Yes, cats can eat rice!
Plain cooked rice is safe for cats in small amounts and is sometimes used in vet-recommended bland diets. Cats do not need carbohydrates, so it should not be a staple.
| Can cats eat it? | Safe |
| Calories | About 4 kcal per teaspoon of cooked rice |
| Main benefit | Easy to digest when cooked |
| Main risk | Fried or seasoned rice may contain onion or garlic |
| 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 teaspoon of cooked rice has about 4 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult cat could have in a day if rice were the only treat.
| Cat weight | Daily treat budget | Max rice per day |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 18 kcal | 4 × teaspoon of cooked rice |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 22 kcal | 5.5 × teaspoon of cooked rice |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 26 kcal | 6.5 × teaspoon of cooked rice |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 30 kcal | 7 × teaspoon of cooked rice |
| 14 lb (6.4 kg) | 34 kcal | 8 × teaspoon of cooked rice |
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.
Yes. Plain cooked rice is safe for cats in small amounts and is sometimes used in vet-recommended bland diets. Cats do not need carbohydrates, so it should not be a staple.
Sometimes, as part of a vet-directed bland diet. Diarrhea lasting more than a day needs a vet.
Yes, plain and cooked, in small amounts.
No. It often contains onions, garlic, oil and salt.
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.
Browse lists: human foods cats can eat · foods cats can't eat
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.
Safe
Yes. Plain cooked rice is safe for cats in small amounts and is sometimes used in vet-recommended bland diets.