Can Cats Eat Human Food? Some, but Many Foods Are Toxic

Why cats need cat food first

Cats are obligate carnivores, which the Cornell Feline Health Center explains means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. The Merck Veterinary Manual adds that cats need taurine and preformed vitamin A, which plants cannot supply, so a diet built from table food can leave a cat short of nutrients that protect the heart and eyes.

That is why human food should only ever be a small extra. Cornell suggests keeping all treats to about 10 to 15 percent of a cat's daily calories. For an average cat, that is a few small bites a day at most, with complete cat food doing the real work.

Human foods that are toxic to cats

The ASPCA lists foods that can poison pets. For cats the most important are onions, garlic, chives and leeks, in any form including powder, soup mixes and baby food, which can damage red blood cells; the ASPCA notes cats are more susceptible than dogs. Grapes, raisins, chocolate, coffee, tea, energy drinks, alcohol and raw yeast dough are also on the list.

Xylitol, used in sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods and some peanut butters, is listed by the ASPCA as a risk to pets too. Never offer any amount of these foods. Lilies are not food, but every part of them, even pollen or vase water, can cause kidney failure in cats.

Plain human foods that are generally safe

Small amounts of plain, fully cooked, unseasoned meat are the safest choice: skinless chicken or turkey breast, lean beef, and boneless white fish or salmon. A little scrambled or hard-boiled egg is fine too. Cook everything without butter, oil, salt, garlic or onion, and remove all bones and skin.

Some cats will nibble a little cooked carrot, green beans, zucchini or plain pumpkin. These are safe but offer little to a meat eater. Fruit and starchy foods such as bread, rice and potato are harmless in a crumb-sized taste but are not useful for a cat.

Foods that are not toxic but cause problems

Milk and most dairy upset many cats. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that kittens lose much of their ability to digest lactose by about 12 weeks, so cow's milk often causes vomiting or diarrhea. Tuna canned for people lacks key nutrients, and Cornell warns against feeding human canned fish as a regular food.

Raw meat, raw fish and raw egg can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which the ASPCA notes can affect both pets and people. Bones can splinter or block the gut. Fatty foods like bacon, sausage, fried food and gravy commonly cause stomach upset, and salty snacks are never a good idea.

How much human food a cat can have

Think in bites, not portions. For an average adult cat of 8 to 12 lb, a piece of plain cooked chicken or fish about the size of your thumbnail, once or twice a day, fits within Cornell's treat guideline. Smaller or less active cats need less.

Cats that are overweight, diabetic or on a prescription diet for the kidneys, bladder or digestion should not be given table food without their vet's approval. Offering human food from the table can also train a cat to beg and to turn down its own meals.

A feeding mat under a ceramic bowl keeps any shared food in one place and easy to clean up.

Kittens and human food

Kittens have small stomachs and high nutritional needs, so every bite of human food takes space from the kitten food they need to grow. Stick to kitten food and a kitten treat for rewards, and avoid cow's milk entirely; if a kitten needs milk, use a formula made for kittens.

Kittens are also the most likely to investigate plates, cups and trash. Clear away food after meals, keep coffee, alcohol and baked goods out of reach, and never leave a lily in a home with a young cat.

Signs of a problem and when to call a vet

Mild food upset usually means a single vomit or soft stool within a few hours. Toxic foods cause more: drooling, repeated vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, tremors, wobbling, rapid breathing, pale gums, weakness or seizures. Onion and garlic damage can take a few days to show as tiredness and pale or yellow gums.

If you know or suspect your cat ate something toxic, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 straight away, even if your cat seems fine. A fee may apply. Have the packaging to hand.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.