Treats, Snacks and Forbidden Foods: What's Actually Safe for Your Cat?
Sharing a little something with your cat can be a lovely moment, when it’s done thoughtfully. But a cat’s body works very differently from ours, and some everyday foods can be dangerous. Here’s what’s worth knowing.
Treats: a little goes a long way
Treats are great for bonding, for rewarding good behaviour, or simply as a small pleasure. But cats are small animals with small calorie needs.
A few good habits:
- Keep treats to 10% of daily calories at most, the guideline recommended by veterinary nutritionists
- Choose treats made for cats, with simple ingredients
- Use them with purpose: during play, training, or to make a stressful moment (like a nail trim) more pleasant
- Count treats in the daily ration, especially if your cat gains weight easily
What about “people food”?
Those big eyes at the dinner table can be very persuasive. A small piece of plain cooked chicken or fish, with no seasoning, is generally fine as an occasional treat. But many common foods are harmful, and it’s worth knowing them.
Foods to keep well out of reach
- Onions, garlic, leeks and chives: damage red blood cells, even cooked, powdered or in small amounts
- Chocolate: contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to cats
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks): can affect the heart and nervous system
- Alcohol: very toxic, even in tiny amounts
- Raw bread dough: can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol
- Grapes and raisins: proven to cause kidney failure in dogs; in cats the evidence is limited, so vets recommend avoiding them as a precaution
- Cow’s milk: many adult cats digest lactose poorly, which can cause digestive upset
- Raw meat and raw eggs (outside a vet-supervised raw diet): risk of bacteria such as Salmonella
- Xylitol (sugar-free products): very dangerous for dogs; studies suggest cats are far less sensitive, but there’s no reason to give it
And one plant that deserves its own warning: lilies
True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are among the most dangerous things for a cat. Licking a little pollen off their fur or drinking the water from the vase can be enough to cause acute kidney failure. If you have a cat, keep lilies out of your home entirely.
If you think your cat has eaten something on this list, or touched a lily, contact your vet or an emergency clinic immediately. Acting fast makes all the difference.
Why this matters
A cat’s body is small, and their metabolism is very specific: what seems like “just a bite” to us can be a large dose for them. None of this means you can never share a moment over food. It simply means knowing what’s genuinely safe.
How The Velvet Nest can help
During every visit, I follow your feeding instructions exactly and never give anything you haven’t approved. Allergies, sensitivities or special diets are noted from the very first Meet & Greet.
Going away? Book your visits online, or send me a message on WhatsApp.
Written by Ségo, ACACED-certified cat sitter · The Velvet Nest, Dubai
Sources: ACACED training (Attestation de Connaissances pour les Animaux de Compagnie d’Espèces Domestiques), French Ministry of Agriculture. · WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines (2011). · Jerzsele Á. et al. (2018). Effects of p.o. administered xylitol in cats. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. · U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination”. · ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.