cooked pumpkin puree can also help with any stomach issues your cat might have.

While there are plenty of human foods your cat can eat, many common foods can be very dangerous and lead to serious illnesses if eaten often or in large amounts. These foods should be kept away and out of reach to prevent your cat from consuming them:

• Grapes and raisins are highly toxic and can cause kidney failure.

• Oranges contain limonene, linalool, and psoralens – oils that are poisonous to cats. Not only that but the citrus smell is well known to repulse them.

• Lemons, lime and grapefruit, are all very acidic and can cause an upset stomach.

• Cherries and plums are toxic for cats.

• Onion and garlic are extremely poisonous to cats.

• Most mushrooms can be very poisonous for cats, so avoid them completely.

Other foods that aren’t necessarily poisonous but should still be avoided due to their risk of causing an upset stomach and high fat, sugar and salt content include:

• Avocado

• Peaches

• Potatoes

• Broccoli

• Tomatoes

• Peanut butter

• Nuts

• Popcorn

• Caffeine

• Raw dough

Cats are lactose intolerant. So they should avoid dairy products completely to prevent the risk of getting an upset stomach – this includes cheese. While some cheese is lower in lactose, you should still be careful if you decide to feed it to your cat. Large or frequent amounts of cheese can cause damage to their digestive system.

It’s common knowledge that chocolate is toxic for dogs. But it seems less people know that it’s just as toxic for cats too. Dark chocolate is particularly bad for cats. This is because chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine – two ingredients that can help improve focus and alertness in humans but causes heart problems, muscle tremors and even seizures in cats.

Yes, cats can eat bread, but we don’t recommend it. It’s only safe for cats in very small amounts and contains no nutritional value for them. Instead, it simply uses up calories without providing them with any benefits and they’ll struggle to digest it (leaving you with a smellier litter box).

Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for your cat’s health and happiness. A good diet with the perfect portion sizes will give them plenty of energy, making them very playful, a thick and shiny coat, better digestion, fewer hairballs and an easy-to-maintain weight. 

With KatKin, your fresh food plan is personalised to your cat. Just tell us their age, breed, weight and activity level, and we’ll do the rest. Our fresh food is then gently cooked in its own juices, frozen and delivered straight to your door. One tray is 100% of your cat’s daily nutritional needs. So they won’t need to snack on any human foods – safe or not. 

The risk you take by giving your cat human food is that they can very quickly grow to love it. So not only will they start to beg for food when they see you eating or cooking something you’ve given them before, but they’ll start to ignore the food in their bowl too. 

Feeding cats human food alongside their regular food will also increase the risk of obesity, digestive issues and other health problems. Safe human foods should only be given as a special treat. It shouldn’t become a daily habit that they’ll learn to expect.

For healthy cat treats, our 100% chicken and salmon Nibbles, freeze-dried to protect nutrients and flavour, are the perfect choice. Take a look at our range of fresh cat food products and give them the best food for their health.