What Else Can Cats Eat Besides Hard Food?

While hard or dry food is one readily available option for cats, it certainly isn't the only one. Senior cats in particular may experience trouble eating hard food and benefit from a diet that includes softer foods. Supplement or replace a dry food diet with other types of food.

  1. Cat Food

    • Find commercial cat food in dry, semi-moist and moist forms. Dry food contains 6 to 10 percent moisture. Semi-moist food contains 35 percent moisture. Made up of meat, meat byproducts, soy, cereal grains and whole grains, this looks like ground meat. Canned or wet food has a 75 percent moisture content; this makes it a good source of water in addition to a complete meal. While premium brands feature meat and meat byproducts, budget canned food may not provide adequate nutrition for Kitty.

    People Food

    • Cats are natural carnivores and must receive amino acids from meat protein, which makes meat the basis of their diet. Offer your cat small pieces of cooked red meat, chicken, tuna, salmon or sardines. Organ meats such as liver or kidneys are also suitable for cats. Remove the bones from meat or fish before offering it to your kitty. Bones may splinter when eaten and pose a safety hazard.

    Treats

    • Treats may be dry or semi-moist. To keep Kitty from becoming obese, limit treats. The ASPCA recommends that no more than 5 percent of a cat's diet consist of treats. Look for a cat treat that meets guidelines published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Such treats will indicate this on the label. If your cat is hefty, find low-calorie kitty treats and limit the amount you feed.

    Foods to Avoid

    • Knowing what to avoid feeding cats is crucial to maintaining pet health. Foods that are dangerous or potentially toxic for kitties include raw yeast dough, raisins, grapes, onions, chives, garlic, salt and xylitol -- an artificial sweetener. Cats lack the enzymes to digest milk, and may get diarrhea from consuming milk products. Avoid feeding raw or undercooked meats and eggs since cats may get salmonella, E. coli or other bacterial diseases.