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Can Cats Eat Cheese?

Can Cats Eat Cheese?

Updated on July 18, 2024
Reviewer Profile Photo
Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Yes, cats can eat cheese—with some very important exceptions. If you want to give your cat cheese as a special treat, be sure to monitor the quantity and type of cheese to ensure your pet’s health and safety. Always consult your veterinarian before adding a new food to your cat’s diet to ensure it’s an appropriate snack for your pet.

Cheese is generally safe to feed your cat in small amounts and can make a tasty treat, but it can cause problems, too, depending on the type of cheese you feed your cat and their own pre-existing health conditions.

Types of Cheese

Can cats eat string cheese?

Yes, but be sure to monitor your pet after the first time you provide string cheese. The two most common types of string cheese without additional ingredients are provolone and mozzarella, and the latter is more likely to upset your cat’s stomach.

Can cats eat cheddar cheese?

Yes, plain sharp cheddar has lower amounts of lactose than other types of cheese and is less likely to cause gastrointestinal upsets.

Can cats eat Swiss cheese?

Yes. Swiss cheese is typically made plainly and low in lactose, as long as it is served in bite-sized pieces.

Can cats eat provolone cheese?

Yes. As a softer cheese lower in lactose, provolone can be a good option the first time you offer your cat a small piece of cheese.

Can cats eat gouda?

Yes. The curds of gouda are traditionally washed during processing, which removes a portion of the lactose. As a harder cheese, it’s recommended to feed this in small crumbles.

Can cats eat goat cheese?

Yes, but it isn’t recommended. While it does have less lactose, it is higher in fat and lower in vitamin D than cheese made from cow’s milk.

Can cats eat American cheese?

Yes, but it isn’t recommended. Many don’t consider American cheese to be a real cheese, as it’s processed instead of aged, and it is higher in unnecessary carbohydrates.

The health benefits of cheese for cats

While cheese is generally considered safe for cats to eat, there are some important things to keep in mind. 

Cats are a type of meat-eating animal called an obligate carnivore. This means they get most of their nutritional needs met by eating meat, and their digestive system is especially suited to this type of diet. Providing your cat with high-quality cat food is the best way to ensure they get all the nutrients they need and eat a healthy diet.

For this reason, feeding your cat cheese has little to no health benefit. The nutrients they need are more readily available in high-quality cat food and treats designed specifically for felines.

While the health benefits of feeding your cat cheese are minimal, the list of health risks is quite significant. Each cat is different, and what their digestive system can tolerate will vary from cat to cat. Where one cat can eat cheese without issues, another cat may develop digestive discomfort from cheese. 

Cats can be lactose intolerant and develop digestive issues from cheese, including diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. If you’ve ever noticed your cat experiencing digestive problems after drinking milk, it’s best to avoid feeding them cheese. 

It's also important to note that while hard cheeses like cheddar and Swiss are lower in lactose and may be less problematic for your cat to eat, soft cheeses like brie, mozzarella and cottage cheese contain higher amounts of lactose and can potentially cause more gastrointestinal upset for your cat.

It’s also important to not feed your cat any cheeses with additional elements or flavorings, such as onion, garlic and chives, to name a few. All of these are toxic.

Moldy cheese should be avoided for cats, too. This includes both cheese that’s been in the refrigerator too long and cheese that’s intentionally moldy, like blue cheese. The mold of blue cheese is edible for humans but is formed from Penicillium, a type of fungus that grows on aging food and can be toxic to pets. 

Lastly, if your cat has a health condition—such as heart or kidney disease—that would usually require you to feed them a low-sodium diet, you should also avoid feeding them cheese. 

How to feed cheese to your cat

Human foods like cheese should only be given to cats occasionally and in small quantities. The majority of your cat’s calories should come from foods specially formulated to give them the nutrients they need, such as a commercially available cat food. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before adding new foods to your pet's diet.

Cheese should be considered a treat and not a regular aspect of your pet's diet. The total of all treats provided throughout the day should never exceed 10% of your cat’s daily caloric intake, and cheese is very high in calories.

To feed your cat cheese, cut the cheese up into pieces small enough for your cat to easily bite and chew. In addition to their digestive system not being especially well-suited for cheese, their teeth are also not built to chew such food. If you feed your cat a piece that’s too large, they could swallow it whole and potentially choke.

Start with only one small piece of cheese and monitor your pet closely to ensure there aren’t any problems. If your cat shows signs of gastrointestinal distress—such as vomiting or diarrhea—contact your veterinarian for care guidance and discontinue feeding cheese immediately.

FAQs About Cats Eating Cheese

If your cat eats a small amount of cheese, there likely won’t be any negative effects. Cheese is generally considered an acceptable treat for cats to eat, with some notable exceptions. Moldy or “stinky” cheese—like blue cheese—can be toxic for your cat, and if you suspect your cat has eaten blue cheese, call your veterinarian right away.

For most other types of cheeses, the most likely complication is gastrointestinal distress, which can include vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. If your cat seems to be experiencing these symptoms, call your veterinarian for care guidance; if more severe symptoms develop or do not resolve in a timely manner, get them to the veterinary clinic right away for treatment.

Cats are considered obligate carnivores, meaning their preferred diet is meat and other animal products. They may be attracted to the high fat content of the cheese.

Cats are also unique animals. It’s not uncommon for them to adopt all sorts of odd and finicky tastes, including for cheese. If your cat seems to especially love cheese, it’s okay to allow them to have small pieces and only on occasion. Never let treats including but not limited to cheese be more than 10% of their daily caloric intake or a daily occurrence.

Most varieties of hard cheeses are considered safe for cats to eat. Cats can usually tolerate small amounts of aged, hard cheese or cheese that’s low in lactose, including cheddar, muenster, Swiss, provolone, colby jack, parmesan, gouda, cream cheese, mozzarella, feta, string cheese and goat cheese. Soft cheeses like Brie and cottage cheese can be an acceptable treat, too, but be aware they are usually higher in lactose and can potentially cause more complications for a lactose-intolerant cat.  Also, if your cat has health problems, such as a heart condition, kidney condition or diabetes, cheese can be unhealthy and should never be offered for them to eat. 

Cheese is generally considered safe for cats to eat in small quantities, with hard cheeses being the least likely to cause complications. That being said, cheese has very little nutritional benefit for cats and should only be fed to them in small amounts and on rare occasions. If you do decide to feed cheese to your cat, it should be considered a treat, and treats should never make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily calories.

Generally speaking, cheese is not poisonous to cats, but with one set of notable exceptions: Moldy cheeses, like blue cheese and “stinky” cheeses, contain elements that can be highly toxic to cats. And if the cheese contains any additives that are toxic for cats—like chocolate, grapes or raisins—the cheese will consequently be toxic, too.

Cheese has very little nutritional benefit for cats, so it’s questionable whether cats should eat cheese at all. If you do decide to feed cheese to your cat, it should be considered a treat, and treats should never make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily calories.

Soft cheeses are generally considered safe for cats to eat, but you should closely monitor your cat’s reaction. These cheeses contain more lactose than hard varieties and can potentially cause more complications for a lactose-intolerant cat. The most likely complication is gastrointestinal distress, which can result in vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Also, if your cat has health problems, such as a heart condition, kidney condition or diabetes, cheese can be unhealthy for them to eat.

Moldy cheeses, like blue cheese and “stinky” cheeses, contain elements that can be toxic to cats. In the case of blue cheese, the flavorful mold is from Penicillium, a type of fungus that can be toxic to pets. If you suspect your cat has eaten blue cheese, call your veterinarian right away. 

Nacho cheese generally includes ingredients like onions, garlic and other seasonings that are unsafe for cats. It’s best to not allow your cat to eat nacho cheese. 

American cheese contains extra-high levels of sodium, fat and other chemical ingredients that may harm your cat’s system. It’s best to avoid American cheese for your cat.

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