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‘What human food can cats eat’ is one of the most popular search terms on the world wide web when it comes to our domesticated tiny tigers. Knowing exactly what is safe for them can be tricky to navigate, especially over Christmas when there’s all sorts of unusual treats around.
Although we know cats are obligate carnivores and love nothing more than a meaty feast, that doesn’t mean that all meats in the Christmas spread will be safe for the purr machines.
If you find your cat begging for food at the boxing day buffet, here are some jolly delicacies we can share, so the cats don’t think we’re total scrooges:
- Slithers of cooked meat make for a great high protein cat food over christmas – be sure to lay off the seasoning though to avoid any stomach upsets. It’s worth keeping an eye out for any potential pesky bones to avoid any sticky situations.
- Despite their carnivorous nature, veggies will do the floofs no harm in small portions, so pick them up some parsnips, carrots, swede and even a sprout (all plain steam cooked or boiled)!
- The cheese and biscuits always come out at this time of year, and surprisingly the cats can get involved too, in moderation of course! A small piece of cheddar is the perfect way to round off your furball’s fine dining experience as the winter night draws – mild cheeses only!
A lot of our festive favourites must stay that way, ours. For human consumption only! To keep your cat safe this Christmas, here’s a list of what to absolutely avoid.
Food that cats can’t eat:
- Onions and the allium veg group (including leeks, chives, garlic and shallots) are a definite no go. Not necessarily common knowledge, but onions are in fact toxic to our favourite little lions. This also includes that delish stuffing and gravy (all the more for us!)
- As delicious as it might be, it’s best to avoid high fat and salty food. In fact, most of our mogs should stay away from bacon and chestnuts (both super popular at christmas) due to their high fat and salt content not being suitable for our feline friends.
- Now if you find yourself owning a sphynx (alternative breeds also applicable) with a sweet tooth, be sure to keep the cranberry sauce stashed away. It’s far too sugary for our mousers to handle, and who really wants to deal with a cat on a sugar comedown on Christmas day. Imagine the rage.
- Grapes, and other dried varieties like sultanas, currants and raisins, key ingredients in our festive faves such as mince pies and christmas pudding, are extremely toxic to our floofsters.
- Chocolate also must be avoided. Just like with dogs, the sweet stuff is toxic to our pals on all fours, so make sure the Ferrero Rochers are sealed and stashed safely away from wandering paws.
So there you have it, you can indeed pull up a chair and save a spot for your favourite furry guest at the dinner table this Christmas. You can always start with a tin of their favourite Republic of Cats recipe. We’d love to see the spreads you put on for your little monsters this season, so tag us in all of your holiday snaps and stories over on the gram @republicofcats or drop a pic in our Facebook Community.
Merry Christmas x
