Information From The "My Pet Matters" Newsletter

[wolf63]

I have to say that I didn't know that some of these foods were bad for cats.

What human foods are safe for cats?

Cats are generally fussier than dogs in their eating habits, but they will sometimes get it wrong and eat something which isn’t good for them. It’s therefore important for owners to understand which human-food their pets can and can’t eat.
Pets at Home have compiled a list of their most frequently asked food questions and their definitive answers.

What human foods are safe for cats?

Cats are generally fussier than dogs in their eating habits, but they will sometimes get it wrong and eat something which isn’t good for them. It’s therefore important for owners to understand which human-food their pets can and can’t eat.
Pets at Home have compiled a list of their most frequently asked food questions and their definitive answers.

Can cats eat cheese?
No – some cats are lactose intolerant, which means they can’t digest the lactose in cheese, milk and other dairy products, and eating it can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
Can cats eat chocolate?
No – most cats won’t eat it anyway, but if they do you should take them to the vet immediately.
Can cats eat eggs?
Cooked eggs can be fed occasionally in small amounts.
Can cats eat bread?
Bread is not harmful to cats, but there are much better things to feed them. If they do get their paws on a loaf, take it away from them, but don’t worry.
Can cats eat bananas?
A small amount won’t harm your pet, but there are better things to feed them.
Can cats eat ham? In moderation – always cooked, and never fatty.
Can cats eat pork?
Human-grade pork is fine to give to your cat, but their own cat food will provide them with more of the nutrients they need. Pork should always be cooked, and never fatty.
Can cats eat rice?
Rice is found in a lot of cat foods, and is fine for cats to eat, though it is not nutritionally beneficial on its own, and your cat is unlikely to want to eat it plain.
Can cats eat grapes?
No – just like dogs, cats can be made ill by grapes and raisins. Cats aren’t likely to be interested in grapes anyway, but if they are, keep them away.
Can cats eat tuna?
Cats can eat canned tuna, but be sure to feed it in moderation as its strong smell and flavour can become addictive, and make your cat reluctant to eat anything else – tuna isn’t enough to constitute a balanced diet.
Can cats eat strawberries?
Cats can eat strawberries in moderation, but be sure to cut them into small pieces. There is no nutritional benefit because cats are obligate carnivores, so it’s best to look for a more appropriate snack.

[Prudie]

Luckily I've had my cats long enough to know they're not lactose intolerant - they both adore cheese.

[pastafreak]

They don't mention salami...Caspar used to love it. I think he tried avocado a few times also. He was weird. ;)

[woofgang]

so when it boils down to it, no to grapes and grape products, no to chocolate and some cats can't tolerate dairy.....so what else is new?

This list looks to me like the kind of list that ends with "the best thing to feed your cat is of course one of out commercially produced cat foods"

[wolf63]

I have no idea how I managed to duplicate chunks of text.

My mum used to bring my brother and I sweets as a treat on a Friday. She also brought a Yorkie bar for our dog. In theory it could have killed him but it didn't. He was big and it wasn't dark chocolate.
If I got another dog I wouldn't chance it.

Lactose intolerance in Cats is serious but, as Prudie points out, they aren't all unable to deal with the lactose.

I don't like Salami so Frankie won't be getting any but he loves Prawn Crackers fom the Chinese across the road.

When people ask for ideas about keeping cats out of their gardens a few mention that cats all hate citrus. Frankie loves the smell.

I think that more cats are killed on the roads than by human food.

[Cloverjo]

My cat loves the cheesy Dreamies but won’t touch a bit of real cheese.
Why would anyone feed their cat strawberries?

[Prudie]

I've become very aware of the lactose intolerance thing but wonder if it's a new allergy over the last 20/30 years, as a child/young adult everybody gave their cats milk to drink and had done so for years.

[Kathyan]

When I was young I had a cat and she used to eat pickled onions, toast with jam on it, bonfire toffee, chocolate (but only Cadburys). She never had tinned cat food. My Mum used to buy her meat from the butchers and cook it for her. Every time Mum went into town she would bring back cooked prawns (for the cat!). She had tinned cooked chicken breast nearly every day. Talk about spoilt. She was better fed than I was!

[198kHz]

I remember three of our cats in the past for their food tastes.
One would steal fruit cake, another loved mushrooms, and a third would roll an egg off the worktop to break it first then eat it.

[maggiebee]

My cat, Cheeky, would be up in your face if you were eating a slice of melon. He just loved it so always had a slice to himself. He also like baked beans.

[wolf63]

We had a half Persian called Shaka when I was a kid. He would demand his favourite food - Chum dog food. I don't suppose it mattered as he would go hunting for food himself.

Frankie eats Dreamies (I stick his pills in them) and cat food (his favourite depends on what mood he is in) and cold meat. He has swiped a slice of cold meat out of my hand - he is fast for an old guy.