Yes, cats can eat plain, cooked rice in small amounts, as it's not toxic and can help with digestion (like diarrhea), but it offers minimal nutritional benefit for them as obligate carnivores, so it should only be a rare treat or temporary bland diet, not a staple. Always ensure it's plain (no salt, spices, butter), well-cooked, and given in moderation alongside their regular meat-based diet.
Here's a simple recipe for Chicken and Rice Delight for your cat: Ingredients: 1 cup cooked chicken (shredded) 1/2 cup cooked rice 1/4 cup carrots (finely chopped, optional) 1/4 cup chicken broth (low sodium) Instructions: In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken and cooked rice. Add the chopped carrots if using.
How Much Rice Can Cats Eat? If you decide to share any rice with your kitty, keep the amounts very small, limited to less than a tablespoon of rice per week. If your kitty accidentally gets into a large portion of rice or eats any amount of uncooked rice, call your veterinarian.
Please do not feed plain boiled chicken and rice long-term. Neither have enough of the nutrients a cat needs. It can be used in the short-term for an upset stomach, but a month is unwise.
White rice is easy on your cat's tummy because it doesn't have the hard outer layers. It can help soothe their stomach when they're feeling unwell or have mild digestion issues. Brown rice, on the other hand, retains more fibre and nutrients but can be harder for cats to digest.
The top "silent killers" in cats are Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often progressing until 75% kidney failure, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart muscle disease, both often showing few symptoms until advanced stages, along with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver), leading to sudden illness or organ failure if undetected. Early detection through regular vet check-ups, blood tests, and monitoring for subtle changes like increased thirst/urination, weight loss, or hiding is crucial for managing these common, often hidden, feline diseases, says this article.
The healthiest diet for cats, obligate carnivores, is high in animal protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates, mimicking their natural prey, with a strong recommendation for a mix of high-quality, life-stage appropriate wet food (for hydration) and some dry food (for dental benefits), ensuring they always have fresh water, and consulting your vet for personalized needs, as a veterinarian is the best resource for your specific cat's health.
You should never feed your cat raw meat, fish, or bones, as they carry harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, risk causing pancreatitis from fat, and raw fish can destroy essential thiamine. Cooked, plain meats are best, but always remove bones, as cooked bones can splinter and cause internal damage or choking hazards, making raw meat and bones a definite "never" for feline health.
The 25% Rule for cat food, established by AAFCO, means if a food is named something like "Chicken Dinner," "Chicken Entrée," or "Chicken Platter," the named ingredient (chicken) must make up at least 25% of the total weight (excluding water), but less than 95%. This rule indicates a significant amount of the main ingredient but less than a "Chicken Cat Food" (95%). The named ingredient must also be at least 10% of the total diet when water is included, and if multiple ingredients are listed, they must collectively meet the 25% minimum.
Cats are 'obligate carnivores', which in simple terms, means they need to eat meat to get all the nutrients they require to stay healthy (such as Taurine and Arginine). Without these vital nutrients they are at risk of becoming extremely ill. Thankfully, most commercial cat foods contain all the nutrients a cat needs.
Never give your cat uncooked rice, as this is extremely difficult to digest and may also contain a natural pesticide called lectin which can cause diarrhea and vomiting if ingested in large quantities.
Some protein-rich foods cats like to eat include:
Yes, cats can eat eggs. Fully cooked eggs are a great nutritional treat for cats. Eggs are packed with nutrients, like amino acids, which are the building blocks to protein, and they're also highly digestible. Scrambled, boiled, however you choose to prepare them is fine.
The rice just creates a nice texture that makes cat love their food even more. By doing so, you can give your cat a fun little adventure for its meals. Rice should only be given as treats or as a small part of their meals. A mixture of cooked rice and their regular cat food is enough in itself.
Cook 3 parts white rice to 1 part chicken; prepare the chicken in the same way you prepare the rice—in boiling water. Do not add spices, salt, or pepper. Allow your pet's meal to cool down. Offer 1 teaspoon of the mixture for small pets; 1 tablespoon for large pets.
Our Top Recommendations
Foods that cats can't eat include:
General Feeding Guidelines
So that means adult cats need 1-2 servings per 5 pounds of body weight daily. For example, a 10lb cat should eat 2-4 servings per day if only fed wet cat food, like our Tasty Chicken Flavor Paté in Gravy(open in new tab).
Common grains found in cat food include wheat, corn, oats, barley and rice. Most cats don't require grain-free food and cats with diagnosed grain allergies are unusual. In a study published in Veterinary Dermatology, corn was found to be one of the least likely sources of food allergy in a cat.
Bones can also splinter, which can result in sharp pieces that damage the mouth, throat, and organs. Chicken bones also have the potential for blocking your cat's intestinal tract, resulting in a partial or complete obstruction. Chicken bones should always be off-limits to both cats and dogs.
Plants. Lily poisoning was the number 1 exposure call to Pet Poison Helpline for cats in 2023. Both true lilies (Lilium species) and daylilies (Hemerocallis species) can cause kidney failure in cats. Common examples of true lilies include Tiger, Asiatic, Easter, Stargazer, Roselilies, and Japanese Show lilies.
While cats can eat tuna occasionally, there are potential health risks. Tuna is high in mercury, a toxic metal that can accumulate inside the fish itself. Mercury is dangerous for cats to consume in large amounts as it can harm their kidneys and increase the risk of kidney failure.
Sick cats need highly digestible and bioavailable proteins for recovery. Being obligate carnivores, they take the necessary amino acids, like taurine and arginine, from meat, fish, and organs.
Before giving your cat a snack, discover common foods to avoid that can be harmful to them.
Cooked, Unseasoned Chicken or Turkey
To kick off this list of healthy human food that cats can eat, we're starting with the best types of meat for cats: chicken and turkey. Cooked, unseasoned chicken or turkey are excellent sources of protein for your cat.