What Can Cats Eat? 98 Human Foods Checked by a Vet: Safe, Caution and Toxic List (+ Calorie Checker)

How much human food can a cat have each day?

A cat can have human food treats worth no more than 10% of its daily calories, which for a typical 10 lb spayed or neutered adult cat is only about 24 calories a day. That is roughly 15 g of plain cooked chicken, just a few small bites, so the right portion is always smaller than people expect.

Our checker works this out for your own cat. It uses the same NRC energy formula the WSAVA uses in its cat treat chart (130 × body weight in kg to the power 0.4 for spayed or neutered adults), a higher formula for intact adults, a growth formula for kittens and a lower target for overweight cats, then caps treats at 10% of the result. For caution foods it halves the allowance, and for toxic foods it shows zero.

So when you think about what can cats eat each day, think in calories first, then food type. These are starting points; your vet may set a different target for weight loss or illness. If your cat eats a lot of human food and then turns down its own meals, read common indoor cat feeding mistakes.

Which human foods are safe for cats?

The safest human foods for cats are plain, cooked, unseasoned proteins (chicken, turkey, lean beef, salmon, shrimp and eggs) plus small pieces of a few fruits, vegetables and grains. “Safe” still means a small portion: no seasoning, oil, butter, salt, onion or garlic.

Tap any food to check it in the tool:

Asked “what can cats eat besides cat food?” The honest answer is that nothing on this list replaces a complete cat food. If you want a fresher diet, compare our best human-grade cat food picks, which are balanced for cats.

What fruits can cats eat?

Cats can eat small pieces of banana, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, apples, pears, mango, pineapple, cantaloupe, kiwi and raspberries, but grapes, raisins and cherries are unsafe and citrus is best avoided. Cats cannot taste sweetness, so fruit is a novelty for them, and its sugar adds empty calories.

Always remove seeds, pits, cores, stems and rinds, which cause most fruit problems.

What vegetables can cats eat?

Cats can eat small amounts of cooked carrots, broccoli, green beans, peas, pumpkin, sweet potato and corn, plus raw cucumber, lettuce and celery, but onions, garlic, leeks and chives are toxic. Cooking softens hard vegetables so they are easier to digest and less of a choking risk.

Plain canned pumpkin is the vegetable vets mention most, as a fiber source for occasional stool problems. Watery picks such as cucumber and watermelon add a little moisture, but they do not replace water; see what to do if your cat is not drinking water.

Can cats eat meat, fish and eggs?

Yes, plain cooked meat, fish and eggs are the best human foods for cats, because cats are obligate carnivores, but raw meat, raw fish, raw eggs, cooked bones and salty processed meats carry real risks. Cook everything through and serve it plain, boneless and skinless; plain cooked chicken breast is the classic safe choice.

Tuna deserves a special note: cats love it, but a diet heavy in tuna can cause nutrient imbalances and mercury build-up, so keep it to an occasional spoonful.

Can cats drink milk or eat cheese?

Most adult cats should not drink cow’s milk, because many lose the ability to digest lactose after weaning and get diarrhea, and cheese is fatty and salty, so both are caution foods at best. Kittens need kitten milk replacer, never cow’s milk.

A pea-sized piece of cheese to hide a pill is fine for most healthy adult cats; daily cheese is not.

Can cats eat bread, rice, peanut butter and other snacks?

Plain cooked rice, oatmeal, pasta and bread are not toxic to cats but offer little nutrition, while most snack foods (chips, fries, popcorn, nuts, seeds, honey and peanut butter) are fatty, salty or sugary caution foods. Never feed raw yeast dough, which can expand in the stomach.

Check labels for xylitol in peanut butter and sugar-free treats. It is dangerous for dogs, and its effect on cats is not well established, so avoid it.

What can cats not eat?

Cats must not eat onions, garlic, chives, leeks, chocolate, coffee or other caffeine, alcohol, grapes, raisins, raw yeast dough or cooked bones, and should avoid cherries, mint, parsley, citrus and salty, seasoned processed meats. Some of these cause damage that only shows days later.

Onion and garlic are the most common hidden danger: they turn up as powder in soups, gravies, baby food, pizza, sausages and seasoned meats. Even a regular small dose can damage a cat’s red blood cells over time.

Is human food different for kittens, seniors and cats with health problems?

Yes, kittens should only taste green-rated foods, seniors should avoid salty foods, and cats with kidney, bladder, heart, weight or diabetes problems need stricter limits. The checker adjusts its rating when you choose these options.

• Kittens (under 1 year): stick to their kitten food; offer only a taste of plain cooked meat or egg after weaning.
• Senior cats: skip salty foods such as ham, cheese, olives and canned fish in brine; ageing kidneys handle salt poorly.
• Kidney or bladder issues: avoid salty foods and high-oxalate greens such as spinach and kale.
• Overweight or diabetic cats: avoid sugary fruit, honey and fatty foods; your vet may set an even lower treat budget.

Not sure which life stage your cat is in? Use our cat age calculator.

What should you do if your cat ate something toxic?

If your cat ate something toxic, remove the rest of the food, note what and how much was eaten and when, and call your vet or an animal poison hotline right away, even if your cat seems fine. Do not try to make a cat vomit at home; the methods that work for people and dogs can harm cats.

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply)
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (a fee applies)
• Your nearest emergency vet for vomiting, drooling, tremors, weakness, pale gums or breathing trouble.

If your cat stops eating after getting into human food, read why is my cat not eating.

What are better treats than human food?

Better treats than human food are tiny pieces of plain cooked meat, freeze-dried single-protein cat treats, dental treats and cat grass, because they give cats what they actually need without salt, sugar or seasoning. Fresh cat grass is also a safe outlet for cats that chew plants.

For teeth-friendly options, see our best cat dental chews, and for portion control at meal times, an automatic cat feeder helps.

How did we rate each food?

Each food is rated green, orange or red by a veterinarian, using the ASPCA Animal Poison Control lists, published feline nutrition guidance and USDA calorie data for the preparation shown. Green means safe in small portions, orange means limits, preparation rules or health conditions apply, and red means do not feed.

• Calories are approximate per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central, rounded; brands and recipes vary.
• Toxic ratings follow the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center; where cat-specific evidence is limited (grapes, raisins, xylitol), we choose the cautious rating.
• Daily needs use the resting energy formula with common life-stage factors; individual cats differ.
• Treat limits follow the widely used 10% guideline, halved for caution foods and capped at 15 g a day (5 g for caution foods, sugary foods and kittens) so even low-calorie foods stay small.

Plants are a separate topic: many houseplants and flowers, especially lilies, are dangerous to cats. Mint is covered above; for oils, see is peppermint oil safe for cats.