Human Foods and Cats: What's Safe?

Search any human food for a clear verdict for cats. Cats are obligate carnivores, so "Safe" here means non-toxic in small amounts — not that a food is needed or good as a meal. The best treats are plain cooked meat and fish; a handful of foods (chocolate, onion, garlic, grapes, raisins and more) are genuine emergencies. Use the checker for any specific food.

8 toxic to cats 22 caution 22 safe 52 foods listed

Name	Scientific name	Cats
Alcoholalso: ethanol, beer, wine, liquor		Toxic
Almondsalso: almond, almond butter		Caution
Bacon		Caution
Beef (cooked)also: cooked beef, ground beef		Safe
Blueberriesalso: blueberry		Safe
Bread (plain)also: baked bread, toast		Caution
Broccoli		Safe
Butter		Caution
Cantaloupealso: melon, muskmelon		Safe
Carrotsalso: carrot		Safe
Celery		Safe
Cheese		Caution
Chicken (cooked)also: cooked chicken, chicken breast		Safe
Chocolatealso: cocoa, dark chocolate, baking chocolate		Toxic
Coconut (flesh)also: coconut meat, coconut milk		Caution
Coffee & Caffeinealso: coffee, caffeine, espresso, energy drink		Toxic
Cooked Bonesalso: chicken bones, fish bones, bones		Caution
Corn (sweetcorn)also: sweetcorn, maize, corn kernels		Safe
Eggs (cooked)also: cooked egg, scrambled egg, boiled egg		Safe
Ginger (culinary)also: ginger root, fresh ginger		Safe
Grapesalso: grape		Toxic
Green Beansalso: green bean, string beans		Safe
Hamalso: deli ham		Caution
Honeyalso: raw honey		Caution
Macadamia Nutsalso: macadamia, macadamia nut		Caution
Mangoalso: mango flesh		Caution
Milk (cow's)also: cow milk, dairy milk		Caution
Oatmeal (plain)also: oats, porridge		Safe
Peanut Butteralso: peanuts		Caution
Peasalso: pea, green peas		Safe
Pineapplealso: pineapple flesh		Safe
Popcorn		Caution
Potato (cooked)also: potato, cooked potato, mashed potato		Caution
Pumpkinalso: plain pumpkin, canned pumpkin		Safe
Raisins (& currants/sultanas)also: raisin, sultanas, currants		Toxic
Raspberriesalso: raspberry		Caution
Raw Bread / Yeast Doughalso: yeast dough, bread dough, raw dough		Toxic
Raw Eggsalso: raw egg, uncooked egg		Caution
Raw Fish (thiaminase-rich)also: raw fish, raw tuna, sushi		Toxic
Rice (cooked)also: white rice, plain rice		Safe
Salmon (cooked)also: cooked salmon		Safe
Salt (excessive)also: salt, salty foods, table salt		Toxic
Sardinesalso: sardine		Safe
Shrimp (cooked)also: prawns, cooked shrimp		Safe
Spinach		Caution
Strawberriesalso: strawberry		Safe
Tea (caffeinated)also: black tea, green tea, brewed tea		Caution
Tuna (canned)also: canned tuna		Caution
Turkey (cooked)also: cooked turkey		Safe
Watermelonalso: watermelon flesh		Safe
Xylitol (birch sugar)also: birch sugar, artificial sweetener		Caution
Yogurt (plain)also: yoghurt		Caution

Photos via Wikimedia Commons / Wikidata / GBIF; per-photo credit on each item's page.

Compiled from published poison-control data and cross-checked against the original sources. Reviewed 2026-06 · how we verify ›

The foods that are real emergencies

A few human foods cause serious, sometimes life-threatening illness in cats and should be treated as emergencies if eaten: chocolate, coffee/caffeine, onion, garlic, chives, leeks, grapes, raisins, alcohol, raw yeast dough, and large amounts of salt. Onions and garlic damage cats' red blood cells (cats are especially susceptible), and the danger is the same cooked, dried or powdered — so soup mixes, baby food and garlic supplements all count. If your cat eats any of these, call a vet or poison line right away.

"Safe" doesn't mean "a meal"

Cats get complete nutrition from a balanced cat food; human-food treats should stay under ~10% of daily calories. Even non-toxic fruits and vegetables often cause stomach upset because a carnivore's gut isn't built for them, and rich or salty scraps (ham, bacon, butter, cheese) can trigger pancreatitis. When in doubt, offer a little plain cooked chicken instead. Verdicts here are cross-checked against the ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline and veterinary sources, and link back to the source.

Frequently asked questions

What human foods can cats eat safely?

In small amounts, plain cooked meat and fish (chicken, turkey, beef, salmon, sardines, shrimp), cooked eggs, and several plain fruits/vegetables (e.g. blueberries, watermelon flesh, cucumber, pumpkin, carrots). Use the Safe filter above to browse them — and remember these are occasional treats, not a diet.

What foods are toxic to cats?

Chocolate, coffee and caffeine, onion, garlic, chives and leeks, grapes and raisins, alcohol, raw yeast dough, and excessive salt are toxic to cats; raw fish and cooked bones are also hazards. If your cat has eaten any, call your vet, the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435).

Can cats drink milk?

Most adult cats are lactose-intolerant, so cow's milk commonly causes diarrhea and stomach upset despite the old stereotype. It isn't poisonous, but it's best avoided — offer fresh water instead.

Is tuna safe for cats?

Canned tuna is fine as an occasional tiny treat (about a tablespoon of water-packed, no more than weekly), but not as a regular diet: it isn't nutritionally complete, mercury builds up, and a tuna-heavy diet can cause a painful condition called steatitis. Choose tuna canned in water with no added salt.