Can Cats Eat Cheese?

⚠️ Not recommended

Not recommended. Most adult cats digest lactose poorly, so dairy can cause diarrhoea. A tiny piece of hard cheese is unlikely to harm.

Reviewed by Plan for Paw · Updated October 2026 · 1 source

If your cat ate cheese

Watch for diarrhoea or vomiting; it usually settles within a day.

Call your vet or a 24/7 animal poison line now: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661

How to give cheese safely

  • Best avoided. If you give any, a crumb of hard cheese.
  • Never cheese with garlic, onion or herbs.

Sources

General information checked against published veterinary sources. Every cat is different — ask your vet before changing its diet, and call them if it seems unwell.