Cat Food Alternatives

Whole animals are the only cat food alternatives that are natural. Whichever option you take, you should understand that cats cannot live on pure flesh (muscle meat) like humans. Also, they don’t need grains nor carbs. As you step out of the cat food diet, ensure that your cat gets the nutritional elements they need.

Your cat can take turkey and chicken but not as a long-term solution. Remember, if your cat were in the wild, it would be eating an animal whole – bones, internal organs, and fur. These items would offer the cat all the nutrients that it would need. A good alternative would be anything that has all the pro-cat nutrients.

People Food, Cat Stomachs – Human Foods Suitable For Cats

You must be looking for a wholesome treat for your kitty cat. You or your cat may already be fed up with the kitty’s regular diet, and so you want to be human (get it?). In this section, you will get opened up to the human foods that your feline can enjoy. Then, you will start the creative process of presenting the food items to mister or missus whiskers. Read on.

1. Salmon

Like many fishes out there, salmon is an excellent source of fatty acids (omega 3) and proteins. Your feline friend will receive salmon slices deliciously and tastily – if you know what that means. Many commercial foods already contain salmon. The advice here is to serve it cooked. 

2. Spinach

Spinach is loaded with minerals and vitamins, including K, C, and A, and calcium and iron. According to an expert, spinach is both cat-friendly and healthy. However, spinach should be highly avoided if the feline has a history of being diagnosed with bladder stones (calcium oxalate). 

3. Fish Oils

One award-winning vet has it that fish oil can be beneficial to cats. Salmon (mentioned previously) has these oils, and you can get them separately, just like the humankind (bottled). The oils can help to maintain the health of your cat’s coat and also prevent the cat from having dry skin during winter.

4. Eggs

With eggs, your cat will get a richly natural supply of B vitamins and proteins. An expert notes that eggs are entirely harmless to cats. Cooking the eggs before presenting them to the cat reduces the risk of the feline getting a food-borne disease.

5. Cantaloupe

This type of melon has beta-carotene and antioxidants that are a positive injection to your cat’s life. Cantaloupe, which is cat-safe, will help your feline to have better eye and skin health.

6. Chicken

Unlike dogs, cats are carnivores by obligation. Thus, the felines need diets that are, for the most part, meaty. Chicken meat will serve the cat with lean protein. Remember to give the meat to the cat when it is cooked. When you prepare the bird, milk out all the chicken fat to prevent it from getting to your feline friend.

7. Bananas

Bananas are rich in soluble fiber and potassium. Apart from that wholesome detail, the bananas are cat-safe. Because they are too sugar, ensure that you serve them moderately. This will help in controlling the number of calories that your cat takes.

8. Oatmeal

This is one of the human-food elements found in store-foods for cats. Oatmeal is one good source of B vitamins and energy. Apart from that, it is a cate-safe item. While cats may not have a problem eating it, some will have a problem liking it. Because that is the case, introduce oatmeal slowly and monitor how the cat reacts. If it likes it, add the quantity until it becomes part of the cat’s regular diet plan.

9. Pumpkin

Yes – cats can eat pumpkin. This vegetable is very high in fiber but low in calories. Also, cats who have abnormal stools can eat pumpkin to help alleviate the pain. As you prepare a treat for your cat, it is okay to inject some pumpkin. And you don’t need to worry – not only is it safe, but it is also healthy. 

10. Cheese

You can feed your cat with hard cheeses. They are easy to bake into treats. Also, they have high levels of protein and calcium. If you decide to take cheese to your dog, ensure that you serve it in small amounts.

11. Bread

Your cat may like bread, or it may not. Whichever the case, have it in mind that bread is an excellent source of fiber and protein.   

12. Apples

Apples have vitamin C, and fiber and cats can enjoy them. The one thing you should ensure as a cat owner is that the apple’s skin is not fed to the feline. Also, avoid seasoning the apple and serve it as it is. 

13. Blueberries

Vitamins C and A are some of the nutrients that cats get from blueberries. Being obligatorily carnivorous, you would think that felines wouldn’t want any berries. But surprisingly, some cats may want to feed on dozens of frozen berries. So, if you can, limit the number of blueberry treats that you give your cat. You wouldn’t want your cat to be ingesting too many calories, now, would you?  

14. Peas

These legumes are high in vitamins C and A, and fiber too. Being a cat-safe human food, you will find peas in many commercial foods.

You can serve peas to your cat while they are raw or frozen.

15. Turkey

Like one or two other foods on this list, a turkey will serve your cat with lean protein.

These 15 foods are all for-human and will cause your cat no gastrointestinal upsets. Because you would be introducing new foods, the cat’s stomach may react rather vigorously. Start with small portions of the alternative you choose and closely monitor how your cat reacts.

When you use human food and realize that it makes your cat fat, scale back because you wouldn’t want to deal with an obese cat.

Human Foods That Are A No-No For Cats

Since you know the human foods you can feed your cat, how about looking at the flip side? WEe have identified that cats can partake in human foods, but there is a line that can never be crossed. If taken, the foods mentioned in this section have the potential of making your cat’s stomach to go for a whirl.

The following foods are to be taken only as treats. To be safe, keep them entirely away from the cat.

1. Dairy Food Items

The aftermath of a cat eating dairy food is stomach upsets and diarrhea. Cat metabolism cannot handle the lactose that is found in dairy products. Ensure that any of these foods stay away from your cat to avoid digestive issues.

2. Garlic And Onion

These items and others like chives and shallots should not make their way into your cat’s system. These foods have thiosulphate – a toxic compound that can invite serious problems. When your cat overeats garlic or opinion, thiosulphate may destroy the red blood cells. Consequently, the cat may develop hemolytic anemia – a devastating condition.

When you cook meat for your cat, avoid frying it with onion. 

3. Alcohol

If your cat has one too many, there is a range of ugly symptoms that come up. They include:

a) Stomach/digestive upsets

b) Troubled breathing

c) Disorientation 

The symptoms may lead your cat into a coma, or worse, death.

So, you should ensure that drinks are not left anyhow. If there is a beer, wine, or spirit spill, ensure that you get it clean. One or two licks of alcohol are all that is needed to take your cat to the vet’s ER.

4. Chocolate 

An element called theobromine that is found in chocolate is the problem causer. If your cat comes across a chocolate bar and nibbles on it, they may develop the following symptoms:

a) Diarrhea

b) Vomiting

c) A drop in blood pressure

d) Troubled breathing

The symptoms may culminate in heart failure. Dark chocolate, which contains more cocoa, is the best enemy of the felines.  

5. Currants, Grapes, And Raisins

These popular fruits have the potential of making your cat’s kidney to fail. They should be kept away from your feline friends.

6. Caffeine

Coffee is not a cat’s cup of tea – if you know what I mean. Here are some symptoms which may occur if you let your cat take coffee:

a) Hyperactive behavior

b) An increase in the cat’s heart rate

c) Troubled breathing

d) Seizures and tremors

7. Raw Meat

The focus is not on the meat – it is on the meat being served raw. Sure – your cat can enjoy any beef, but natural, uncooked meat would be less of a help and more of a hindrance. The reason behind this comment is that raw meat, for the most part, contains harmful bacteria. Those microscopic microorganisms are resistant to antibiotics and may cause severe diseases.

You may have thought cooking is a show of servitude to your cat, but it turns out – it is a life-saving tactic!     

8. Dough (Raw)

Never feed your cat with anything that has active yeast. The years may produce alcohol, and you already know what alcohol can do. Also, as yeast puffs up, it can do that within the cat’s stomach. If the size of the puffing is too big, you may require to take your cat for surgery.

9. Tuna (Cooked)

A lot of tuna fish may contain mercury, which can lead your cat to get poisoned.

10. Raw Seafood

A lot of tuna fish may contain mercury, which can lead to your cat getting poisoned. 

A Chart-y Guide On Feeding Your Cat

In the chart below, you will get opened to a guide on how to feed your cat. It is based on, among other parameters, weight. Check it out, but before you use it, consult your vet:

Calorie Consumption Details For Cats On A Per-Day Basis
Cat Weight (In Pounds)	Type Of Cat
Spayed Or Neutered	Intact	One That Is Prone To Weight Gaining	One That Needs To Lose Weight
5	157	183	131	105
7½	210	245	175	140
10	260	303	216	173
12½	298	362	258	207
15	354	413	295	236
17½	396	462	330	264
20	440	513	367	293