You take a seat on the couch to unwind and eat a nice snack. A few moments later, your cat is curled up around your legs, meowing sweetly and pleading for a piece of your treat.
You'd love to share a bite, but you're thinking twice because you are afraid it'll be bad for your cat. Use this guide to learn what human foods are safe for your kitty to eat!
What kind of human food is safe for cats?
Cats need specific nutritional needs, which is why we need to ensure that their daily meals are balanced. Cats, in particular, can suffer significantly from a lack of protein. However, cats are known for being picky, so they may quickly get bored with the same old food and prefer it when their meals are varied.
There is a wide variety of human foods that your feline can have. Here are the top 4 human foods that are yummy and healthy for your cats.
Meat
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For your little obligate carnivore, chicken, beef, and other meats are all excellent choices. Avoid serving high-sodium meats like cold cuts and ham to your cat, as they can be toxic.
Fish
Feeding your kitty oily fish, such as tuna or mackerel, can benefit your cat's vision, joints, and brain.
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Eggs
Eggs are an excellent source of taurine and iron, so adding them to your cat's diet is a great nutrient boost.
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Kefir
Kefir is rich in nutrients and probiotics, making it excellent for digestion and gut health.
What vegetables can cats eat?
Cats are known to dislike vegetables, so directly offering them vegetables is likely to result in a snub, but this does not mean they will not try to eat their greens.
The other alternative is to feed your cat veggie snacks, which are a great source of nutrients like vitamins and fibre, as well as water. Here is a list of cat-safe vegetables that are also high in vitamins.
- Chopped carrots
- Peas
- Corn
- Broccoli
- Green beans
- Zucchini
- Spinach
- Winter squash
- Pumpkin
What fruits can cats eat?
Cats can occasionally consume various fruits, but you need to make sure the fruits are cut into small and easily digestible pieces. Feeding chilled fruit to your cats also helps them to cool down on a hot day. The top 5 fruits that are good for your felines include:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Seedless watermelon
Are there any nutritional benefits of feeding human food to cats?
Yes, there are several benefits of feeding human food to cats. It's important that you're able to put together a meal that includes all of your cat's essential nutrients. Learn more about the AAFCO guidelines on human grade pet food and its many benefits for cats.
Also, with so many commercial cat foods on the market, it's hard to tell if the food you're offering your cat is actually helping. Thus, before making any dietary changes to your cat's food, speak with your veterinarian to ensure the ingredients are safe.
Advantages of making raw homemade cat food from human-grade ingredients include the following:
- Homemade cat food is in your control - Kibble and wet cat food are highly processed and pressurized. Chemical preservatives, cheap ingredients, and fillers are plenty in commercial cat food. By making homemade raw food you are making sure there aren't any harmful ingredients in the food.
- Cats eating fresh food diets have healthy coats and skin - Unfortunately, the low-quality ingredients in commercial cat food harm the skin and coat instead of helping them. Making your own cat food will do wonders for your cat's coat and skin.
- Fresh food creates healthier litter box habits - Homemade cat food contains ingredients that cats are designed to digest. As a result, the litter box will have smaller, healthier, and less stinky poop droppings.
What human food is dangerous for cats?
Even though it's difficult to ignore our cats' adorable antics when they're asking for snacks, there are a number of foods that should never be given to cats due to the danger they pose. Here is the list of the toxic food that is dangerous for your felines:
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Citrus fruits
- Coconut flesh and water
- Grapes and raisins
- Nuts
- Salt
- Xylitol
Can cats eat bread?
Even though cats can occasionally eat bread with no bad effects (bread that is yeast and gluten-free), it should not be used as a substitute for their regular cat food diet.
It is not safe for cats to consume yeast or raw bread dough, as the dough can rise in their stomachs and cause serious digestive problems.
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Conclusion
Being a cat parent means making sure your cat has a healthy diet so they can live a long time. Beyond that, it is our duty to keep them safe from potentially harmful ingredients.
Check out Petcubes human grade cat meals, which come in a variety of flavours. Our diets are carefully prepared and contain premium ingredients for your cat!
For more tips on what food is suitable for your cats, read "Wet Cat Food: Is It Good For Sensitive Stomach?"Reviewed by:
Dr Francis is one of the top wildlife nutritionists in Asia. Originating from Montreal, Canada, he left at 21 to pursue his Masters and subsequently a PhD in wildlife nutrition at Oxford Brookes University. Instead of taking the path of common animal science to learn about farm animals, or through the veterinarian space and taking a certificate in nutrition, he took the road less travelled to dive deep into the world of animal ecology, metabolism and nutrition.