## Human Food from Your Table: When Is It Okay?

You are in the kitchen. Preparing lunch. Your cat is staring at you with unwavering eyes.

Question: **Can I share?**

For many foods: **Yes, safely**.

For others: **Absolutely not**.

Let’s take a look at the practical guide.

## The Basic Principles

**Human food for cats** can be:

✅ **Safe**: small amounts, occasionally.

❌ **Dangerous**: some substances are toxic to cats.

**Rules**:
- **10% of daily calories** max from "human food".
- **Main food** should always be specific cat food.
- **Nutritional balance** from commercial food.

## SAFE Human Foods

### Cooked Meats

**Boiled Chicken**:
- Skinless, boneless.
- No salt, seasonings.
- Cut into small pieces.
- **Great treat**.

**Boiled Turkey**:
- Similar to chicken.
- Lean.

**Lean Cooked Beef**:
- No seasonings.
- Cut finely.

**Rabbit**:
- Cooked, lean.
- Also boneless.

**Lamb**:
- Cooked, lean.
- Few pieces.

**Quantities**:
- 20-30 g as a snack.
- 1-3 times a week.

### Cooked Fish

See dedicated article. Safe:
- Boiled Salmon.
- Sardines in natural juice.
- Boiled Mackerel.
- Cod.

### Cooked Eggs

**Hard-Boiled Eggs**:
- No salt.
- Cut into small pieces.

**Scrambled Eggs**:
- No butter, oil, salt.
- Cut into small pieces.

**Frequency**:
- 1-2 times a week.
- Half an egg or less.

**Raw**:
- ❌ NO (avidin inhibits biotin, salmonella).

### Cooked Vegetables (in small amounts)

**Boiled Carrots**:
- Finely chopped.
- No salt.

**Cooked Pumpkin**:
- No butter.
- Aids digestion.

**Cooked Zucchini**:
- No salt.

**Quantities**:
- 1 teaspoon mixed with food.
- Don’t overdo it (cats are carnivores).

### Dairy (with caution)

**Natural Yogurt** (no sugars):
- Few cats tolerate it.
- 1 teaspoon, once a week.
- Natural probiotics.

**Cheese** (little):
- Mozzarella, ricotta.
- Few pieces.
- High in fats, be careful.

**Milk**:
- ❌ Most are lactose intolerant.
- "Cat-specific milk" (reduced lactose): okay.

### Cooked Rice

**No salt**:
- 1 tablespoon mixed with food.
- Light carbohydrate.
- Useful for cats with sensitive digestion.

## DANGEROUS Human Foods

### Toxic Foods

**Onion, garlic, shallots**:
- ❌ **Destroy red blood cells**.
- Even small amounts are toxic.
- Cooked, raw: all toxic.
- **Be careful with broths, sauces, gravies**.

**Chocolate**:
- ❌ **Theobromine** is toxic.
- Deadly.

**Grapes and raisins**:
- ❌ **Kidney failure**.

**Avocado**:
- ❌ **Persin** is toxic.

**Caffeine** (coffee, tea, energy drinks):
- ❌ **Cardiotoxic**.

**Alcohol**:
- ❌ Deadly.

**Xylitol** (sweetener in gums, candies, some toothpastes):
- ❌ **Deadly even in small doses**.

**Macadamia nuts, almonds**:
- ❌ **Toxic**.

**Wild mushrooms**:
- ❌ Variable, some deadly.

### Unhealthy Foods

**Salty foods**:
- ❌ Potato chips, salty snacks.
- Dehydration, kidney problems.

**Fatty foods**:
- ❌ Bacon, salami, sausage.
- Pancreatitis.

**Spicy foods**:
- ❌ Irritate the stomach.

**Sweet foods**:
- ❌ Diabetes, overweight.

**Fried foods**:
- ❌ Too much fat.

### Risky Raw Foods

**Raw fish**:
- ❌ Thiaminase (destroys B1).
- Parasites.

**Unregulated raw meat**:
- ❌ Salmonella, E. coli.
- Also for cats (even if carnivores).

**Raw poultry**:
- ❌ Salmonella.

**Raw eggs**:
- ❌ Salmonella + biotin inhibitor.

## Proper Preparation

### Meat

**Always cooked** (for humans):
- No seasonings.
- No salt.
- No spices.
- Boiled, steamed, baked.

**Cut finely**:
- Small pieces.
- For kittens/seniors: minced.

### Fish

**Always cooked**:
- No seasonings.
- No dangerous bones.

### Vegetables

**Cooked** (cats do not digest raw well).

### Storage

**Fridge**: 2-3 days.

**Freezer**: small portions, 2-3 months.

## The Quantities

### General Rule

**Human food = max 10% daily calories**.

**Average cat (4 kg)**:
- 25-30 kcal/day in snacks.

**In practice**:
- 1-2 teaspoons of chicken.
- 1 teaspoon of fish.
- A small piece of cheese.

### For Supplementation

**Mixed with regular food**:
- 1 tablespoon of cooked meat on wet food.
- Increases palatability.
- Useful for picky cats.

### For "treats"

**Special snacks**:
- For training.
- For recovery post-illness.

## "Doubtful" Foods (limit)

**Canned tuna for humans in water**:
- Occasionally okay.
- No brine.

**Lean cold cuts** (few):
- Without nitrates if possible.

**Cooked pasta**:
- No seasonings.
- Little.

**Bread**:
- Few pieces.
- Low salt.

## When NOT to Give Human Food

❌ **Cats with medical issues**:
- Diabetes: no uncontrolled snacks.
- Kidney failure: specific diet.
- Allergies: only prescribed food.

❌ **Kittens under 6 months**:
- Diet must be balanced for kittens.

❌ **Cats on a weight-loss diet**:
- Snacks interfere.

## The Typical Story

**Positive case**:
- An adult cat receives boiled chicken 2 times a week.
- Excellent health for 16 years.
- Diverse, balanced snacks.

**Negative case**:
- A cat always receives table "scraps".
- Salt, seasonings, oils.
- Kidney problems at 8 years.
- Reduced life expectancy.

**Lesson**: small amount + safe foods = okay. Mixed scraps = no.

## The "Picky" Breeds

**Some breeds** are more "picky":
- Siamese.
- Sphynx.
- Burmese.

**Tricks**:
- Variation: alternating between commercial and homemade food.
- Cooked meat as a "topping".

## Myths to Dispel

**Myth 1**: "Milk is human food for cats".
**False**: most are intolerant.

**Myth 2**: "Fish is always safe".
**False**: see specific article.

**Myth 3**: "Leftovers are okay".
**False**: often dangerous.

**Myth 4**: "Cooked human food is always okay".
**Partially true**: depends on the contents.

**Myth 5**: "More variety, better it is".
**False**: balance is essential.

## The Truth

Human food for cats:

✅ **Safe** in small amounts, some foods.

❌ **Dangerous** for specific toxic foods.

**Strategy**:
- **Know the list** above.
- **Maximum 10% calories**.
- **Commercial food remains main**.
- **Never give in doubt**.

**Top foods for your cat** from your kitchen:
- Boiled chicken.
- Cooked fish.
- Hard-boiled eggs.
- Ricotta (little).
- Natural yogurt (little).

**Absolutely forbidden foods**:
- Onion, garlic.
- Chocolate.
- Grape.
- Avocado.
- Coffee, alcohol.
- Xylitol.

And remember: your cat is watching you with those eyes while you eat. Resist the leftovers. Reward with **safe boiled chicken** instead of pizza scraps.

Long health > momentary pleasure.