What Can Cats Eat Besides Cat Food?

Tired of feeding your cat the same food daily? 
Wondering what you feed your cat besides cat food for their healthy and happy life?

Most cat owners are still in doubt of what they can feed their cat to make their life healthy, active, and happy. The problem of feeding your cat is serious because they are picky eaters. This is the point where most cat owners can get panicked. You don’t have to worry about this situation. I have mentioned foods that are rich in proteins and you can easily give to your cat without any second thought.

Cats are not just good-looking pets. Including their beauty, they are also very tough to take care of because they are picky eaters. They can hardly choose food that they like. Cat food is specially designed to meet those needs that a cat body requires. The time also came when you might run out of cat food. You have to know everything about a cat’s food to make your cat healthy and active.

If we talk about human food to feed a cat. There are foods that can be harmful for a cat, and most of the foods are included that can be proven healthy for a cat. You should always know what your cat likes the most. Your cat throws undigested food out of the mouth that its stomach doesn’t accept. You should also know why your cat is throwing undigested food. When you are out of food, you have to highlight healthy food options and also warn you about foods that could be harmful.

What Should You Feed to Your Cat Besides Cat Food?

Cats are completely carnivores, which means they eat meat for their lives. They need nutrition and protein that meet their need to live a healthy and active life. They are completely different from omnivores like humans and dogs, which can rely on both meat and vegetables. Cats can eat some human foods safely. Choosing the right food for your cat is quite difficult. You are at the right place. Foods are healthy and unhealthy for your cat.

Healthy Human Food

I have mentioned human food that you can easily give to your cat without a second thought. Cats cannot go without food for so long. So, you have to know how long a cat can go without food to feed them properly. After reading this, you can also measure what is the best cat food to feed your cat.

Cooked Meat

One of the excellent sources of protein and nutrients for your cat is meat. You can give your cat meat for their better health. Always ensure that the meat you give to your cat is plain and thoroughly cooked because uncooked meat can be harmful for cats.

Options

Safe options for meat to give your cat are common and easily available.

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Beef
• Lamb

How to Serve?

To serve meat to your cat, you have to follow some steps that help you to make your cat healthier.

• You have to boil meat without adding salt, spices, and oils. You can bake or steam meat.
• Cut the meat into small pieces. Small pieces of meat can help your cat to chew or digest easily.
• Remove bones and skin from the meat. Bones can crack teeth and can cause injuries.

Cooked Fish

You can give your cat fish without any second thought. There is a chance your cat could reject fish. This is a sign that the stomach of your cat could be unhealthy. But it is always a healthy and chosen food for a cat.

Safe Options

• Salmon
• Tuna
• Sardines

How to Serve

• You can bake fish and serve it to your cat to eat. Avoid adding oil and spices while baking. You can also give your cat steamed or boiled fish.
• You have to ensure that the fish you serve to your cat is boneless. Bones may cause injury to your cat’s mouth.
• Serving fish to your cat should be an occasional food.

Eggs

You can also feed eggs to your cat, but not regularly. You have to know how much food your cat can eat and how much you should feed your cat. You can give eggs to your cat in the following ways.

How to Serve

• Cook eggs in the pan without using oil, butter, or salt and serve them. You have to cool before serving.
• You can boil the eggs and serve your cat. First, peel off the shell because it may damage the internal part of the mouth.
• Offer your cat only a small portion of eggs. Do not replace eggs with the meal.

Fruits

A cat does not need fruit as its main diet. You can occasionally offer your cat certain fruits. They’re a pleasant and nutritious way to introduce your cat to something new, especially during the summer months. However, because they lack the sense organs for sweetness, cats typically do not seek out fruit like we do. Some fruits mentioned can be given to your cat because they are healthy and rich in protein.

Safe Options

• Apples
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Watermelon

How to Serve

• You have to remove seeds from the fruit you are going to serve to your cat.
• Cut the fruit into small pieces so your cat could easily bite and properly chew and digest.
• Offer fruits to your cat occasionally. Avoid replacing fruit with a meal.

Vegetables

Cats can live a happy life without eating vegetables. You can still feed them vegetables to make their muscles stronger. It can support digestion and overall health. You should avoid giving vegetables that are harmful to your cat.

Safe Options

• Carrots
• Peas
• Spinach
• Pumpkin

How to Serve

• Feed your cat boiled and steamed vegetables.
• Avoid giving salts and other kinds of spices because they can harm a cat’s stomach.
• Feed them only two to three of them, or you can mix them with their usual food.

Plain Rice or Oatmeal

Rice and oats can provide a temporary energy boost, but they are not included in a cat’s primary diet. Some useful key points you have to know about rice and oats.

Why they are Useful

• Rice is easily chewable and can easily be digestible; rice can help firm up stools in cats with diarrhea.
• Oats are rich in fiber. They can aid digestion and provide a small energy boost.

How to Serve

• You have to boil rice and oats properly without using any salts, butter, or oil.
• You have to cool down the rice and oats before giving it to your cat.
• Serve a small amount of rice and oatmeal to your cat. You can also mix them.

Dairy in Moderation

Cats often are in love with milk. You can occasionally give your cat things made of milk. Safety precautions must be taken before feeding your cat.

Safe Options

• You can give your cat plain yogurt. It contains probiotics that may benefit digestion.
• A good source of protein and calcium includes cottage cheese, but serve them only in small amounts.

How to Serve

• You have to serve them a small portion of dairy products.
• You should take care of your cat in every manner.

What do you have to Avoid Feeding your Cat?

Always select healthy food for your cat. I have mentioned a list of toxic and unhealthy foods for your cat.

Chocolate

• Chocolate can be toxic to feed your cat.
• It can cause vomiting and even heart problems for your cat.

Onions and Garlic

• Onions and garlic can damage the red blood cells of your cat, which can lead to several issues.
• A small amount of onion can be harmful over time.

Grapes and Raisins

• Grapes are highly toxic to cats. It can cause serious issues to your cat’s stomach.
• Kidney failure can be caused if you feed your cat grapes.

Alcohol

• Alcohol can cause serious issues.
• It can cause liver failure, and if not properly treated, can cause death.

Conclusion

Having no cat food is not a critical situation to deal with. Many human foods are healthy for cats. You should also know what not to feed your cat. To make your cat active, it is equally important for you to make a list of unhealthy foods. Unhealthy and toxic food can create several issues and make your cat sick. With a little preparation and knowledge, you can keep your cat away from several issues.

FAQ’s