Your Cat Is Totally Allowed to Eat These 7 Human Foods – We Asked 2 Vets to Be Sure

Unseasoned, cooked chicken, turkey, lean beef, and lean deli meats are a great way to satisfy cats’ cravings for meat, Dr. Kirk said. That said, Sara Ochoa, DVM, a small-animal and exotic veterinarian in Texas and veterinary consultant for doglab.com, explained that raw beef is OK as long as it is fresh and unprocessed. “Packaged beef will almost inevitably have something added to it,” she said. “Also, bacteria are likely to be introduced into the meat from the machinery during processing. Therefore, only feeding the freshest beef possible is recommended if feeding raw. However, if you are going to cook the beef, then packaged beef will do fine.”

Dr. Ochoa also shared that cats can also eat raw chicken. However, if the chicken is not fresh or has been sitting out for too long, then bacteria like salmonella or listeria can develop, which can make cats sick. So, when in doubt, it’s best to stick to cooked meats.

Fish has many properties that can help with a cat’s skin, heart, kidney, and joint diseases, Dr. Kirk said. Cats particularly love the tastes of tuna and salmon.

However, any salmon should be fully cooked and free of bone, and you should only feed it to your cat as an occasional treat since salmon does not provide your cat with enough taurine (an essential amino acid needed in all cats’ diets), Dr. Ochoa said. Similarly, any raw, cooked, or canned tuna (only feed your cat tuna canned in water, not brine or oil) should only be fed to your cat in moderation and not as a primary diet, since tuna fish doesn’t provide all the nutrients needed to maintain your cat’s health. “Too much raw tuna can also lead to a thiamine deficiency,” Dr. Ochoa said.

Cooked eggs are safe for cats to eat, and are a great source of protein to add to your cat’s diet. But, like raw chicken, bacteria like salmonella or listeria are a concern with raw eggs. Do note as well that your cat can’t survive on eggs. “There are other nutrients that your cat needs to stay healthy,” Dr. Ochoa said.

Mangoes, bananas, apples, apricots, blueberries, and cranberries are all safe fruits for cats to eat. Dr. Ochoa noted that melons in particular can help with digestive issues and can be a wonderful source of water for cats.

She further explained that it’s best to limit your furry friend to two or three berries, or one small chunk of fruit at a time, starting with small pieces and working up to a max of about one tablespoon, to see how your cat responds. Lastly, she recommends removing any seeds, skin, and rind beforehand to ensure your cat doesn’t choke.

Although they’re not essential to a cat’s diet, veggies like broccoli, cucumber, green peas, and carrots are high in water content, vitamins, and minerals, and sometimes high in fiber – all good for cats. However, many cats have an aversion to the taste of vegetables, Dr. Kirk said.

“Boiled peas are a great source of protein and a very nutritious supplement to a healthy diet,” Dr. Ochoa said, noting that potatoes can also be eaten cooked or boiled. However, you should only give your cat about one tablespoon of potatoes per feeding since cats do not need a high carbohydrate intake.

Cheese is a-OK, but only in small amounts. “Dairy is high in protein and fat, and provides calcium as well as an assortment of vitamins and minerals, but too much dairy for your kitty friend could mean gastrointestinal upset,” Dr. Kirk said.

Many cats deem cooked corn, rice, oatmeal, and couscous delicious. “Cooked grains are easily digestible to your cat and are found in many of the most popular dry cat foods available on the market,” Dr. Kirk said.