Is People Food Bad for Cats?

It is often tempting to give in to a cat's request for a few table scraps. However, cat owners should keep in mind that cats were not made to eat people food, and there are many reasons not to feed it to them.

  1. Considerations

    • Cats are strictly carnivorous animals; they need meat in order to survive. Cats also require specific nutrients that can only be found in animal-derived tissues, which human foods may not be able to provide.

    Warning

    • Some people food contains substances that can be straightforward dangers for cats. Onions, garlic, chocolate, fatty foods and raisins are just a few foods the ASPCA urges owners not to feed pets.

    Effects

    • Cooked fish and meat bones may splinter and cause lacerations

      Often, cat owners feel compelled to feed their cats leftover bones from cooked fish and meat. Such practice should be avoided because of the risk of intestinal obstructions and lacerations.

    Misconceptions

    • Some cat owners may think that cats can be fed only canned tuna fish. This practice may cause a cat to become malnourished in the long term, because cats require minerals and vitamins that canned tuna lacks.

    Theories/Speculation

    • A safe commercial cat food is better than a homemade diet lacking nutrients

      After the 2007 pet food recall, many cat owners grew interested in providing their cats a homemade diet. While homemade cat food may work, it requires proper knowledge of what nutrients cats need or it will ultimately do more harm than good.

    Conclusion

    • Cats have a different metabolism from humans and do not do well on people food. The consequences of feeding certain people foods to cats ranges from digestive problems to serious illnesses, and even death.