Human Food Cats Can Eat (and 12 Foods That Are Toxic)

The list of human food cats can eat safely is pretty simple: it includes lean animal proteins like chicken, turkey, beef and fish, as well as few fruits and vegetables like pumpkin, blueberries, watermelon and bananas. All of it should be unseasoned, served in small bites and not exceed 10% of your cat's caloric intake per day. Some foods are toxic and shouldn't ever be offered to a cat: onions, garlic, grapes, alcohol and chocolate included.

Why such careful approach? Cats are obligate carnivores and require certain nutrients that can be found only in animal tissues, like taurine and preformed vitamin A, while their metabolism doesn't process plants and sugar well. Moreover, they can't even sense the taste of sweet things: according to a study published by Xia Li et al. in 2005, the cat sweet taste receptor contains mutations that break its function.

Here we present each of the foods on the human food cats can eat list with a brief description.

Can cats eat watermelon?

Verdict: yes, in moderation. Can cats eat watermelon? A seedless rind-free watermelon is safe for cats and can serve as a treat. This fruit consists of about 90% of water, so a couple of small pieces of watermelon can even provide some hydration on a hot day.

How to give: remove all the seeds and the rind, cut into small pieces and give one or two.

Watch out for: too much water and sugar can lead to diarrhea. Also, most cats will probably ignore it: since they can't taste sweet, it's a pure novelty for them.

So, can cats eat watermelon daily? It's better not to. Offer it once in a while and in moderation.

Can cats eat eggs?

Verdict: yes, but only cooked. Can cats eat eggs? Scrambled and hard-boiled eggs cooked without any salt, oil, milk or spices are one of the most useful human foods for cats.

How to give: a teaspoon of plain scrambled eggs or a bite-sized piece of hard-boiled eggs.

Watch out for: raw eggs contain bacteria like Salmonella, while egg white contains a substance called avidin which interferes with the biotin digestion. These problems are solved after cooking.

Can cats eat eggs often? As an occasional treat, yes. Don't let them substitute a full-fledged food for cats.

Human Food Cats Can Eat as a Treat

While offering human food cats can eat as a treat, remember three important things:

Unseasoned and cooked.
Small pieces.
Less than 10% of total daily caloric intake.

Foods Toxic to Cats Poster

Many pet owners prefer printing a poster or a food toxic to cats chart and putting it on the fridge, especially in case of households with children or visiting friends who want to spoil the cat with some food. Both ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline provide lists of toxic food for cats online that work as a food toxic to cats chart. A good foods toxic to cats poster should contain 12 items from our "never feed" section below and ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline: (888) 426-4435.

Human Food for Cats List

Human Food for Cats List

Here we present the list of human food for cats with serving sizes - human food cats can eat everyday in small amounts or occasionally. All of it is plain and unseasoned, some foods require cooking:

Chicken, turkey

Safe?: Yes
How to serve: Cooked, skinless and boneless

Lean beef, lamb

Safe?: Yes
How to serve: Cooked

Fish (salmon, white fish)

Safe?: Yes, occasionally
How to serve: Cooked, boneless, without oil

Canned tuna

Safe?: Occasionally
How to serve: Only in water, not in oil

Eggs

Safe?: Yes
How to serve: Cooked (scrambled or hard-boiled)

Pumpkin

Safe?: Yes
How to serve: Canned pure pumpkin, not pie filling, a teaspoon

Blueberries

Safe?: Yes
How to serve: One or two berries, cut

Watermelon

Safe?: Yes
How to serve: Seedless, without rind, small pieces

Banana

Safe?: Occasionally
How to serve: Small slice

Carrots, green beans, peas

Safe?: Yes
How to serve: Cooked, steamed and chopped

Cooked rice or oats

Safe?: Occasionally
How to serve: Small spoonful, to help digestion

Cheese

Safe?: Rarely
How to serve: Only a tiny piece (most cats are lactose intolerant)

It's your answer on the question of "people food cats can eat" when you want to share something with your pet during the dinner: a bite of cooked skinless chicken or turkey from the roast, before adding any seasonings.

As for human food cats can eat everyday, the list is pretty short. Only a cooked, plain chicken or turkey is the closest to being a regular food item, but it should be just a supplement to a complete food for cats. People foods that cats can eat daily is basically a few bites of plain meat.

Can cats eat bananas?

Verdict: yes, occasionally. Can cats eat bananas? A small slice of banana once in a while won't do any harm, but it's high in sugar and carbohydrates which cats don't need.

How to give: thin slices, mashed or small bites.

Fun fact: there are some cats that don't like bananas. It's not backed by any scientific studies, but it's believed that it's because of the smell of ripening fruit.

Can cats eat blueberries?

Verdict: yes. Can cats eat blueberries? They are safe and low-calorie and sometimes used in commercial cat foods. Two berries cut in halves is the maximum.

Why cats like blueberries: it's probably the fun of batting a round berry along the floor, not the taste itself.

12 Toxic or Dangerous Foods for Cats

These human foods toxic to cats or dangerous for them should never be offered:

Onions, garlic, leeks and chives - whether they are raw, cooked or powdered. They destroy red blood cells and can cause anemia. Be aware of garlic powder in stocks and baby food.
Grapes and raisins - the data on toxicity in cats is not as solid as in dogs, but there are cases of kidney damage.
Chocolate - theobromine toxicity.
Caffeine - coffee, tea, energy drinks.
Alcohol - even small amounts are very dangerous for cats.
Yeast dough - it expands in the cat's stomach and produces alcohol.
Xylitol-sweetened products - extremely toxic to dogs; the risk for cats is still being researched.
Raw eggs - Salmonella risk and biotin problems.
Large quantities of raw fish - contains an enzyme that breaks down thiamine (vitamin B1).
Cooked bones - can easily break and choke or injure your cat.
Milk and cream - most adult cats are lactose intolerant and can get diarrhea from it.
Fat or salty foods - pancreatitis and salt risk.

For the list of toxic food for cats, try the ASPCA "People Foods to Avoid" page. While a toxic food for cats list is a good start, not all foods toxic to cats are listed, so if you're in doubt, don't share any food.

Introducing New Food to Cat

Even food from the human food cats can eat list can upset a sensitive cat's stomach. You can use the same approach as veterinarians advise when introducing any new treat:

One new food at a time - if there's any reaction, you'll understand which one caused it.
Start with a tiny piece - a fingernail-sized is enough.
Wait for 24 hours - watch for vomiting, diarrhea, itching or changes in the litter box.
Prepare it plain - cook without salt, butter, oil, onions, garlic and any spice mixes.
Cut into small pieces - cats swallow much faster than they chew.
Stop if there's any doubt - a cat will be fine without a treat she hasn't accustomed to.

Also, you should consider who else feeds your cat. Children, visitors and relatives will probably offer your cat their food as a kind gesture. It's better to have a quick talk and put the human food cats can eat list on the fridge, so most poisonings can be prevented. And keep an eye on the food on the tables and countertops - cats like stealing it, and cooked foods usually contain onions or garlic.

Finally, human food cats can eat everyday doesn't replace a proper nutrition. While homemade diets for cats are possible, it requires the expertise of a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, since cats have very specific needs for taurine, calcium and vitamins. Most well-meaning homemade diets for cats end up deficient.

Human Food Cats Will Eat vs. Should Eat

Human food cats will eat and human food cats should eat are two totally different lists. Cats are happy eating butter, ham, bacon and cream, but they are too fatty and salty. They'll happily lick yogurt containers and chips. Just being willing to eat something doesn't mean it's good for cats.

While deciding which human food cats can eat safely, you should stick to the table above and give foods in small portions. Also, if your cat suffers from any diseases - kidney failure, diabetes, food allergy or urinary problems - you should ask the advice of your veterinarian before giving anything new.

FAQ

Can cats eat strawberries? Yes, in small amounts. Remove the leaves, cut into small pieces and give as a treat occasionally. They are not dangerous, but they add unnecessary sugar into cat's diet.

Can cats eat cheese? A small bite is ok for cats that tolerate dairy products, but adult cats are often lactose intolerant and have an upset stomach. Hard cheeses contain less lactose than soft cheeses.

Can cats eat peanut butter? Peanut butter isn't toxic unless it contains xylitol, but it's high in fats and calories and provides nothing beneficial to cats. You can skip it, or use a tiny portion to hide a pill.

Bottom Line

The safest human foods that cats can eat are plain cooked proteins, fish and eggs, and some low-risk fruits and vegetables as treats. Keep it in small amounts, don't exceed 10% of caloric intake per day and don't give the dangerous foods - onions, garlic, grapes, alcohol, chocolate, raw dough.

The same approach should be applied to everything around your cat. Curious cats can taste everything in their vicinity, including the litter. That's why we make Paco & Pepper litter from food-grade olive pits, olive oil and guar gum - it's safe even if a kitten eats some of it. Our cat supplements Meowtamins also doesn't contain garlic, onion or xylitol. Learn more about why cats eat cat litter in our guide.

This article is intended for general information purposes only and doesn't replace any professional veterinary consultation. In case of any emergency, you should contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

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