Free cat food safety guide
A plain, vet-sourced answer for the human foods cat owners reach for. Cats are carnivores, so meat and fish are the natural treats — search a food below, or scroll the A–Z, each marked safe in moderation, feed with caution, or never, with the reason and how to serve it.
The foods below are toxic to cats — some dangerous even in small amounts, and cats are especially sensitive to onion and garlic. If your cat has eaten any, or touched a lily, call your vet or a poison line.
Filter by verdict or search a food. Every entry shows why, and how to serve it if it's safe.
Drinks & other · Never — toxic to cats
Never. Tiny amounts are dangerous.
Beer, wine, spirits and foods made with them can cause vomiting, disorientation and dangerously low blood sugar in a small cat very quickly. Raw bread dough is a hidden source.
Fruit · Safe in moderation
Yes — flesh only, no seeds or core.
A little peeled apple flesh is safe. Skip the core and pips (the seeds contain tiny amounts of cyanide compounds) and don't expect much interest.
Fruit · Feed with caution
Best skipped — persin and a big pit.
Avocado flesh contains persin; cats are fairly resistant, so a little usually causes at most stomach upset — but it's fatty and the large stone is a choking and blockage hazard. Easiest to skip.
Fruit · Safe in moderation
Yes — a tiny piece, rarely.
A small slice of banana is non-toxic, but it's sugary and most cats aren't keen. Fine as an occasional novelty, not a regular treat.
Fruit · Safe in moderation
Yes — a couple, if your cat's interested.
Blueberries are a safe, antioxidant-rich nibble. Cats can't taste sweetness so many ignore fruit, but a couple now and then do no harm.
Drinks & other · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain, no onion or garlic.
Plain, unsalted bone broth with no onion or garlic is a safe, tempting way to add moisture and encourage a fussy or unwell cat to take in fluids. Check the label — many shop broths hide onion and salt.
Grains & bread · Safe in moderation
Yes — a small piece of plain baked bread.
A little plain, fully baked bread is non-toxic. It's empty calories for a cat, though — and raw bread dough is a serious danger (see 'never'), so only ever the baked kind, in a tiny amount.
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
An occasional treat, never a staple.
A little plain tuna in spring water is a fine now-and-then treat, but human tuna isn't a complete cat food, and a 'tuna habit' can crowd out balanced meals and, over time, raise mercury intake. Keep it small and rare, and avoid tuna in brine or oil.
Dairy · Feed with caution
A tiny bit at most — many cats can't handle it.
A pea-sized piece of hard cheese can help hide a pill, but cheese is fatty and salty and most cats are lactose intolerant. Stop if it causes gas or loose stools.
Vegetables · Never — toxic to cats
Never. The rest of the onion family.
Chives, leeks, shallots and spring onions are all alliums with the same red-blood-cell toxin — cooked or raw, they're off the menu for cats.
Sweets & extras · Never — toxic to cats
Never. Theobromine is toxic to cats too.
Cats rarely seek chocolate out, but it's just as poisonous to them as to dogs — dark and baking chocolate worst. It can cause a racing heart, tremors and seizures. Keep it well away and call a vet if any is eaten.
Drinks & other · Never — toxic to cats
Never. The same drug family as chocolate.
Coffee, tea, energy drinks and used grounds contain caffeine, a methylxanthine like theobromine — expect a racing heart, restlessness and tremors even from a small amount in a cat.
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
Never cooked — they splinter.
Cooked bones (chicken, fish, chop) turn brittle and can splinter into sharp pieces that harm the mouth, throat or gut. Give boneless cooked meat instead, and ask your vet about safe options.
Vegetables · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain, small florets.
Plain steamed broccoli in small pieces is safe and full of fibre. Some cats enjoy chewing it; keep portions tiny to avoid gas.
Vegetables · Safe in moderation
Yes — cooked soft, small pieces.
Plain cooked carrot, cut small, is a safe low-calorie nibble. Cook it soft to avoid a choking risk, and skip butter and salt.
Meat, fish & eggs · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain, cooked, boneless. A cat favourite.
Plain cooked chicken with no skin, bones, oil or seasoning is one of the best treats for a cat, and a classic bland food for an upset stomach. Shred it small and keep it to a treat-sized portion.
Meat, fish & eggs · Safe in moderation
Yes — fully cooked, plain.
Scrambled or boiled egg with no butter, salt or milk is a great protein-rich treat. Always cooked, never raw.
Meat, fish & eggs · Safe in moderation
Yes — cooked, boneless, occasional.
Cooked white fish or salmon, boneless and plain, is a tasty treat and a source of omega-3s. Cooked (not raw) avoids the thiamine and parasite problems, and it's a treat, not a whole diet.
Meat, fish & eggs · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain and cooked, a small treat.
A plain cooked, peeled prawn is a safe, much-loved treat. No shell, no seasoning, and just one or two — they're rich.
Meat, fish & eggs · Safe in moderation
Yes — cooked and boneless, now and then.
Plain cooked salmon is safe and cats love it. Never raw or smoked (salt), always boneless, and as an occasional treat rather than a staple.
Vegetables · Safe in moderation
Yes — cooked plain, small amount.
Plain cooked (never raw) sweet potato is safe in a small amount. Mash a little; no butter, salt or spice.
Meat, fish & eggs · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain and cooked.
Like chicken: plain, skinless, boneless cooked turkey is a lean, protein-rich treat. Skip the seasoned roast, the skin and anything cooked with onion or garlic.
Grains & bread · Safe in moderation
Yes — a little plain, for an upset tummy.
A small amount of plain cooked white rice is safe and often part of a vet's bland diet (with plain chicken) for a cat recovering from a stomach upset. It's filler, not nutrition — a spoonful, no salt.
Vegetables · Safe in moderation
Yes — a thin slice, if they fancy it.
A little peeled cucumber is safe and hydrating. Harmless, if not something most cats seek out.
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
Not toxic, but wrong for a cat.
A stolen mouthful won't hurt, but dog food is missing the taurine, extra protein and vitamin A a cat must get from its diet. Fed regularly it leads to deficiency — cats need cat food, not dog food.
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
Limit — fat can trigger pancreatitis.
Fat trimmings, fried food and greasy leftovers can cause stomach upset and, with a big or repeated dose, pancreatitis. Lean, plain, unseasoned meat is the better treat.
Vegetables · Never — toxic to cats
Never. Stronger than onion, gram for gram.
Same allium toxin as onion but more concentrated. Skip garlic bread, seasoned meat and 'natural' garlic supplements — there's no safe cat dose.
Fruit · Never — toxic to cats
Never. Linked to kidney damage.
Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants have caused kidney injury in pets, and the toxic amount is unpredictable. Cats seldom eat them, but keep cereal, flapjacks and trail mix out of reach and call a vet if any are eaten.
Vegetables · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain, cooked or steamed.
Plain green beans are safe and low in calories, sometimes suggested for a cat watching its weight. No butter, salt or seasoning.
Vegetables · Never — toxic to cats
Never the green parts — solanine.
Green (unripe) tomato, the tomato plant's stems and leaves, and green or sprouting raw potato all contain solanine, which upsets the gut and nerves. A little ripe red tomato or plain cooked potato is a different story (see below).
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
Limit. Too salty and fatty.
Cats love the smell, but cured and processed meats are very salty and fatty, and the salt adds up fast in a small body. A tiny piece of plain cooked meat is a far better choice.
Dairy · Feed with caution
Skip it — lactose, sugar, maybe xylitol.
Most cats can't handle the lactose, the sugar does nothing for them (they can't even taste it), and some 'sugar-free' kinds may contain xylitol. There's no good reason to share it.
Meat, fish & eggs · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain, well cooked, small.
A little plain cooked lean beef suits most cats. Trim the fat, leave off the salt and sauce, and keep the piece small.
Drinks & other · Never — toxic to cats
Never — the deadliest common cat poison (a plant, not a food).
Not a food, but it belongs on every cat 'never' list: true lilies (Easter, Tiger, Asiatic, day lilies) cause fatal kidney failure, and even the pollen, a leaf or the vase water can do it. If your cat has touched any part of a lily, call a vet immediately — this is an emergency.
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
Tiny amounts only — vitamin A builds up.
A small piece of cooked liver is a rich treat, but too much, too often causes vitamin A toxicity, which affects the bones and joints. Keep it to an occasional taste.
Fruit · Safe in moderation
Yes — a small piece.
Cantaloupe flesh is safe and some cats are oddly drawn to its smell. A small, seedless piece is plenty.
Dairy · Feed with caution
Most cats can't digest it — myth aside.
Despite the saucer-of-milk image, most adult cats are lactose intolerant, so milk often causes stomach upset and diarrhoea. A tiny amount isn't toxic, but water is what a cat actually needs.
Sweets & extras · Never — toxic to cats
Avoid. Large amounts contain myristicin.
A dusting is unlikely to harm, but larger amounts — baking spills, eggnog — can cause disorientation and a racing heart. Not something a cat needs anyway.
Grains & bread · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain cooked, a tiny amount.
Plain cooked oatmeal (made with water, not milk) is safe in a small amount. Most cats aren't fussed, and it's of little use to a carnivore, so keep it to an occasional taste.
Vegetables · Never — toxic to cats
Never. Cats are especially sensitive.
Raw, cooked or powdered, onion damages a cat's red blood cells and can cause anaemia — and cats are more sensitive to it than dogs. Watch for hidden onion in baby food, gravy, soup and seasoned leftovers.
Vegetables · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain, a few.
A few plain cooked or thawed peas are safe and often turn up in cat foods. Keep it to a small amount.
Dairy · Safe in moderation
Yes — a teaspoon of plain, if tolerated.
A little plain unsweetened yogurt is lower in lactose than milk and some cats handle it fine. Never the sweetened or 'sugar-free' kind (watch for xylitol), and stop if it causes loose stools.
Vegetables · Safe in moderation
Yes — plain cooked, a spoonful.
Plain cooked or tinned pumpkin (not pie filling) adds fibre and can settle mild digestive upsets or help with hairballs. A teaspoon is plenty; ask your vet first if it's for a tummy problem.
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
Cooked yes; raw no.
Raw egg white contains avidin, which blocks a B vitamin (biotin), and raw egg can carry salmonella. Plain cooked egg is a safe, protein-rich treat — see below.
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
Not regularly — it destroys vitamin B1.
Raw fish contains thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamine (vitamin B1); a steady diet of it can cause a serious deficiency. It can also carry parasites and bacteria. Cooked, boneless fish is the safe way to share.
Meat, fish & eggs · Feed with caution
Bacteria and parasite risk.
Cats are built for meat, but raw meat from the shop can carry salmonella and other bugs, and handling it is a risk to you too. Cooked, plain and boneless is the safe way; only raw-feed under a vet's guidance.
Grains & bread · Never — toxic to cats
Never. It rises inside and makes alcohol.
Uncooked bread dough keeps fermenting in the warm stomach: it swells painfully and produces alcohol at the same time. A double emergency — call a vet.
Fruit · Safe in moderation
Yes — a small piece, rarely.
Non-toxic and safe in a tiny amount, but sugary and of little use to a cat. A lick or nibble is fine; don't make it a habit.
Fruit · Feed with caution
A little ripe flesh only; green parts no.
A small amount of ripe red tomato flesh is generally fine, but the green fruit, stems and leaves contain solanine and must be avoided, along with onion/garlic-laden tomato sauces.
Drinks & other · Safe in moderation
Yes — fresh water is what a cat actually needs.
Forget the saucer of milk: clean fresh water is the only drink a cat needs. Cats have a low thirst drive, so a wide bowl or a pet fountain, and wet food, all help keep them hydrated.
Fruit · Safe in moderation
Yes — seedless flesh, small amount.
A small piece of seedless watermelon flesh is safe and hydrating. Remove any seeds and the rind, and keep it small — it's still sugary.
Vegetables · Never — toxic to cats
Never wild ones. Plain shop mushrooms are low-risk.
Many wild mushrooms are deadly and hard to identify, so assume any a cat finds is dangerous and call a vet. Plain shop mushrooms, unseasoned, are generally harmless but of no use to a cat.
Sweets & extras · Never — toxic to cats
Never. Keep sugar-free products away.
This sweetener in sugar-free gum, mints and some peanut butters is a known danger to pets. Its effect is best documented in dogs, but there is no reason to risk it with a cat — treat any amount as an emergency.
No food matches that. Try another spelling, or browse the list below.
Cats are obligate carnivores — the real diet is a complete, balanced cat food built on meat, and the human foods on this page are only occasional extras. If you're restocking the basics, here's a starting point.
See cat food & treats on Amazon →Some links here are affiliate links: buy through one and Animalsss may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which foods this guide calls safe or toxic.
Never feed chocolate, onion, garlic, chives and leeks (the whole onion family), grapes and raisins, alcohol, caffeine, xylitol (a sweetener) or raw yeast dough. And though it isn't a food, keep true lilies out of the house entirely — even the pollen or vase water can kill a cat.
Cats are carnivores, so the best treats are meat, fish and egg: plain cooked chicken, turkey, fish or salmon (boneless), a little cooked egg, or a cooked prawn. Some cats also nibble a bit of plain cooked pumpkin, carrot or blueberry. 'Plain', 'cooked' and 'in moderation' are what keep them safe.
Most can't, despite the picture-book image. Adult cats are usually lactose intolerant, so milk tends to cause an upset stomach and diarrhoea. It isn't toxic in a tiny amount, but fresh water is the only drink a cat actually needs.
Not as a diet. A stolen mouthful won't hurt, but dog food lacks the taurine, extra protein and vitamin A a cat must have — fed regularly it leads to serious deficiency. Cats need food made for cats.
Call your vet or an animal poison-control line straight away with the food, the amount and your cat's weight — don't wait for symptoms, and don't try to make your cat sick at home. For any contact with a lily, treat it as an emergency and go now.
The everyday tools that pair with this guide.
This is a general guide to common human foods, not a diagnosis or a substitute for your vet. Cats differ, brands change their recipes, and any cat can react badly to a new food. If your cat has eaten something on the 'never' list, or has touched a lily, or seems unwell, call your vet or an animal poison-control line straight away.
Menu