Complete food safety guide for cats. Click any food to learn whether it is safe, recommended portion sizes, and what to watch for.
These foods are dangerous or poisonous to cats and should be avoided entirely. Contact a veterinarian immediately if your cat consumes any of these.
Contains theobromine and caffeine. Can cause seizures and heart problems.
Read full guide →These foods are generally safe for cats when prepared correctly and given in appropriate portions.
Plain cooked turkey without skin, bones, or seasoning is a healthy treat for most cats.
Read full guide →Plain cucumber slices are safe for cats in small amounts and can add hydration.
Read full guide →These foods require care — safe in tiny amounts for some cats but can cause problems.
Peanut butter is not toxic to cats unless it contains xylitol, but the high fat and salt make it a poor treat.
Read full guide →Ripe red tomato flesh in tiny amounts is not toxic to cats, but green tomatoes, leaves, and stems contain solanine and are dangerous.
Read full guide →Plain store-bought mushrooms in tiny amounts are usually safe for cats.
Read full guide →Plain unsweetened yogurt in tiny amounts is usually tolerated by cats, but lactose intolerance and added sugar or xylitol mean caution is essential.
Read full guide →Cats can technically eat tiny amounts of honey, but it's high in sugar, poorly digested, and offers no nutritional value for obligate carnivores.
Read full guide →Cats can eat small amounts of plain cooked corn, but it offers little nutritional value and can cause digestive upset.
Read full guide →Cinnamon is technically non-toxic but can harm cats in larger amounts, causing liver issues, skin irritation, and breathing trouble.
Read full guide →Yes, plain cooked pumpkin is safe for cats and often helps with digestion.
Read full guide →Spinach is not toxic to cats, but oxalates make it risky for cats with kidney disease or a history of urinary crystals.
Read full guide →Cats can have tiny amounts of plain coconut flesh, but coconut milk and water are not recommended.
Read full guide →Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are specifically designed to derive nutrition from animal tissue. Unlike dogs, who are more flexible omnivores, cats require specific nutrients that come primarily from meat — taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin B12. A cat fed a vegetarian or plant-heavy diet will develop serious health problems over time.
This means that while many foods are technically "safe" for cats to eat, very few are nutritionally complete. Your cat should be fed a high-quality, balanced commercial cat food as the foundation of their diet. Human foods, even safe ones, should be occasional supplements — never the main course.
Cats lack several liver enzymes that humans and dogs use to detoxify certain compounds. This makes them uniquely vulnerable to toxicity from foods that wouldn't bother other species. Onions and garlic, for example, cause oxidative damage to cat red blood cells that other species can neutralize. Chocolate theobromine accumulates in cat blood for far longer than in humans.
Save the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number in your phone:. A consultation fee may apply, but they provide expert guidance for pet poisoning emergencies.