Yes, in moderation
Cats can eat a tiny bit of hard cheese, but many adult cats are lactose intolerant. Cheese is high in fat and salt, so it should be a rare treat, if at all.
| Can cats eat it? | In moderation |
| Calories | About 4 kcal per pea-sized piece of cheddar (1 g) |
| Main benefit | Protein and calcium |
| Main risk | Lactose intolerance can cause diarrhea and gas |
| Kittens? | In tiny amounts once on solid food; kittens have sensitive stomachs |
Free · instant · based on veterinary formulas
Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One pea-sized piece of cheddar (1 g) has about 4 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult cat could have in a day if cheese were the only treat.
| Cat weight | Daily treat budget | Max cheese per day |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 18 kcal | 4 × pea-sized piece of cheddar (1 g) |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 22 kcal | 5.5 × pea-sized piece of cheddar (1 g) |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 26 kcal | 6.5 × pea-sized piece of cheddar (1 g) |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 30 kcal | 7 × pea-sized piece of cheddar (1 g) |
| 14 lb (6.4 kg) | 34 kcal | 8 × pea-sized piece of cheddar (1 g) |
Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your cat seems unwell.
Check your cat's full daily needs with the cat food calculator.
Cats can eat a tiny bit of hard cheese, but many adult cats are lactose intolerant. Cheese is high in fat and salt, so it should be a rare treat, if at all.
Many adult cats are. Kittens make lactase, but production often drops after weaning.
Only a lick. It is high in fat and lactose.
A small piece is fine. Commercial pill pockets are a lower-lactose option.
Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Kittens have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete kitten food.
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This guide is general information for healthy adult cats. Cats with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.
In moderation
Cats can eat a tiny bit of hard cheese, but many adult cats are lactose intolerant.