Can cats eat human food?

Why

Cats have unique nutritional needs that human food often fails to meet, and many common ingredients like onions, garlic, and chocolate are toxic to them. Even foods that are not toxic can lead to digestive upset or long-term health problems if fed regularly.

If you do feed it

• Avoid all foods containing onions, garlic, chives, or leeks as they damage red blood cells.
• Never feed chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol, which are highly toxic even in small amounts.
• Skip foods with added salt, sugar, or artificial sweeteners like xylitol.
• If offering a tiny taste of plain cooked meat, ensure it has no bones, seasoning, or sauces.

Watch out for

• onions, garlic, chives, leeks
• chocolate, coffee, tea
• grapes, raisins, currants
• xylitol (artificial sweetener)
• cooked bones
• raw dough, raw fish, raw eggs
• high-fat trimmings, bacon, sausages
• dairy products (many cats are lactose intolerant)

Better choices