Foods that are toxic to cats
These foods can cause serious illness. If your cat eats any of them, contact your vet right away.
- Chocolate: Chocolate is toxic to cats
- Onions: Onions are toxic to cats, and cats are more sensitive than dogs
- Garlic: Garlic is toxic to cats and is about 3–5 times more potent than onion
- Grapes: Grapes and raisins are known to cause kidney failure in dogs, and there are reports of cats being affected too
- Lilies (not a food, but any part, even pollen, can cause kidney failure in cats).
- Alcohol, caffeine and raw yeast dough: all can cause severe poisoning.
Best low-calorie treats for cats
These are safe and have 5 kcal or less per piece, so they fit easily into a daily treat budget:
- Blueberries: about 0.6 kcal per blueberry
- Rice: about 4 kcal per teaspoon of cooked rice
- Pumpkin: about 2 kcal per 1 teaspoon plain canned pumpkin
- Broccoli: about 2 kcal per small steamed broccoli floret
- Cucumbers: about 1 kcal per thin slice of peeled cucumber
- Peas: about 2 kcal per 5 cooked green peas
- Green Beans: about 2 kcal per cooked green bean (cut up)
- Lettuce: about 1 kcal per small piece of romaine lettuce
The 10% treat rule
Veterinary nutrition guidelines recommend that treats, including human food, make up no more than 10% of a cat's daily calories. The other 90% should come from a complete and balanced diet. That is why each guide calculates a maximum amount from your cat's weight rather than giving a one-size-fits-all number.
How we decide "safe", "in moderation", "caution" or "toxic"
- Safe Not toxic and generally well tolerated when served plain in treat-size amounts.
- In moderation Not toxic, but sugar, fat, acidity or lactose mean portions should stay small.
- Caution Parts of the food are harmful or the risks usually outweigh the benefits.
- Toxic Can cause poisoning. Do not feed, and contact a vet after any ingestion.
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