If you have a cat at home, you probably have already faced a situation where your pet seemed to get bored of their own food or started to ask you for some of your lunch. Giving them other types of food is a good solution if you want to treat them to a more natural meal.
Take a look below at what human foods cats can eat, so you can give your cat different treats to try!
Lactose-free Low-Fat Yogurt
In general, cats shouldn’t ingest lots of dairy products due to the lactose, but low-fat yogurt is a good option to try. This type of yogurt has less sugar and fats and no lactose at all. A high amount of sugars can cause big health issues for the cats in the long run, so always opt for sugar-free meals.
Pumpkin
Rich in fiber and poor in calories, the pumpkin is a great vegetable for cats and highly recommended in small doses for the ones with abnormal bowel movements or other digestive issues. However, it needs to be boiled and free of peels and seeds before giving it to your cat.
Bananas
Even though fruits are not recommended to cats due to their high level of sugar, there are some exceptions, like pears, strawberries, and mainly bananas.
Bananas are rich in fibers, potassium, and magnesium and are also a huge source of vitamins A, C, and B6. They may be a little bit difficult for the cats to ingest, so it’s recommended to introduce the fruit in small amounts or mixed in their food.
Fish
Used by some people as a complement to their cats’ meals, the fish is a good addition to their diet, but it’s not recommended as a steady part of their daily feeding. It’s important to shred the fish and remove the spine.
A good and approved type of fish for cats is tuna. Cats love tuna but do not give them commonly canned tuna. Most of the cans may be contaminated by substances that can intoxicate them.
Broccoli
One of the best human foods for cats, broccoli is loved by most pets. It’s a big source of vitamins like A, B1, B2, B6, and C and is a powerful antioxidant. Broccoli helps in the bones' health and strength, since it’s full of calcium, potassium, and iron, and it also prevents cancer.
Do not forget to cook the broccoli before introducing it to your cat.
Cooked Eggs
Eggs are a great human food safe for cats. They are extremely rich in fibers and lean proteins and scarce in carbohydrates and fats. They are also good bone strengtheners and a source of resistance due to their amount of iron, calcium, and vitamins. However, don’t offer raw eggs to your cat.
Ingesting raw eggs is not recommended for pets due to the high risk of getting infected by a bacteria called salmonella, which causes symptoms such as vomit and diarrhea.
The best ways of introducing eggs to your cat’s feeding are cooked or scrambled. It’s also important to know that the introduction of eggs in your cat’s diet should be slow to avoid rejections from their digestive system, and if your cat suffers from some illness like obesity, kidney disease, or pancreatitis you shouldn’t give them eggs without talking to a vet first.
Chicken
Since cats are carnivores and need lots of animal-based protein, healthy meats are highly recommended for their diets. Adding meat to your cat’s meals is a good complement to their health, and the most recommended option is cooked chicken.
The chicken is a source of nutrients like vitamins B6, phosphorus, and selenium, which are great for the immune system. Before introducing it to your cat, prepare it properly. The chicken must be cooked, free of oils, and shredded. Any other way of preparing chicken meat can be dangerous for your cat’s health.
Spinach
For most cats, spinach is harmless. Spinach is extremely healthy, full of vitamins like A, C, E, K, B6, and B2, minerals like magnesium, folate, calcium, and potassium, and rich in fibers. It’s low in calories, which is great for weight management and prevents health issues like irregularity in blood pressure and cancer.
However, there are some exceptions that can make spinach not recommended for your pets. If your cat suffers from any urinary problem or has ever had calcium oxalate bladder stones, you should not give them spinach.
Human Foods to Avoid Giving To Your Cat
Since there are some safe human foods for cats, it’s important to know that there are also toxic foods you should never give them. Take a look below at some of these dangerous foods:
- Chocolate is such a poison to the cats due to the huge amount of substances they should never ingest. Eating chocolate can cause them abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and in the worst cases even death.
- Coffee, tea, and energy drinks: the ingestion of these types of drinks can be fatal for cats.
- Garlic and onions can cause anemia in cats and seriously damage their blood, causing nausea, abnormal pain, diarrhea, and vomit.
- Salt and other seasonings: salt is not recommended at all to any pet, as much as most of the other seasonings. The ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and even death.
- Dairy: cats and dogs are lactose-intolerant, so dairy products are not recommended for them. The results can be diarrhea and vomit.
- Grapes and raisins: although there isn't any clear reason why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats, and even a small amount can make them sick.
Overall, even having a lot of foods cats and other pets are able to eat without causing any damage to their health, avoid giving them in large doses. The consumption of any food, even ration, in large doses is not recommended.
And do not forget: before introducing any different food to your cat’s diet, consult a veterinarian so you can be sure it won’t affect your pet’s health.
Cats love spending time outside, but it’s important to have a safe yard for them to run in. Consider installing a cat fence and avoid any headaches!
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