Can My Cat Eat This? Food Safety Guide
Cats are obligate carnivores with a few unusual sensitivities, so the answers are not always the same as for dogs. Search or browse to see what your cat can share, what needs care, and what to keep out of reach.
Quick lists: Fruits and vegetables cats can and can’t eat
- No
Chocolate
No. Chocolate is toxic to cats. The darker and more bitter it is, the more dangerous, and even a small amount matters for an animal the size of a cat.
- No
Onions
No. Onions are toxic to cats in every form, raw, cooked or powdered, and cats are more sensitive to them than dogs are.
- No
Grapes and raisins
No. Poisoning is much less common in cats than in dogs, but grapes and raisins have caused kidney damage in cats, and no safe amount is known. Keep them out of reach and call your vet if your cat eats any.
- No
Garlic
No. Garlic is toxic to cats in every form, raw, cooked, powdered or in prepared food, and it is three to five times more toxic than onion. Even a small amount can damage a cat's red blood cells.
- No
Coffee
No. Coffee is toxic to cats because of its caffeine. A lick of a caffeinated drink is unlikely to cause problems, but coffee grounds, beans, strong tea and caffeine pills can poison a cat.
- No
Alcohol
No. Alcohol is toxic to cats. Because cats are small, a small amount of beer, wine, spirits or a dish cooked with alcohol can make a cat seriously ill.
- With care
Milk
Not really. Milk is not toxic, but most adult cats cannot digest lactose well and it is not recommended as a treat. Kittens need kitten milk replacer, never cow's milk.
- With care
Tuna
Cats should have tuna only as a small, occasional treat. Plain cooked or canned tuna is not toxic, but cats fed a lot of tuna meant for people can develop serious nutritional problems.
- With care
Cheese
Cats can have cheese only in very small amounts, and only if they tolerate dairy. Cheese is not toxic, but many adult cats are lactose intolerant, and cheese is high in fat, salt and calories.
- With care
Yogurt
Yogurt is not suitable as a regular treat for cats. Plain, unsweetened yogurt is not toxic and some cats tolerate a lick, but it is still dairy and many cats are lactose intolerant. Avoid flavored, fruit and sugar-free yogurts.
- With care
Avocado
Cats can have only a tiny taste of plain avocado flesh, and only rarely. The flesh is not considered toxic to cats, but it is very fatty, and the pit, skin, leaves and guacamole should never be shared.
- With care
Corn
Cats can have only a few plain cooked corn kernels, occasionally. Corn is not toxic to cats, but it offers them little, and cobs, husks and buttered or salted corn should never be shared.
- With care
Ham
Cats can have only a small piece of ham now and then, and plain ham cooked at home is the only kind worth sharing. Ham is not toxic to cats, but most ham is salty, deli ham may contain onion or garlic, and ham bones are dangerous.
- With care
Mashed potatoes
Cats can have plain mashed potatoes only in a tiny amount: peeled, fully cooked and mashed with nothing added. Mashed potatoes made with garlic, onion, chives, butter, milk or gravy are not suitable for cats, and raw potatoes, green potatoes and potato skins are toxic to them.
- With care
Rice
Only now and then. Rice is not toxic to cats, and a small amount of plain, well-cooked rice is unlikely to cause harm, but rice offers a cat almost no nutritional benefit and is best kept rare.
- With care
Peanut Butter
Not really. Plain peanut butter without xylitol is not toxic to cats, but peanut butter is high in fat, offers a cat no nutritional value, and is best kept away from cats.
- With care
Carrots
Not really. Carrots are not toxic to cats and a small piece of cooked carrot is unlikely to cause harm, but cats do not digest carrots well and get little from them, so carrots are not a recommended treat.
- With care
Tomatoes
Not really. Ripe tomato fruit is not toxic to cats and a tiny piece is unlikely to cause harm, but unripe tomatoes and the leaves and stems of the tomato plant are toxic, and tomatoes are not a recommended treat.
- With care
Oranges
Not really. The flesh of oranges and other citrus fruits is not toxic to cats, but citrus peels, leaves and seeds contain irritating oils, and vets advise keeping citrus away from cats.
- Yes
Pumpkin
Yes. Plain cooked or canned pumpkin is safe for most cats in small amounts. Skip pumpkin pie filling and anything spiced or sweetened.
- Yes
Chicken
Yes. Plain, fully cooked chicken with the skin and bones removed is a safe and healthy treat for most cats, as long as it stays a small extra alongside a complete cat food.
- Yes
Eggs
Yes. Fully cooked, plain eggs are safe for most cats as an occasional treat. Never feed raw egg, and keep portions small because the yolk is high in fat.
- Yes
Shrimp
Yes. Plain, fully cooked shrimp with the shell, tail and head removed is safe for most cats as an occasional treat. Skip raw shrimp and anything seasoned, breaded or buttered.
- Yes
Sweet potatoes
Yes. A small amount of plain, fully cooked, peeled sweet potato is safe for most healthy cats. Never give it raw, or with butter, sugar, salt or spices.
- Yes
Watermelon
Yes. A small amount of plain watermelon flesh, with the seeds and rind removed, is safe for most healthy cats. Cats with diabetes or obesity should not have it.
- Yes
Bananas
Yes. A small piece of ripe banana is safe for most healthy cats as an occasional treat. It adds little to a cat's diet, and cats with diabetes or obesity should not have it.
- Yes
Blueberries
Yes. Plain fresh or frozen blueberries are safe for most cats in small amounts. Cut or mash them first, and keep them an occasional treat.
- Yes
Strawberries
Yes. Fresh or frozen strawberries are safe for most healthy cats in small, cut-up pieces as an occasional treat. Cats that are overweight or have diabetes should not have them.
- Yes
Apples
Yes. A small piece of peeled apple flesh is safe for most healthy cats as an occasional treat. Remove the seeds, core, stem and leaves first.
- Yes
Mango
Yes. A small piece of ripe, peeled mango flesh is safe for most healthy cats as an occasional treat. Never give the pit or the skin.
- Yes
Turkey
Yes. Plain, fully cooked turkey with the skin and bones removed is a safe treat for most cats, as long as it stays a small extra alongside a complete cat food.
- Yes
Cranberries
Yes. Plain fresh or cooked cranberries are not known to be toxic to cats, and a berry or two is a safe occasional treat. Skip cranberry sauce, sweetened dried cranberries and cranberry juice.
- Yes
Salmon
Yes. Cats can eat plain, cooked, boneless salmon as an occasional treat. Raw, smoked, canned or seasoned salmon is not a good choice for a cat.
- Yes
Beef
Yes. Cats can eat plain, lean beef that has been cooked through, as a small treat. Skip raw beef, fatty trimmings, bones and any beef cooked with seasoning or sauce.
- Yes
Pineapple
Yes. Cats can eat a few small pieces of fresh, ripe pineapple as an occasional treat. Avoid the skin, the leaves, the tough core, and any pineapple that is canned in syrup, dried or baked into sweets.
- Yes
Broccoli
Yes. Broccoli is not toxic to cats, and a small piece of plain broccoli, cooked or finely chopped, is safe for most cats as an occasional treat.
- Yes
Cucumber
Yes. Cats can eat a few small pieces of plain, fresh cucumber as an occasional treat. Avoid cucumber salads dressed with garlic, salt or chili, and pickles.
How to read the results
- No Toxic or dangerous for cats. Keep it out of reach and contact a vet if it is eaten.
- With care Not toxic in itself, but only suitable in some forms or tiny amounts, or it causes problems when fed often. Read the details.
- Yes Safe for most healthy adult cats when plain, cooked where needed, and given as an occasional small treat.
Treats, including human foods, should stay a small part of your cat’s diet: the Cornell Feline Health Center suggests no more than 10 to 15% of daily calories.
If your cat has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital or an animal poison control service right away, even if your cat seems fine. Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.