21 People Foods For Cats

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#1 Turkey

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they must have meat proteins in their diet. And cats love poultry. Turkey is a great low-calorie meat that is packed with vitamins and amino acids. Fed in small quantities, this is a healthy option that will not upset their stomachs.

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#2 Pumpkin

Plain pumpkin (either cooked or canned puree, NOT canned pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar) is a great source of natural fiber and vitamins for cats. If your cat is having any digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea, pumpkin is a natural digestive aid that can improve and support digestive tract health. It can also help your cat feel full, which is helpful if you’re trying to help your cat drop some weight via smaller portion sizes.

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#3 Yogurt

Plain, unsweetened, low fat yogurt is a safe and healthy people food to share with yocan be a great treat as a traditional people food for cats, especially overweight kitties, as yogurt is high in calcium and protein. Try freezing it for an extra special feline treat. Note: all milk-based treats are high in calcium, so cats prone to bladder stones should only have cheese or yogurt occasionally as this added calcium can contribute to stone formation. Caution: make sure any yogurt you share does not contain any artificial sweeteners.

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#4 Raspberries

Raspberries are high in fiber, vitamin C, and manganese, making them an awesome people foods for cats. Try them frozen for a cool summery treat! Tip: If your cat is extra playful, you may want to first introduce the berry unfrozen. Frozen berries may prove more tempting as a toy than a treat!

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#5 Beef heart

Heart is a rich source of digestible protein for cats, but it is also high in fat, so reserve this as a special-occasion treat. Feed beef heart boiled or baked and store the remainder, cooked, in the freezer for easy cat treats on hand. Beef heart can also be thinly sliced and dehydrated for a chewy teeth-cleaning cat treat.

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#6 Chicken feet or duck feet

Although not commonly considered a “people food” in North America, chicken and duck feet are widely eaten in Asia. But it’s not just a dim sum favourite; some cats love the crunchy texture of chicken/duck feet. Find dehydrated chicken feet to feed your cat (found in some pet stores) or feed them fresh—try your butcher or local Asian supermarket (rinse them before feeding raw). As with anything containing bone, there is the risk of damage to the esophagus or stomach, so if your cat looks to want to eat the feet whole, chop the feet into smaller pieces. Bonus: the raw bones can help keep your cat’s teeth clean.

Do note: raw meat products can contain a variety of serious pathogens so make sure you handle raw meat with caution and do not feed to very young kittens or old cats or to cats taking immunosuppressive drugs (ie prednisolone, cyclosporine, etc.) If your cat is on these medications, it’s best to talk to your vet before feeding raw meat of any kind.

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#7 Bananas

This lunch box staple is packed with potassium and vitamin B-6, which is used as a co-factor in many of the enzyme pathways in the body. This can have a positive effect on everything from the nervous system to inflammation. Try sharing a bit of fresh banana with your cat, mashing it up and adding it to their food, or freezing it for a cool summer treat.

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#8 Meat-based baby foods (onion/garlic free)

Freeze extra baby food into ice cube trays to make convenient cat treats. Baby foods seem to be a greatly enjoyed cat snack, which is great as most baby foods are natural, plain, low in fat, and good sources of protein. (Note you can not substitute baby food for cat food!) Be sure the baby food is onion- and garlic-free as both onions and garlic are toxic to cats.

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#9 Sprouts

There are a number of different kinds of sprouts, including bean, broccoli, and sprouted grains; any of them can be shared with your cat in small quantities. Try sprinkling a few sprouts on your cat’s dinner to give a little boost of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Note that sprouts are very prone to bacterial contamination so if your cat is elderly or immune compromised, cook any sprouts before sharing them.

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#10 Dehydrated liver

Most dehydrated liver on the market tends to be beef. Beef liver is a great source of protein and cats tend to love it. Stick to feeding a small piece of liver once or twice a week though as it has a high iron and vitamins A and D content. Since most cat foods are already supplemented with iron and vitamins A and D, you can cause toxicity if you feed too much liver.

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#11 Lox

Smoked salmon isn’t just for bagels; many cats also enjoy the delicacy. One of the fancier people foods for cats, if you can offer your kitty lox on occasion, they’re sure to come back for more! Bonus: salmon is high in omega 3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and promote skin and coat health. Lox does contain sodium nitrate as part of the smoking process so this feline delicacy should be enjoyed in moderation.

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#12 Spinach

Low in calories and containing almost every vitamin and mineral, spinach is a great way to introduce some greens to your cat. Spinach also contains glycoglycerolipids, which research has shown to help protect the lining of the digestive tract from damage due to inflammation. Note: cats with urinary or kidney problems should avoid spinach because it also contains calcium oxalates which can contribute to the formation of crystals in the urinary tract.

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#13 Sardines

One of the more commonly thought of people foods for cats, canned or frozen sardines are great sources of protein and omega 3 fatty acids. If you have a food dehydrator, give dehydrating a batch of sardines a go. You may need to chop or slice them into a smaller, easier to handle size for your cat, but the effort will likely be rewarded by happy cat cuddles.

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#14 Beef or Chicken Broth

One of the greatest challenges cat guardians face is getting their cats to consume adequate water. Cats tend to drink very little—most cats do not drink enough water—and can be fussy about how water is offered. Adding low-sodium beef or chicken broth to your cat’s food will increase her water consumption while providing a very low calorie treat. Feeding wet cat food is also a great way to increase your cat’s water intake. Both are good tips to keep in mind if your cat has bladder crystals/stones as increased water consumption is the main treatment for this ailment. Make sure the broth is low sodium so your cat can enjoy the benefits of hydration & flavour without the extra salt.

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#15 Blueberries

These sweet-tart little berries are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. Research with dogs has shown that blueberries, as part of an antioxidant-rich diet, can help to reduce the symptoms of cognitive dysfunction and the same is hoped to be true of cats. This superfood is also high in fiber and low in fat, making blueberries one of the people foods for cats with the highest potential! Many cats love blueberries frozen and their small size makes them perfect for cats. A great treat to share!

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#16 Melon

There are many types of melon, from cantaloupe to honey dew to watermelon, and all of them are a healthy sweet treat you can share with your cat. Melons are a good source of vitamins A and C and are rich in antioxidant flavonoids, which help protect against free-radicals in the body. Melon can also be frozen before sharing for a cool treat or can be lightly mashed to make it more palatable if your cat doesn’t like the texture.

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#17 Cheese

Many cats love cheese, which is super as cheese is a great source of calcium and protein. Cat approved cheese choices include cottage cheese, Swiss, cheddar or gouda. Soft, un-ripened cheeses like brie and camembert can be a little higher in lactose, which may cause some tummy upset so feed with caution. Cheese is also high in fat and salt so portion control is a must, after all the whole idea is to keep your kitty healthy!

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#18 Chicken or Turkey Gizzards

Gizzards—the second stomach of chickens or turkeys—are an excellent source of lean protein. At Thanksgiving, remove the gizzards from the cavity of the bird where they are often stored and boil it up in a bit of water to feed to your cat. In the summer, cook then freeze gizzards for a chilly, hot weather treat. Gizzards can also be dehydrated for a chewy snack that promotes dental health. Some supermarket packages of gizzards contain livers and hearts as well as stomach, collectively called giblets. Both liver and heart are also excellent sources of protein but tend to be a little rich for most cats so feed small pieces at first to make sure you don’t upset your cat’s tummy.

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#19 Fresh or frozen peas

Green peas are high in fibre, vitamin C, and vitamin A. In fact, you may have noticed that some cat foods include peas in their ingredient list. Cats can enjoy peas frozen, fresh, or cooked. If your cat is new to peas, try adding a couple of slightly mashed cooked peas to your cat’s food before working up to fresh peas because it can help ease digestion of a new food. The pods are likely too tough for your cat to enjoy so stick to the peas themselves.

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#20 Nutritional yeast

This is a type of yeast (usually Saccharomyces cerevisiea) that has been grown under controlled conditions and then heat-treated so that it is no longer active. Nutritional yeast is often used by people who are vegetarians. With its slightly nutty or cheesy taste, people often use it as a flavour enhancer for foods, including as a topping for popcorn. Try sprinkling a small amount (less than a teaspoon) on your cat’s dinner. Some cats may not enjoy the taste, so start with a small amount and gradually add a bit more as they become accustomed to it. Nutritional yeast is one of the people foods for cats that is very rich in B-vitamins and protein, so feeding it to your cat can contribute to a healthy coat. Caution: do not feed live yeast used for baking because baking yeast is toxic to cats.

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#21 Eggs

Scrambled or hard-boiled, eggs are a great source of protein for felines. Egg whites in particular are a great treat choice out of the people foods for cats, helping kitties who are watching their waistlines because the yolk is higher in fat and cholesterol than the white. Avoid feeding your cats raw eggs because they can carry salmonella, so to be safe, always cook eggs before giving them to your kitty.

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