Cats are 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.

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.

Can Cats Eat Watermelon?

Yes! Watermelon isn’t toxic to cats, so if your furry friend does pinch a bit of watermelon from your plate, there’s no need to worry. However, watermelon, or any fruit for that matter, shouldn’t be a regular part of your cat’s diet. Feeding it as an occasional treat if your cat likes it is absolutely fine. Cats are carnivores so fruit and veg should be avoided and are best fed a nutritionally balanced commercial pet food.

Can Cats Eat Ham?

A little piece of ham occasionally won’t do your cat any harm, but it shouldn’t be a regular treat. Ham is salty and too much salt can result in health problems for your cat. Too much salt in their diet can cause tummy upsets and ultimately kidney failure. Try to avoid feeding your cat ham, but don’t worry too much if they pinch a little bit from your plate once in a while!

Can Cats Eat Apples?

Yes! A small piece of apple isn’t going to harm your cat, but it shouldn’t be given as a regular part of their diet. Cats are carnivores and aren’t designed to eat fruit. Too much fruit is likely to result in stomach issues including diarrhoea.

An occasional treat of apple is fine, but it should be cut into pieces small enough that your cat doesn’t choke on them. While apples aren’t toxic for cats, other parts like the stem, leaves and seed contain cyanide which are poisonous to cats, so should be avoided completely.

Can Cats Eat Blueberries?

Cats can safely eat small amounts of raw or cooked blueberries. However, their digestive tract isn’t designed to digest fruit, so they don’t get the same benefits from eating blueberries as human do. Too many blueberries can upset their tummy too and may result in diarrhoea.

Don’t worry if your cat pinches a few blueberries from your plate, but don’t encourage it either. It’s best to avoid blueberries and stick to a nutritionally balanced cat food.

Can Cats Eat Raw Carrots?

Ideally, cats shouldn’t be offered raw carrot to eat as it may be a choking hazard. It shouldn’t really be necessary to ever feed your cat carrot, as cats are best fed a balanced pet food. But if you want to try a carrot treat for your feline friend, you should cook the carrot first.

Only offer a very small amount of carrot to your cat as it contains a lot of sugar, which cats are not designed to metabolise. Don’t forget, cats are carnivores, so veggies should be avoided.

Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter?

No! Cats shouldn’t be given peanut butter to eat as their gastrointestinal tract isn’t designed to digest it and it has no nutritional value for them. Peanut butter is also very fatty, and some brands have additional salt, sugar or sweeteners added to it, all of which can lead to obesity if consumed regularly. Some ingredients can even be toxic to cats. Peanut butter is best avoided in cats.

Can Cats Eat Sweetcorn?

Cats are obligate carnivores and so they’re not designed to digest vegetables such as corn. Ideally avoid giving your cat sweetcorn as it can also have a high sugar content which also isn’t ideal for cats.

Corn cobs can be dangerous if any of the cob is accidentally eaten, as it can cause intestinal blockages. If your cat accidentally eats some sweetcorn, it’s unlikely to cause a serious issue, but give your vet a call if you’re worried that they’ve eaten a large amount or eaten some of the cob.

Can Cats Eat Catnip?

Yes! Catnip is a herb that contains a natural chemical called nepetalactone. Cats love it and it can be fun to watch them enjoying the smell of catnip on toys or in their environment. You can grow this herb at home and it’s perfectly safe for cats to nibble on it. If your cat was to eat a large amount, they may get an upset tummy and you would need to limit their access to the plant, but it’s not toxic.

Can Cats Eat Potatoes?

Ideally potatoes should be avoided. Cats are obligate carnivores so they shouldn’t be a part of their normal diet. However, if your pet pinches a bit of cooked potato from your plate it’s not the end of the world. A small bit of cooked potato is unlikely to cause any problems.

It’s important not to let your cat eat raw potatoes, as these contain a compound called solanine which is toxic to cats. Call your vet for advice if your cat has eaten raw potatoes.

Can Cats Eat Prawns?

Yes! Cats can safely eat the occasional prawn as a treat. Some cats absolutely love prawns, so they can be used a handy training treat! It’s really important to make sure any prawns that are fed are properly peeled though so your cat doesn’t choke on bits of shell. Whilst it’s safe to feed prawns as an occasional treat, they shouldn’t be part of your cat’s everyday diet as they don’t contain all the nutrients that your cat needs.

Part of the joy of living with a cat is giving them occasional treats and seeing them enjoy their food. However, just as we make sure our children have healthy, balanced diets, so too must our cats have nutritionally balance, safe foods.

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 they need. If you do offer extra treats from time to time, make sure you offer a little less of their normal food so that they don’t become overweight.

Everypaw Cat Insurance

Everypaw's Cat Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your kitty will be well looked after. 

Get a quote

 

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.