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What Human Food Can Cats Eat?

What Human Foods Can Cats Eat? Fruits, Vegetables & More

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

When it comes to feeding your cat, the best nutrition comes from their pet food. Commercial cat food is specifically designed to contain the correct nutrients a cat needs in the correct amounts. This is particularly important because cats are obligate carnivores.   This means that the digestive systems of felines are designed to absorb nutrients provided by animal protein, and their gastrointestinal tracts have not evolved to digest carbohydrates (sugar, starch and cellulose). While there are some carbohydrates in commercially available cat foods, fruits and vegetables are largely made of carbohydrates and not generally recommended as part of a carnivore diet.

However, sometimes, you might be tempted to share a treat or two off your own dinner plate. After all, sharing is caring, right?

If your cat is staring up at you expectantly, hoping for a treat off your dinner plate, it is important to make sure that the food you share is safe for your cat to eat. Let’s look at what human foods can and can’t eat. And remember, 10% or less of your cat’s diet should consist of treats, so only feed your cat human food in moderation.

Cats with health issues, including bladder stones, kidney disease and diabetes, should not be fed anything other than veterinarian-recommended cat food. This is because other foods may be high in nutrients that worsen their diseases or symptoms.

Human foods cats can eat

When you want to share a special, occasional treat with your cat, there are specific human foods cats can eat that are not only safe but also better nutritionally. Always double-check that the food you choose is something non-toxic and safe for cats.

Meats

Since cats are naturally obligate carnivores, meat makes for an excellent choice for sharing with your cat in moderation. The following are cat-safe options from your fridge:

  • Beef: Beef is rich in amino acids, an important part of your cat’s health. Opt for a lean cut of beef and make sure it is thoroughly cooked and cooled before serving.
  • Chicken or turkey: Two great lean types of meat and excellent sources of protein; make sure to only feed your cat fully cooked, deboned chicken or turkey.
  • Fish: It’s no mystery that many cats love the flavor of fish. Tuna, salmon and other cooked fish make an excellent treat for cats. Look for fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can contribute to your cat’s overall health.

Regardless of what type of meat you decide to share with your cat, always make sure that all bones have been removed. The meat must be fully cooked without any extra ingredients that could be harmful to your cat such as oils and seasoning that could be toxic to your cat such as onions, garlic or even salt. Allow meat to cool to a safe temperature and chop it into bite sized pieces before offering to your cat. Never allow your cat to chew on cooked bones, which could splinter and may puncture or block the gastrointestinal tract. 

Dairy

If you love dairy, you might hope to share this joy with your cat. While giving your cat a bowl of milk is not advised and can cause an upset stomach, there are a few options for sharing dairy with your cat.

  • Eggs: In small amounts, cooked eggs without any oils or added ingredients/seasoning of any kind are an excellent, healthy option for cats. Eggs provide cats with Protein, amino acids, including taurine needed for heart health, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Iron — an essential nutrient needed to keep their red cells strong and healthy— and Zinc.
  • Cheese: While cheese is not a healthy option for cats and should be avoided, if you cannot resist offering your cat a small amount of cheese on rare occasions, be sure to avoid any cheeses with unsafe ingredients, such as onion, garlic fruit etc. Natural cheeses with minimal ingredients are not generally toxic to cats. Keep in mind cheese is high in fat and not a good choice for your pet so moderation is key.

Fruits

While fruit is healthy for humans, it is not a great choice for your cat nor their stomachs and many fruits, their core, rind, seeds, stems and leaves can be harmful or toxic to your pet. When in doubt, it is best to avoid offering your pet fruit. If you cannot resist offering your cat a small piece of fruit on rare occasions the following options are less likely to cause a health concern than other fruits. Keep in mind your cat is an obligate carnivore and they have not evolved to digest carbohydrates and fruit is largely made up of carbohydrates. 

  • Bananas: Bananas have a unique texture that some cats will enjoy in small quantities. They’re also high in potassium, magnesium and vitamins C and B6. You can even use a small piece of more and less ripe banana pieces to add variety on different days.
  • Strawberries: Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C, fiber and potassium. However, keep in mind that strawberries are high in sugar, so keep this treat to a small amount.
  • Watermelon: Watermelon gets its name from having high water content making this a fun, cool treat, particularly on a hot day. Be sure to remove all seeds and the rind before offering your cat a small piece as the seeds are toxic and the rind can cause GI obstruction. 
  • Blueberries: While cats might not gain the same antioxidant values from blueberries as humans, they are typically not considered a concern in small amounts on rare occasions. Opt for fresh rather than frozen and see if your cat enjoys this berry treat.
  • Apples: For cats who prefer some crunch, a small slice of apple with the skin removed on rare occasions can be a delicious treat. Just be sure to remove the seeds, stem, leaves and core as they are toxic to our furry family members. 

Keep in mind that most fruits are high in carbohydrates. If your cat has diabetes or another underlying health condition, avoid feeding them any fruits without first consulting your vet.

Vegetables

For humans, vegetables play a critical role in our health. While cats rely on protein for most of their nutritional needs, and vegetables are largely made of carbohydrates which we now know feline gastrointestinal tracts have not yet evolved to digest well. While vegetables are not a good treat option for cats, some vegetables can be offered in small portions on rare occasions with little risk of adverse reactions. If you cannot resist offering your cat a small vegetable slice on rare occasions, try one of the following options:

  • Zucchini: Zucchini can be given to cats as a treat, either raw or cooked in small amounts. If cooked, do not add oil, salt or any other ingredients/seasonings. Zucchini is low in calories and high in fiber.
  • Green Beans: Green beans are low in calories and high in fiber. Avoid canned beans as they are often high in sodium, which can become toxic to cats. When cooking green beans never add oil, salt, seasoning or other ingredients of any kind.  
  • Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium and B vitamins. Never offer raw, but boiled, baked or steamed in the microwave, it is easy to prepare a very small amount for your furry friend. As with anything you offer your pet from the table, remember not to add any oil, salt, sugar or seasoning of any kind before letting your cat try a small taste.

Grains

Grains can be a great source of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fiber but as we have discussed above, grains are carbohydrates and not an ideal choice for your cat as their bodies have not evolved to digest carbohydrates well. If you cannot resist offering your cat a small taste of grains, brown rice or oats that are cooked without any other ingredients such as oil, salt, seasoning, sugar, fruits etc. can be tried on rare occasions. 

Human Foods Cats Cannot Eat

While there are some human foods that cats can eat, you should never allow your cat to eat these foods. If they do sneak a bite, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

  • Chocolate
  • Grapes or raisins
  • Foods in the allium family: Garlic, onions, chives etc. 
  • Nuts
  • Seeds, core, pit, stem, leaves rind etc. on fruit
  • Raw meat and cooked bones
  • Xylitol (sweetener often found in peanut butter or gum)

Now that you have a few ideas of human foods that your cat can eat, try giving your cat a new treat. Remember, treats should make up 10% or less of your cat’s diet and the best treats are those specifically formulated for cats. Be sure to pair any treats with a balanced diet, and always moderate how much human food your cat is eating.

Now that you know which human foods your feline friend can have, you should know how much of it they can have. Human food should be treated like cat treats, this should only make up of 10% of their daily caloric intake. 

If you notice your cat having any adverse reactions to human food, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. 

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