Foods Cats Should Never Eat (and Foods to Limit)

Some owners believe that fussy cats will never eat anything harmful. It’s true that cats usually turn their noses up at spoiled food, but they’ll happily try a bite of your tuna sandwich, a lick of ice cream or a piece of onion-laced stew, and some human foods can be very dangerous for them. Here’s a list of foods your cat should never eat, foods to limit and how to keep your cat safe.

Foods That Are Toxic to Cats

• Onions, garlic, leeks, chives and shallots, whether raw, cooked, dried or powdered (including in soups, gravies, baby food and seasoning). They damage red blood cells and cause anemia, even in small amounts eaten over time.
• Chocolate, cocoa and caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks), which contain substances that can cause vomiting, a racing heart, tremors and seizures.
• Alcohol, including in desserts and raw yeast dough, which is extremely dangerous for cats even in tiny amounts.
• Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas, which cause kidney failure in dogs and should be avoided in cats too.
• Xylitol, a sweetener found in sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods and some peanut butters.
• Raw yeast dough, which can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol.
• Lilies aren’t a food, but every part of the plant, even the pollen, can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. Read more about plants that are poisonous to cats.

Foods to Avoid or Limit

• Cow’s milk and dairy: most adult cats are lactose intolerant, and milk can cause diarrhea. Water is all a cat needs to drink.
• Raw meat, raw fish and raw eggs, which can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and, in the US, bird flu. Raw fish can also destroy thiamine (vitamin B1), and raw egg whites interfere with biotin.
• Cooked bones, which can splinter and injure the mouth, throat or intestines, and small bones that can cause blockages.
• Fat trimmings, skin and fatty foods, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis.
• Tuna and other fish meant for people: an occasional small taste is fine, but a diet of human tuna isn’t balanced and can cause nutritional problems.
• Liver in large amounts, which can cause vitamin A toxicity.
• Salty foods, such as chips, deli meats, ham and salty snacks.
• Dog food: an occasional mouthful won’t hurt, but dog food doesn’t contain enough taurine and other nutrients for cats.
• Human medicines and supplements, which aren’t food but are often eaten by accident.

What About Kittens?

Kittens are even more sensitive to toxic foods because of their small size, and they’re curious and will try almost anything. Feed your kitten a complete kitten food, and keep human food well out of reach. Read more: feeding a kitten.

How to Keep Your Cat Safe

• don’t feed your cat from the table, and ask family members and guests not to either;
• keep food covered and put away, and don’t leave plates on the counter;
• keep trash cans closed;
• store chocolate, gum, medicines and supplements securely;
• if you want to treat your cat, use treats made for cats, or small amounts of plain cooked chicken or fish without bones, skin or seasoning;
• feed a complete, balanced cat food. Read more: what to feed a cat.