Treats, Snacks and Forbidden Foods: What's Actually Safe for Your Cat?

Sharing a little something with your cat can feel like a lovely moment of connection, and it can be, when done thoughtfully. But a cat’s digestive system is very different from ours, and some everyday foods that seem harmless can actually be dangerous. Here’s what’s worth knowing.

Treats: a little goes a long way

Treats are a wonderful tool for bonding, for positive reinforcement during training, or simply as an occasional pleasure. But because cats are small animals with correspondingly small calorie needs, treats should always remain a minor part of the overall diet.

A few good habits:

• Keep treats to around 10% of daily caloric intake, a guideline often cited by vets to avoid throwing off a balanced diet
• Choose treats designed specifically for cats, ideally ones with simple, recognisable ingredients
• Use them purposefully: as a reward during play, training, or to make a stressful moment (like a nail trim) more positive, rather than as a routine habit
• Factor treats into your cat’s daily portion, especially if it’s prone to weight gain

What about sharing “people food”?

It’s tempting. Those big eyes by the dinner table can be very persuasive. Some plain, unseasoned foods in small amounts are generally considered safe for cats (cooked plain chicken or fish, for instance). But many common foods are genuinely harmful, and it’s worth knowing them well.

Foods to keep well out of reach

These are foods that can range from mildly upsetting to seriously toxic for cats:

• Onions, garlic, leeks, and chives: can damage red blood cells, even in small or cooked quantities
• Chocolate: contains theobromine, which cats cannot metabolise safely
• Grapes and raisins: linked to kidney damage in animals
• Raw dough and yeast-based dough: can expand dangerously in the stomach
• Alcohol: extremely toxic, even in tiny amounts
• Caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks): can cause serious cardiac and neurological effects
• Xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar-free products: highly toxic to pets
• Cow’s milk: contrary to popular belief, many adult cats are lactose intolerant and can experience digestive upset from it
• Raw eggs and raw meat (outside of carefully managed, vet-supervised raw diets): risk of bacterial contamination

If you ever suspect your cat has eaten something on this list, or anything unusual, contact your vet or an emergency veterinary service immediately. Acting quickly can make all the difference.

Why this matters more than it might seem

A cat’s body is small, its metabolism is specialised, and what feels like “just a small bite” to us can represent a much larger relative dose for it. None of this means you can never share a moment over food with your cat. It simply means doing so with a clear understanding of what’s genuinely safe.

How The Velvet Nest can help

Treats can absolutely be part of a happy life with your cat, used thoughtfully, in moderation, and chosen with its wellbeing in mind. Knowing which everyday foods to keep safely out of reach isn’t about being overly cautious. It’s simply one more way of looking after the companion who depends entirely on you for its care.

During every visit, I follow your cat’s feeding instructions precisely and never introduce anything outside of what you’ve approved. If your cat has dietary sensitivities or restrictions, I take note of them from the very first Meet & Greet. If you’d like to chat about your cat’s care, feel free to reach out on WhatsApp.