Good Food, Bad Food! A Guide to What Kitty Should and Should Not be Eating.
Posted by Andrea on 12th Oct 2020
We know you love your fur family, but be careful when you let them eat from the table. Some human foods are safe, if not entirely healthy for cats, but other human foods can be dangerous and even toxic. Please note that the feline and human anatomies are sufficiently different, so that what is good for one species is not especially good for the other. Never err by thinking that if something is healthy for us, it will necessarily be healthy for Kitty.
As we have found, one of the cat’s best superpowers is her amazing sense of smell. Combined with their natural curiosity, cats will on occasionally help themselves to whatever is on your table, your counter, or whatever is offered to them by someone who is not aware that their digestive systems are so different from ours. Further, cats need foods that are formulated for their age, activity level, and health. They need low calorie, high quality foods that appeal to their finicky taste buds. Below, we list various foods that, in moderation, are safe.
SafeHuman Foods and Treats for Cats
- Blueberries
- Broccoli – cooked or raw clean/washed
- Brussels sprouts
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots – cooked or raw clean/washed
- Cauliflower
- Celery – cooked or raw clean/washed
- Cheese
- Chicken – cooked
- Cottage cheese
- Crackers
- Cranberries
- Dog Food
- Eggs – cooked
- Fish such as salmon (cooked)
- Grapes
- Green beans – cooked
- Ground beef or steak- cooked
- Kiwis
- Lettuce
- Lunch meat
- Oatmeal
- Oranges
- Papaya
- Pasta
- Peanuts
- Peanut Butter
- Popcorn
- Pork
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin – cooked
- Raspberries Blackberries
- Rice
- Shrimp – cooked and deveined
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Turkey – cooked
- Watermelon
When allowing Kitty to partake of the above list, make sure that the foods are shelled or peeled, washed or cooked if necessary, and without seeds. They should be offered in small amounts so as to avoid possible gastrointestinal upsets. Avoid offering chunks or large pieces which can cause problems in chewing or swallowing or can create a choking hazard.
Below, you will see a list of foods that should never cross their cute little palates. Hopefully, you will not have to worry about this since cats are instinctively unlikely to consume that which is unheathly or distasteful to them. A special caution to note is the danger of wrappers and ties that are used in wrapping meats. Due to their smell, texture and taste, a cat may be enticed to consume them. This can be life threatening and require surgery to remove such objects.
Unsafe Human Foods & Treats for Cats
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, and Plums
- Avocados
- Baked Goods
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda
- Bones
- Bread Dough
- Chewing Gum
- Chocolate
- Coffee (grounds and beans)
- Dairy Products
- Diet Foods. Fatty Foods
- Grapes and Raisins
- Milk or Cream
- Moldy or Spoiled Food
- Nutmeg
- Onions and Garlic
- Peanut Butter
- Raw Eggs
- Raw Fish.
- Raw Potatoes.
- Table Scraps
- Tuna
In conclusion, when in doubt, throw it out! This means that if you have any question about a certain human food, never invite Kitty to chow down. This is why we have our foods and they have theirs. Even if its smell is intriguing to your cat, the dangers from intestinal upset, or worse, far outweigh the momentary taste of something new that is dangerous to their sensitive digestive systems.
For further information, please go to: