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You can also search for foods that are 👍 safe or 👎 unsafe

Read the tips below before sharing any food with cats

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✋ Corn

Corn is safe for your cat in small amounts. It is high in carbohydrates, however, which are difficult for cats to digest. Cats should never be given an entire corn on the cob, as they can be a choking hazard and can cause a serious intestinal blockage. Cats can eat plain, unseasoned, cooked corn, without the cob.

Caution: Cats lack the enzymes required for digesting carbohydrates, therefore, their diet should not exceed 2% of carbohydrates or sugars. Read more.

👎 Fried Foods

Chicken Fingers, Chicken Nuggets, Chips, Clam Cakes, Corn Dogs, Crab Rangoons, Donuts, Egg Rolls, Falafel, Fish and Chips, French Fries, Hash Browns, Home Fries, Mozzarella Sticks, Onion Rings, Potato Chips, Spring Rolls, Tater Tots, Tortilla Chips, etc.

While a french fry, potato chip, chicken finger or two may seem like a harmless treat to share with your cat, even a small morsel of highly-processed fatty food can create a nightmare of digestive upset that spirals into more serious problems. Cats should not eat fried foods of any kind.

Caution: Processed foods are unhealthy for cats and can even conceal toxic ingredients. Read more.

Caution: Cats lack the enzymes required for digesting carbohydrates, therefore, their diet should not exceed 2% of carbohydrates or sugars. Read more.

Caution: Foods that are high in fat should only be fed in moderation, as the link between too much fat and pancreas problems in cats is still being studied. Read more.

✋ Popcorn

Popcorn is not toxic to cats, but commonly added toppings and seasonings on popcorn can be. Additionally, unpopped kernels aren't digestible and can cause digestive upset. Cats can eat plain, unsalted, unbuttered, popped popcorn.

Caution: Cats lack the enzymes required for digesting carbohydrates, therefore, their diet should not exceed 2% of carbohydrates or sugars. Read more.

👍 Squash

Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash, Spaghetti Squash, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Yellow Squash, etc.

Squash is not toxic to cats. Cats can eat bite-size pieces of plain, unseasoned squash—cooked, frozen, or raw.

Caution: Cats lack the enzymes required for digesting carbohydrates, therefore, their diet should not exceed 2% of carbohydrates or sugars. Read more.

Tips

When sharing food with cats, it is important to keep a few things in mind:
  • Ask your veterinarian before feeding your cat anything—especially if they take medication or have any medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, allergies, etc.). Some medication can interact with foods, so don't take any chances!
  • Any foods cats are eating for the first time should be introduced in small quantities. Monitor them after they eat it, and if they experience any negative symptoms, don't feed it to them again.
  • Any foods outside of your cat's normal diet should make up less than 10% of their daily food intake. For example, if your cat eats 1 cup of food per day, they shouldn't eat more than ⅒ cup of treats (e.g. a few blueberries). Any foods fed to cats in large amounts can lead to digestive upset, so moderation is truly key.
  • Any foods shared with cats should be cut into bite-size pieces, with all choking hazards removed (e.g. pits, peels, seeds). These choking hazards can even become obstructed in your cats gastrointestinal tract. Never share these things with cats, even if they are perfectly normal for humans to eat.
  • Cats shouldn't eat foods with added salt, oils, sugar, seasonings, sauces, or any other variations. These additions, while delicious, often contain ingredients that are harmful, if not toxic to cats, such as garlic, onions, or even xylitol. Cats should not eat foods that were prepared with these ingredients, either.
  • Cats should only eat foods that are high in fat in moderation, even if they are generally considered healthy for us. For dogs, eating large amounts of fat can cause gastrointestinal upset and even pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas which can range from mild to severe, and can require emergency veterinary treatment. For cats, however, the link between too much fat and pancreas problems in cats is still being studied. Out of an abundance of caution, cats should only eat limited amounts of fatty foods.
  • Cats shouldn't eat processed foods such as baked foods, boxed snacks, fast food, etc. Aside from being unhealthy and high in fat, they often conceal ingredients that may be troublesome or even toxic for cats, such as a sweetener called xylitol. Be sure to thoroughly read the ingredients of any processed foods you share with your cat, and if you can't determine the safety level of each ingredient, do not share it with your cat.
  • Cats shouldn't eat canned versions of foods (e.g. fruits, vegetables, etc.), due to their added preservatives including excess salt and sugar, which can be harmful to cats (and humans!). Choose fresh or even frozen versions instead.
  • Cats lack the enzymes required to digest carbohydrates. Unlike humans and dogs, cats are carnivorous, and do not digest sugars the same way we do. Over time, feeding cats carbohydrates and sugary foods will cause digestive issues, and can also lead to obesity and diabetes, and therefore, their diets should not exceed 2% of carbohydrates or sugars.