15 Human Foods That Are Safe for Cats

Searching for a healthy snack for your cat? Fortunately, you don’t have to look much further than your own pantry for some cat-safe foods to feed your pet. And once you find out what human foods your feline friend can eat, you can start getting creative by making your kitty delicious DIY cat treats.

Read on to discover which feline-friendly human foods are expert-recommended, so you can start feeding your cat like every other family member.

1

Salmon

A good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, salmon can be a delicious and tasty treat for cats and is often already found in commercial cat food, said Dr. Tina Wismer, medical director at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. While some cat-friendly human foods can be fed to your cat raw, make sure to give her only cooked salmon, Dr. Wismer said.

PureBits salmon freeze-dried cat treats make it easy to feed your cat salmon with all of the benefits and none of the cleanup.

2

Spinach

Full of vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C and K, iron and calcium, spinach can be a healthy, cat-friendly treat, according to Dr. Wismer. However, if your cat has history of calcium oxalate bladder stones, you should avoid giving them spinach.

Different cat foods also include spinach as an ingredient due to its vast health benefits. Purina Beyond Grain-Free ocean whitefish and spinach canned cat food features spinach within the top five ingredients for a natural, pate-style food for adult cats.

3

Cantaloupe

High in antioxidants and beta-carotene, which helps maintain healthy skin and eye health, cantaloupe is one of several cat-safe fruits, according to Dr. Wismer.

4

Eggs

Another good source of protein and B vitamins, eggs are safe for your feline to eat, Dr. Wismer said. In order to reduce the risk of food borne diseases, be sure to cook any eggs you feed your cat.

5

Fish Oils

Start whipping out the fish oil cat supplements! According to Emmy-award winning veterinarian Dr. Jeff Werber, while pet parents tend to get away with giving their dogs people food more often than cats, fish oil is something that can help benefit both species. With a variety of options, including salmon and cod liver oil, the omega 3s in fish oil can help prevent dry skin in the winter and keep your cat’s coat healthy throughout the year.

Supplements made from wild-caught fish, like American Journey Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil dog and cat supplement, help support skin and coat health with natural fatty acids.

6

Chicken

Because cats are obligate carnivores and require diets that contain mostly meat (unlike dogs who are omnivores and can live off of a variety of different foods), their bodies aren’t able to digest fibrous foods as easily as dogs and don’t always like the variety of people foods that dogs do, according to Werber. However, any type of meat, like chicken, is right up their alley.

A good source of lean protein, chicken can be a great choice for your cat, as long as it is cooked thoroughly and the skin, which can be fatty, is removed, Werber said. Chicken is another ingredient often found in commercial cat foods.

7

Bananas

High in potassium and soluble fiber, bananas are a cat-safe snack, according to Wismer. Although bananas are a healthy treat, they (like all items on this list) should make up no more than 10 percent of your cat’s daily calorie intake, she added.

8

Oatmeal

A source of energy and B vitamins for your pet, oatmeal is another human food that can be found in commercial cat foods, like Natural Balance Fat Cats low-calorie diet. However, just because oatmeal may be cat-safe, not every feline will like it, so you’ll want to introduce these foods slowly and make sure they like them before incorporating them into a regular part of your cat’s diet.

9

Pumpkin

Can cats eat pumpkin? Not only is pumpkin low in calories and high in fiber, it is also be an effective treatment for cats who suffer from abnormal stools. You can incorporate pumpkin into cat treats since it’s both safe and healthy.

Commercially-available supplements for cats make it easy to introduce pumpkin into your feline’s diet. Weruva Pumpkin Patch up! dog and cat food supplement is a puree that supports stool quality and healthy gut mobility in single-serve pouches.

10

Cheese

Are cats lactose intolerant or can cats handle some cheese from time to time?

If your cat shows an interest in this feline-friendly food, Dr. Wismer recommends feeding a hard cheese, like cheddar, Swiss or Gouda. These cheeses are high in calcium and protein and can be easily baked into treats or fed to your cat raw in small amounts.

11

Bread

A good source of protein and fiber, Dr. Werber said some cats like to snack on bread, a feline-friendly human food.

12

Apples

High in fiber and vitamin C, apples are another food Dr. Werber says cats can eat, as long as they’re fed to your cat without the skin, seeds or stems.

13

Blueberries

A good source of vitamins A and C, blueberries can be found in some cat foods, like American Journey salmon grain-free dry cat food, and some felines may even like to snack on frozen blueberries, Dr. Wismer said.

14

Turkey

Another lean protein, turkey, including cooked turkey breast or sliced deli meat, is a cat-safe snack.

15

Peas

High in fiber, vitamin C and vitamin A, peas are another cat-safe human food. They often are found in commercial cat foods, but can be fed to your cat frozen or raw.