Can Cats Eat…? Safe & Toxic Foods A–Z

Quick, sourced answers on which human foods are safe for cats, which to limit, and which are an emergency. Looking for dogs? →

Cats ate something toxic? Call your vet or a 24/7 poison line now — ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661

🍎 Fruit

GrapesToxicNo. Grapes and raisins are on the ASPCA’s list of foods to keep away from pets. Kidney damage is best documented in dogs, but the risk to cats is not ruled out.

🥕 Vegetables

OnionsToxicNo. Cats are even more sensitive than dogs to onions and garlic, which damage red blood cells and cause anaemia. Watch for onion powder in gravy, soup and baby food.

🍗 Meat & fish

ChickenSafeYes. Plain, cooked, boneless chicken is a safe treat for cats — they are meat eaters. Avoid cooked bones and seasoning.TunaSafe in moderationA little, as a treat. Cats love tuna, but tuna made for people is not a balanced diet, and a cat fed mostly on it can miss essential nutrients.

🧀 Dairy & eggs

CheeseUse cautionNot recommended. Most adult cats digest lactose poorly, so dairy can cause diarrhoea. A tiny piece of hard cheese is unlikely to harm.EggsSafe in moderationYes, cooked. Plain cooked egg is a safe protein treat for cats. Raw eggs can carry Salmonella.MilkUse cautionNot recommended. Despite the image of cats lapping up a saucer of milk, most adult cats are lactose intolerant, and milk commonly gives them diarrhoea. Fresh water is all a cat needs.

🍞 Bread & grains

Raw Bread DoughDangerous — call a vetNo. Raw yeast dough keeps rising in the stomach and produces alcohol as it ferments. It is an emergency for cats as well as dogs.

🍫 Sweets & snacks

ChocolateToxicNo. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to cats as well as dogs. Cats eat it less often because they can't taste sweetness, but even a small amount of dark chocolate can make a cat ill.

☕ Drinks

AlcoholDangerous — call a vetNo. A cat's small body means even a few laps of alcohol can cause vomiting, loss of coordination, dangerously low blood sugar and breathing problems. Call a vet straight away.CoffeeToxicNo. Caffeine is toxic to cats. A lick of coffee is unlikely to cause harm, but grounds, beans, tea bags, energy drinks and caffeine pills can.

🌿 Herbs & spices

GarlicToxicNo. Garlic damages cats’ red blood cells, and cats are more sensitive to it than dogs. Garlic powder and cooked dishes count too.

🎄 Holiday foods to watch

Halloween:Chocolate

Thanksgiving:Raw Bread Dough

Christmas:Chocolate, Raw Bread Dough

Easter:Chocolate, Raw Bread Dough

General information reviewed against published veterinary sources — not a substitute for advice from your own vet.