Cats are obligate carnivores! It can be uncomfortable to think of our furry friends this way, but the fact is they’re designed to eat meat. In the wild, cats catch and eat prey – skin, muscle, fat, fur, feathers and all. So we're putting together a long list of food, so long that this is only part one of what can cats eat.

Domestic cats have very similar nutritional requirements to their wild cousins and your cat’s diet needs to include all that their bodies need to stay healthy. The best way to make sure your cat has all the nutrients they need is to feed a complete cat food, as recommended by your vet. But is this the only food cats can eat? And what can cats eat?

Can Cats Eat Cheese?

Cats aren’t designed to eat cheese (or any dairy products as they're lactose intolerant) and cheese shouldn’t be part of their usual diet. But, a tiny piece of cheese now and again is unlikely to cause many problems. So, if your cat steals a tiny bit of cheese, you probably don’t need to worry too much.

If your cat eats a large amount of cheese, speak to your vet who may be concerned about gastrointestinal issues or pancreatic problems from ingesting a large fatty meal in this way. If you’re not sure what to do, speak to your vet for advice and have the cheese packaging to hand so you can share the details with them.

Can Cats Eat Chocolate?

No! This is definitely one to avoid. Chocolate contains theobromine, which can be toxic to cats. Darker chocolate is the most toxic, but even milk chocolate should be avoided as it may contain smaller amounts of theobromine. Even white chocolate (which contains negligible amounts of theobromine) should be avoided due to it being high in sugar and fat content.

Many chocolates also contain caffeine which isn’t good for cats either. If your cat eats any chocolate, call your vet and have the packaging to hand to help your vet decide whether your cat needs to be seen at the clinic. In most cases a very small amount of chocolate is unlikely to be of concern.

Can Cats Eat Eggs?

Yes, cat can eat eggs. A small piece of cooked egg (don’t feed raw egg to your cat) is unlikely to do your cat much harm. Although they’re full of protein and are easy to digest, they shouldn’t be a regular part of your cat’s diet because they don’t provide all the nutrients your cat needs.

If your cat steals a bit of cooked egg from your plate, they’re unlikely to suffer many ill effects. However, if your cat eats a large amount of egg or eats raw or out of date egg, then call your veterinary team for advice.

Can Cats Eat Bread?

Cats shouldn’t really eat bread. Their bodies aren’t designed to digest the complex carbohydrates that are in bread. If your cat steals a bit of toast or sandwich it’s unlikely to cause long-term damage but try and stop this from happening whenever possible.

If your cat breaks into the bread bin and eats a large amount of bread, speak to your vet for advice. Be prepared to deal with some stomach upset accompanied with vomiting or diarrhoea, as large amounts of bread can cause a serious tummy upset.

Can Cats Eat Raw Chicken?

This is a controversial topic as in theory, cats can eat raw chicken, in the same way that they hunt and eat birds! However, it’s not quite so straight forward. Raw chicken, however fresh, often has bacteria on it. These bacteria are killed by the cooking process, but if ingested raw they can multiply and cause nasty gastrointestinal diseases.

Raw meat can also harbour parasites. Eating a pure raw meat diet also means your cat misses out on other vital nutrients. Wild cats eat the skin, bones, fat and muscle of their prey and obtain different nutrients from different parts of the carcass. Raw chicken is just muscle, so your cat will be deficient in certain nutrients if this is all they eat.

A complete, nutritionally balanced commercial cat food is the safest and easiest way to ensure your feline friend gets all their nutritional requirements.

Can Cats Eat Strawberries?

If they do, it’s not the end of the world, but strawberries shouldn’t be a part of your cat’s daily diet. But if your cat does steal some strawberries from your plate or chews on strawberries growing in your garden they shouldn’t come to any harm. If they eat a lot of strawberries, they may get an upset tummy and suffer from diarrhoea, which won’t be fun for them or you, so try to avoid strawberries if at all possible.

Can Cats Eat Dog Food?

No! Cats have specific nutritional requirements, which differ from those of the dog. In particular, cats have different requirements for protein, taurine, arginine, vitamin A, niacin and arachidonic acid.

If your cat steals a bit of your dog’s food every now and then this shouldn’t cause any major issues, but you should try to avoid this being a regular thing. Dry food kibbles are not safe for cats due to their large size and could be a choking hazard or swell in your cat’s stomach causing bloating, so they’re best avoided.

Can Cats Eat Grapes?

We don’t really know about the risk of grapes to cats. We know that grapes are poisonous to dogs, but no cases of grape or dried fruit poisoning in cats have been reported in the veterinary literature. It may be that cats don’t eat enough grapes to encounter problems, or it may be that they’re not at risk from grapes. Until we know more, it’s best to avoid them.

If your cat does ingest grapes, raisins, sultanas, fruit cake, etc call your vet for advice. Depending on how much has been eaten, they may ask you to bring your cat in for an examination. If your cat has eaten a lot, they may want to make your cat vomit.

Can Cats Eat Rice?

Cats shouldn’t be given rice as part of their regular diet. Rice doesn’t contain all the nutrients cats need to stay fit and healthy. However, rice isn’t poisonous to cats, so if your cat steals a little cooked rice from your plate, they’re unlikely to come to any harm. If your cat eats large amounts of rice or eats uncooked rice call your vet for advice, as this may cause some tummy problems.

Part of the joy of living with a cat is giving them occasional treats and seeing them enjoy their food. However, just as we ensure that our children have safe, healthy, balanced diets, so too must our cats. Ingestion of plant material, whether food, house or garden plants, may cause gastrointestinal upset, even if the plant is not a “toxic” plant.

The best way to feed your cat is to offer a veterinary approved, complete cat food. This will have been scientifically researched to ensure it contains all the nutrients your cat needs. If you do offer extra treats from time to time, it's a good idea to offer a little less of their normal food on that day, so they don’t become overweight.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.