What Can Cats Eat?

What can cats eat? Cornell's Feline Health Center says cats are obligate carnivores, relying on nutrients found only in animal products. The Merck Veterinary Manual advises feeding a commercially formulated, nutritionally balanced cat food rather than a homemade diet.

Extras are a small share on top. WSAVA advises keeping them under 10% of daily calories, and the ASPCA says 5% or less. WSAVA lists onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, alcohol and raw dough among toxic food ingredients for cats.

The rest of this guide explains why a cat's needs are so particular, and how quickly a small share of your dinner adds up for an animal her size.

Why do cats need meat?

Cornell's Feline Health Center puts it plainly: cats are obligate carnivores, relying on nutrients found only in animal products. Their ancestors hunted prey that was high in protein, moderate in fat and minimal in carbohydrate, and Cornell says their diet still needs those proportions.

The Merck Veterinary Manual lists nutrients cats must get from their diet, unlike dogs:

• Taurine, an amino acid cats have a dietary requirement for. Our guide to taurine for cats explains what it does.
• Vitamin A in its ready-made form.
• Arachidonic acid, a fatty acid.
• Niacin, a B vitamin cats can't make in substantial amounts.

Merck adds that cats have higher requirements for some amino acids, such as arginine.

Here's a fact that surprises most people. Merck explains that cats can't turn beta-carotene into vitamin A, because they lack the gut enzyme that splits it. So they need a ready-made source, such as liver, fish oil or synthetic vitamin A.

Merck also notes that plant-based proteins contain no taurine, so cats must have some animal protein in their diet. Its advice for cat owners is direct: never feed a cat dog food as a regular diet, because the two species have very different needs.

Does my cat need supplements or toppers?

Cornell says supplements are usually not necessary for a cat eating a balanced and complete diet. It adds that supplements can be harmful to your cat, and should never be given without your vet's approval.

WSAVA counts supplements and toppers as extras, inside the same 10% of daily calories. Our guide to cat food toppers covers what the sources say about them. Ask your vet before adding anything to the bowl.

What human food can cats eat safely?

WSAVA says human food and table scraps can be unhealthy and potentially dangerous to cats, and Merck's owner guide advises avoiding table scraps. We found no approved veterinary source that publishes a list of safe human foods for cats.

WSAVA's guide does list human foods commonly fed to cats, such as cooked chicken, turkey, beef, salmon and prawns, with their calories. If you share, the sources set the conditions:

• Cooked, not raw. Cornell says raw meat is a potential vehicle for toxoplasmosis and other infectious diseases, and the ASPCA warns that raw meat and eggs can carry Salmonella and E. coli.
• No bones. WSAVA says bones, cooked and raw, can be very dangerous and cause significant damage if a cat chews or swallows them.
• No onion or garlic seasoning. Merck says cats have been affected by raw, cooked, dehydrated or granulated forms.
• No raw egg. The ASPCA says not to give pets raw eggs.

Ask your vet which extras, if any, suit your own cat. WSAVA notes that if a cat has a medical condition or eats a prescribed diet, conventional extras may not be appropriate.

What about tuna?

Cornell reports that some cats who ate canned fish products made for people developed potentially serious neurological disorders.

How much is too much?

WSAVA's guide says everything outside the main diet, including snacks, chews and supplements, should stay under 10% of a cat's daily calories. Cornell's rule of thumb is 10 to 15%, and the ASPCA's is 5% or less.

For a cat, that is a very small number. These are WSAVA's maximums, based on an average healthy adult cat in ideal body condition:

Cat's weight	Most calories from extras, per day (WSAVA)
3 kg (about 6.6 lb)	20
4 kg (about 8.8 lb)	22
5 kg (about 11 lb)	25
6 kg (about 13 lb)	26

Now compare a few foods from the same guide. One ounce of lean cooked chicken breast is about 47 calories. An ounce of canned tuna in water is about 36, and an ounce of cheddar is about 120.

WSAVA notes that for many cats, just one of these foods in that amount could exceed the daily maximum for extras. By our arithmetic from WSAVA's figures, an ounce of chicken is roughly twice the 22-calorie limit for a 4 kg cat.

WSAVA adds that the wrong extras can result in obesity, trauma and obstruction, and too many can unbalance the main diet. Extras should never replace a meal.

The ASPCA calls water the most important nutrient, and Cornell says cats should have clean, fresh water at all times.

What foods can't cats eat?

WSAVA lists these as toxic food ingredients for cats. The ASPCA and the Merck Veterinary Manual describe what they can do:

Food	What the sources say
Onion, garlic, chives, leeks, shallots	ASPCA: stomach irritation and red blood cell damage, which can lead to anemia. Merck: cats are the most susceptible species.
Grapes, raisins, currants, sultanas	ASPCA: can lead to kidney damage in dogs. Merck: anecdotal reports of kidney (renal) failure in cats, but no published case reports.
Chocolate, coffee, tea, energy drinks	ASPCA: vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death.
Alcohol and raw yeast dough	ASPCA: alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, changes in blood pH, coma and even death. Dough can rise, bloat and potentially twist the stomach, a life-threatening emergency.
Xylitol (a sweetener)	On WSAVA's list. Merck says cats are not at risk for its main effects in dogs.
Milk and dairy	WSAVA: many cats are lactose intolerant. ASPCA: diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Why are onions and garlic so risky for cats?

Merck calls cats the most susceptible species to onion and garlic, followed by dogs. It reports problems in cats after less than a teaspoon of cooked onion, and says garlic is three to five times more toxic than onion.

Merck notes that concentrated forms are most commonly involved: dehydrated flakes, powders and dry onion soup mixes. Several days after eating, signs of acute hemolytic anemia (red blood cells breaking down) can develop, including weakness, pale gums, yellowing and collapse.

What about grapes and chocolate?

Merck says reported cases have been in dogs, with anecdotal reports of kidney failure in cats but no published case reports. No source we found gives a safe amount for cats.

For chocolate, the ASPCA says the darker the chocolate, the greater the risk. Baking chocolate and cocoa powder have the highest levels of the toxic compounds, and white chocolate the lowest.

Xylitol, dairy and lilies

Merck says dogs are the only domestic species in which xylitol poisoning has been reported, and that cats are not at risk for low blood sugar or liver injury from it. WSAVA still lists xylitol among toxic ingredients for cats.

Dairy gets its own articles. Read can cats drink milk for the lactose story, and can cats eat cheese for the cheeseboard question.

Lilies aren't food, but they belong on any list like this. The FDA warns that a cat licking a few grains of lily pollen from her fur, or drinking vase water, can develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days.

Our guide to holiday plants toxic to cats covers lilies in full.

Call your vet promptly if your cat:

• has eaten, or might have eaten, onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, alcohol or raw dough
• has chewed any part of a lily, or drunk from a lily vase
• is weak, wobbly, vomiting or unusually lethargic after getting into food
• has swallowed a bone

Merck notes that signs of onion and garlic poisoning may take several days to appear, so contact your vet without waiting for them. ASPCA Animal Poison Control answers 24 hours a day on (888) 426-4435, and a consultation fee may apply.

Questions new cat parents ask

Can cats eat eggs?

The ASPCA says not to give pets raw eggs, which can carry Salmonella and E. coli. Ask your vet whether a small amount of plain cooked egg suits your cat, inside the extras limit.

Can cats eat dog food?

Not as a regular diet. Merck advises never feeding a cat dog food as a regular diet, and notes that cats need amino acids like taurine that aren't found in dog food.

Can cats be vegetarian?

Cornell describes cats as obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients found only in animal products, and Merck notes plant-based proteins contain no taurine.

What can kittens eat?

Merck advises specially formulated kitten food until adulthood, at about 9 to 12 months. The ASPCA says treats should make up no more than 5% of a kitten's daily intake.

Sources

• Cornell Feline Health Center: Feeding Your Cat
• Merck Veterinary Manual, Cat Owners: Proper Nutrition for Cats
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind Toxicosis in Dogs
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Xylitol Toxicosis in Dogs
• WSAVA: Feeding Treats to Your Cat
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• ASPCA: Cat Nutrition Tips
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• FDA: Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats, a Dangerous Combination

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your cat has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.