Author: Rick Scholtes
Rick is co-owner of the wholesale Veganpets and the webshop Vega Vriend. Together with Lisette Kreischer he wrote the book Dog.Eat.Plant, which was released in December 2020. It is the scientifically based guide to safely switch your dog to a plant-based diet.
Table of contents
What should my cat absolutely not eat?
What is the best thing to give my cat?
What can and cannot my cat eat?
What can your cat eat and what should you avoid? This is not always clear. When you have a cat at home, you notice that he or she is curious and wants to eat everything. However, not everything is equally good for your cat and some products can even be toxic. We would therefore like to tell you more about what your cat can eat and what your cat cannot eat. Please note: this list is not complete! There are plenty of other products that your cat may or may not eat.
What can my cat eat?
A cat is not a human, so there are many products that we eat but that you should not give your cat. There are a number of products that, surprisingly enough, you can give to your cat. This includes a number of fruits, vegetables and, for example, rice. We have listed a number of them for you!
Fruits: bananas, melon and blueberries
You may have wondered: can cats eat bananas? Or can cats have melon? Good news: when it comes to fruit, there are a number of types that you can safely give your cat. For example, bananas, pieces of melon and blueberries are not harmful to your cat. On the contrary: it's even good for them! It is important to remember: cat portions are not the same as portions that we eat ourselves. You should therefore not give more than a few pieces of each type of fruit. Bananas, for example, have a high sugar content, but are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Blueberries are high in antioxidants, vitamins A & C and fiber and melon is packed with vitamins A, C and potassium. Make sure you always remove the peel and seeds!
Vegetables: green beans, broccoli and carrots
There are also a number of vegetables that you can safely give your cat. If you've ever wondered: can cats have green beans? Then the answer is: yes! Green beans are good substitutes for fattening snacks for your cat. It contains a lot of protein, carbohydrates and minerals. Broccoli, if boiled or steamed, is also good for your cat. Especially if he or she suffers from hairballs. Broccoli florets are rich in vitamin K&C, fiber and folic acid. Finally, your cat can also eat carrots. After you have cooked the carrots, your cat can enjoy them. Carrots contain vitamin A, vitamin K and biotin.
Can cats also eat rice?
Finally, we give an example of food that you might not have thought of. You can give your cat rice. It is not poisonous, but also not necessarily something that gives your cat extra nutritional value. Sometimes it can help if your cat has digestive problems. The advice is to always consult your vet first in such a case.
What should my cat absolutely not eat?
The list of products that your cat should not eat is a lot longer. We give a number of examples of products that your cat should not eat. Once more; the list goes on, so always be careful about what you feed your cat!
Chocolate and caffeine products
Chocolate contains theobromine. This is a substance that is very toxic to your cat. When your cat eats chocolate, he or she may suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, restlessness and in extreme cases even death. So be very careful with chocolate! Caffeine is also very bad for your cat. Your cat is much more sensitive to caffeine than you are. This can make him or her feel busy and restless. The heart rate can also increase and in the worst case, your cat can have a stroke or cardiac arrest.
Grapes and raisins
Although it is more known to dogs that grapes and raisins are bad, it is also not recommended for your cat to eat them. It has not yet been proven, but prevention is better than cure. In dogs we see that they vomit and have diarrhea. Abdominal pain and dehydration also occur and, in the worst case, kidney failure can even occur. Therefore, to be on the safe side, do not give your cat grapes or raisins.
Dairy products
Although it may seem a bit strange: many cats are lactose intolerant. If your cat drinks too much milk or eats cheese, for example, he may develop diarrhea or vomit.
Onions and garlic
Onion, garlic and all their relatives (think: leek, garlic, chives) contain substances that are harmful to your cat. These products can damage red blood cells. Even with small amounts, you can already see symptoms in your cat. Drowsiness, abdominal pain, blood in the urine and even jaundice are symptoms you will see in your cat. Therefore, be very careful when you bring onions or garlic into your home.
Also pay attention to plants
Finally, there are also a number of plants that are poisonous to your cat. Although you cannot protect your cat from everything he eats or drinks when he is outside, the following plants are not recommended to have in your home or garden. These are lilies, aloe vera plants, chrysanthemums and sansevieria. Although your cat isn't likely to take a bite of a plant or flower, it can sometimes happen when he or she is bored. Our advice: be careful with the above plants.
What is the best thing to give my cat?
It is important that you do not compare your cat to humans. At dry food, occasional wet food and a small snack here and there, your cat has more than enough. Have you ever thought about your... cat vegetarian food to give? At VegaVriend you will find a wide range of vegetarian, plant-based and environmentally friendly food. All products that VegaVriend sells are vegan!