What Kind Of Human Food Can Cats Eat?

People Food For Cats

Many cat owners enjoy giving their felines table scraps or even make their own homemade food for their pets. However, as a cat's digestive system is different than that of humans, there are certain foods and ingredients that should be avoided.

One thing to avoid is food made with garlic. Now, you may find that garlic is a good source for vitamin C, but as a cat doesn't need this kind of supplement as vitamin C is synthesized within its own body.

In addition, garlic can cause gastrointestinal irritation, along with damage to red blood cells. Now, some cat owners have never had any problems in feeding their animals food with garlic, but as a precaution, it's best to avoid it.

Human Food For Cats

Can Cats Eat Cheese?

If you want to introduce your cat to cheese, start out with just a small amount. Some cats are lactose intolerant. This can lead to diarrhea. If wanting to give your furry friend some dairy products, this would be the best one to try.

Can Cats Eat Chocolate?

Keep chocolate away from cats. Yes, as humans, many of us love the sweet taste of this candy, but unfortunately for felines, it’s considered dangerous and can even be fatal. They would probably prefer a bit of cooked fish as a yummy treat.

Can Cats Eat Bread?

If you want to give your pet a little bit of baked bread, that should be fine. However, don’t give any raw dough as it contains yeast with can make your kitty sick.

Can Cats Eat Bananas?

Although cats are considered to be carnivores, a little bit of banana for a treat should be safe.

Can Cats Eat Peanut Butter?

Before I answer this, you may be wondering how I have chosen the foods mentioned so far. These food items are ones that have been commonly searched for on Google by pet owners.

As far as peanut butter goes, yes, a small amount on a finger or spoon is acceptable, but keep it limited Peanut butter is high in fat and too much can cause weight gain. Speaking of peanut butter, check out the funny cat in the video below.

 

Funny Cat Video

Human Food Safe For Cats

A very nutritional treat for cats are cooked eggs. Try boiling one or scrambling one. Cooked lean meat is also safe to serve. Although felines are carnivores, some enjoy a snack of fruit or vegetables. These are some you can try adding to your pet’s diet:

• Cooked carrots
• A slice of apple
• Summer squash
• Steamed broccoli
• A slice of cucumber
• Cantaloupe
• Chopped greens

Keep in mind that these are only to be given in small amounts from time to time. It’s best to stick with a healthy diet and throw in some treats from time to time.

Safe Human Foods For Cats

Many cats love the taste of tuna. In moderation, this is fine to eat. However, a steady diet of it isn’t good because it doesn’t have all of the nutrients that felines require.

A small amount of baked potato or plain, cooked pasta is also alright to feed in limited amounts. Now, this may surprise you, but the ASPCA gives the go ahead for unsalted pretzels.

Can Cats Eat Dog Food?

This is not recommended. Although both are animals, their nutritional requirements and digestive systems are different from each other. For example, cats need more protein in their diets than dogs.

In addition, cats need taurine, which is an important amino acid. So, if a cat is fed a dog food diet, it will not get the nutrients needed to stay healthy.

Can Cats Drink Coffee?

Coffee and anything with caffeine is a real no no. As much as you might enjoy sharing your morning cup of java with your precious one, fight the temptation. While we’re on the subject of beverages, do not allow your cat to have any alcohol. It can be deadly.

Homemade Cat Food

Some people prefer to make their own cat food. This way they can be sure that their pet is getting all of the proper nutrients required. Many people also like to stay away from processed food, particularly as many brands of food contain by-products.

If you have never tried making your own food before, I have a book below that you might enjoy. Just the names of many of the recipes make me hungry!

So, enjoy giving your pet some of the human food that you so love, but just be sure that food is safe for them to eat and that you keep those treats in moderation. If you have any food suggestions below, feel free to leave me a comment. I would love to know.

 

Cat Food Recipe Book

Purr-fect Recipes for a Healthy Cat: 101 Natural Cat Food & Treat Recipes to Make Your Cat Happy
Amazon Price: $24.95 $12.47 Buy Now
(price as of Apr 4, 2014) Not only does this book contain more than 100 healthy recipes, such as Chicken Fried Rice, Poached Salmon and Beef and Broccoli, it also covers raw meat preparation as well.

In addition, you can learn about natural cat care for various parts of your cat's body, along with information about how to address certain health issues.

There are also recipes that address certain health concerns along with food preparation tips, not to mention some healthy treats you can make such as Crab Cookies and Crepes.