Your cat is hungry but you don’t have any cat food at home at the moment?. Don’t worry, there are many human foods you can feed your cat in a pinch before you go out to get some cat foods.
Cats must consume meat since they are obligate carnivores. However, your cat can eat and enjoy a variety of human foods in a pinch. And any diet it gladly consumes is likely to be just as healthful and nutritious as most of the less expensive dry cat foods available in the market.
In a pinch, I mashed some chicken and a frozen Normandy vegetable blend (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and the like) that I had intended to eat and fed it to my cat instead. And my cat really enjoyed the food!
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What foods do cats need more? What are these human foods that are safe for cats to consume in a pinch? And what human foods are dangerous to your cat? Continue reading to find out…
Foods Your Cat Can Eat In a Pinch
Your cat can eat almost any meat in a pinch. Anything with nitrates or too much salt, such as bacon, ham, or hot dogs, should be avoided. If the meat is particularly fatty, reduce the amount and serve with rice to prevent diarrhea. Fat isn’t bad in and of itself, but it’s high in calories and can lead to obesity if consumed on a regular basis.
After the meat has been cooked, remove the bones and boil them until they are practically coming apart. Strain the broth and use it to cook enough white rice to combine with the chopped chicken roughly half and half. Two-leg quarters should be enough for a week’s worth of food for one cat.
Fish is also healthy when consumed in moderation. Too much tuna puts a ten-pound cat in the same danger as a human, and it can also lead to Vitamin E deficiency. Eggs are delicious. Because many adult cats, like people, are lactose intolerant, dairy products may induce diarrhea. A small amount of cheese may still be used as a treat or to aid in the absorption of medications.
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In a pinch, cats will consume a variety of cooked vegetables, but only in moderation and in combination with their meat. Winter squash and pumpkin, both cooked, are popular. Some cats really love cooked carrots. In fact, cooked carrots have caused some cats to go completely crazy. A little amount of nearly any cooked green or starchy vegetable will do. I’ve never had success with tomatoes or beans, and I wouldn’t recommend them.
Plain yogurt contains probiotics, which are beneficial to cats. They can drink cow’s milk or eat cheese in a pinch, but these can produce loose stools. It’s possible that raw cow’s milk isn’t a concern. And goat’s milk is typically considered safe. These dairy products are nutrient-dense and will prevent a hungry cat from starving. However, they do not supply a cat with a complete and balanced diet and they surely don’t taste like raw meat.
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Taurine is especially important for cats. Taurine is diminished in cooked foods. Taurine is abundant in raw organ meat and also present in raw muscle meats.
List Of Foods Your Cat can eat In a Pinch
Here are some of the foods that you can feed your cat in a pinch:
- Meat
- Fish
- Cheese
- Bananas
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Berries
- Melon
- Oatmeal
- Pumpkin
- Bread
- Apples
- Carrots
- Rice
- Spinach
- Nuts
- Most vegetables
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Foods To Avoid Giving Your Cat In a Pinch
Cooked or tinned meat with no spices (particularly NO ONIONS, which are harmful to cats) and no cooked bones can be fed to a cat. If your available meat has spices, sauces, or batter on it, completely wash it off or trim it before giving your cat to eat. Processed meats (bologna, hot dogs, sausages, etc.) should be avoided because they are likely to contain spices (onion powder, etc.) as well as an excessive amount of sodium that cannot be removed.
Because cats are natural grass feeders, they aren’t averse to eating plant-based foods like vegetables and fruits. Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks are poisonous to cats and can induce anemia; green tomatoes and green or raw potatoes, which can cause gastrointestinal difficulties; and avocados, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Many vets advise against feeding raisins or grapes to cats because they can induce acute (sudden) renal failure.
Don’t ever believe that all pet food is the same. In a pinch, you could give a cat dog food — and vice versa — but it’s not a smart idea. While a few nibbles from the dog’s dish won’t damage a hungry cat, a consistent diet of dog food won’t cover all of his nutritional requirements, including protein, fatty acids, and vitamins. The protein content of prepared dog foods is often lower than that of prepared cat foods.
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List Of Foods That Are Dangerous To Your Cat
Here are some of the foods that can pose danger to your cat:
- Coffee/Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Bread Dough/Yeast
- Avocados
- Chocolate/Cocoa
- Green/Raw Potatoes
- Mushrooms
- Garlics
- Onions
- Chives
- Leeks
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Sultanas
- Currants
- Tobacco
- Sugar
- Candy
- Lollies
- Ice-cream
- Gum/Xylitol
- Seeds
- Rhubarb
- Macadamia
What Do Cats Eat Naturally?
Cats are obligate carnivores, which implies they must eat meat to survive (i.e. it is biologically necessary that they must eat meat daily). Cats differ from other animals such as dogs. Dogs are meat-eating predators but do not require meat in their meals all of the time. Cats, on the other hand, require more than twice as much protein as dogs, pound for pound. In the end, cats require protein daily.
Whether it’s a tamed house cat or a wild mountain lion, all felines are obligate carnivores. Cats have been obligate carnivores throughout their evolutionary history, making their desire for meat a biological need as well as an ancestral heritage. Therefore, it is mandatory you feed your cat meat (especially raw meat) daily for optimum health.
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Why Do Cats Require Protein Daily?
Taurine is an amino acid required for normal heart function, eyesight, and reproduction in cats. Cats, unlike certain animals, are unable to synthesize taurine from other amino acids in their body, thus they must obtain it from a meat-based diet that is supplied at least twice daily. Cooked chicken (without bones), beef, eggs, fish, and cheese are all good proteins for your cat in a pinch. Although some cats enjoy milk, it includes lactose, which can induce vomiting or diarrhea in some cats.
The ASPCA advises against a vegan diet for cats because they are obligate carnivores. “Giving a plant-based food to a cat is similar to feeding a cow a meat-based diet – their digestive systems aren’t designed for it, and they won’t thrive well.”
Before making any changes to your cat’s food, talk to your vet about a vegan diet for your cat.
How Often Should You Feed Your Cat?
Cats should be fed at least twice a day, roughly 8 to 12 hours apart, according to the ASPCA. Human food treats are OK in a pinch, but should not be overdone. Make sure you have plenty of fresh water on hand at all times. Milk is not a suitable option of fluids, as previously stated. Finally, if you decide to keep a cat as a pet, make sure he gets well-balanced, nutritional meals by feeding him both commercial cat foods and home-cooked cat foods.
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Conclusion
What can you feed your cat In a pinch? If you run out of cat food for a short time or don’t want to use up your emergency supplies, don’t worry. You can safely serve your cat a variety of good, nutritious, protein-based meals from the staples in your fridge, freezer, or pantry if you follow the above rules.
Just keep in mind that it’s advisable to take precautions when it comes to what human food cats can eat. Even if the food you offer isn’t known to be dangerous to cats, she may get a minor stomach ache, diarrhea, or vomiting. If this occurs, she may simply be more sensitive to human foods than the usual cats do.
Also, keep in mind that some cats can become “picky eaters” especially if they are fed the same food for a long period of time. They may be enticed to try something new by slightly reheating their food, providing foods that are pleasant (due to high protein or fat content) or have a strong odor, and providing variety, such as new and different foods from the safe choices above.
Always consult your vet when in doubt or you encounter any issues!