What Do Tabby Cats Eat? Here’s The Complete List Of Food You Can Let Them Eat

Tabby cats have an excellent appetite and can enjoy a wide range of meals. However, you need to be aware of what the cat can eat to ensure that you provide it with their favorite snacks from time to time.

It also prevents any possible cases of food poisoning or any toxins from entering their body.

Having a well-researched knowledge of the foods suitable for your tabby cat will surely help you raise a healthy, happy, and active cat.

What do tabby cats eat?

Tabby cats are hungry creatures, and they tend to eat almost anything provided to them. You should ensure that it follows a nutritiously rich diet and does not consume any food that might be harmful to their health.

Their diet should also be rich in proteins to help in their growth, and it needs to contain essential vitamins.

They need Taurine, Amino acids, and certain fatty acids to stay at the peak of their health. Here is a list of some foods that the tabby cat loves to eat and is healthy and safe for them:

1. Meat

Cats are carnivorous animals and need to have meat-based products in their regular diet to fulfill their protein requirements.

It helps to keep them healthy and improves eyesight, reproductive health, and prevents certain heart diseases.

Cooked beef, chicken, or turkeys are an excellent fit for the tabby cats. But, these meats should be cooked without spices as some spices might cause harm to your pet.

2. Fish

It is a well-known fact that tabby cats are very fond of fish. It is also suitable for their health as it contains essential omega-3 fatty acids and mega-6 fatty acids.

Sardines, tuna, salmon can occasionally be fed to them as fish helps with eyesight and various kidney and heart diseases.

However, you should never feed your cat raw fish as it might contain harmful germs. Instead, opt for canned or cooked alternatives.

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Recommend Note: Have a look at our guide on if a tabby can be considered fat

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3. Chicken Broth

One of the most significant concerns for parents of tabby cats is their unwillingness to consume enough water.

Such a problem can be tackled with one of your tabby cat’s favorite foods, i.e., chicken or beef broth.

Adding low sodium chicken broth can increase their water intake while maintaining their calorie count. It is also suitable for the liver and the joints of your cat.

4. Cheese

If you want to feed your cat any dairy product, cheese is one of the best options for you. It can be fed to the cat occasionally as they are quite fond of it.

It also provides your tabby cat with the essential proteins needed for its healthy growth.

But, you should be careful while feeding your cat cheese for the first time as they might be lactose intolerant.

You should start with small bits and notice how their digestive system handles dairy products before taking it any further.

5. Eggs

Eggs are equally beneficial to your tabby cat as much as they are to you. Eggs are an excellent source of protein for your cat.

It should be cooked properly to ease up the digestive process of your cat.

You should never feed raw eggs to your cat as it contains harmful pathogens and a dangerous protein called avidin. Cooked eggs should definitely be integrated into your cat’s diet for the best results.

6. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of the healthiest breakfast options for you as well as your tabby cat. It contains some necessary vitamins that are essential for improving your cat’s immune system, digestion, and nervous system.

Plain oatmeal is entirely safe for your cat. It can also be mixed with chicken or chicken broth to create new recipes for your beloved cat.

7. Pumpkin

Pumpkin makes a very tasty and healthy treat for your tabby cat. It is filled with fiber, which is very beneficial for their digestive system.

Doctors also recommend pumpkins for cats with constipation problems. Canned pumpkin without any unnecessary additives is the best option for your cat.

You could mix one to three teaspoons of canned pumpkin into the regular cat food to enhance the flavor. Never feed it a raw piece and the pulp, stem, or the peel of the fruit.

8. Bread

Tabby cats can occasionally eat crumbs of bread as they are fond of it. Small amounts of baked bread are okay for them, but you should not regularly feed them.

Whole wheat bread should be preferred over white bread as they contain a higher amount of fiber, which will help in the cat’s digestion.

Although bread is not harmful to the cat’s health, it does not fulfill the pet’s nutritional requirements.

9. Peas

Tabby cats enjoy frozen, fresh as well as cooked peas. It is high in fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A, making it an ideal snack for your pet.

If you have a small cat, you should mash the peas a little so that they do not choke on them. You could also choose canned cat foods that have peas as an ingredient in them.

10. Canned Baby Food

Baby food can be an excellent dietary supplement to your Tabby cat, especially the aged ones. Meat-based baby foods with no added flavoring like garlic, ginger, onion, etc. are a safe choice for cats.

It is easy to digest and does not contain any harmful chemicals. It is beneficial when your cat is sick and cannot chew hard food.

It can meet a cat’s nutritional requirement for some time, but it should not be considered as an alternative to regular cat food.

Foods that can be toxic to the Tabby cat

Tabby cats are very enthusiastic about food and do not know to differentiate between edible and edible foods that could potentially be harmful.

Therefore, as an owner, you should be well informed about the food items that are not suitable for your tabby cat. Here is a list of some of them:

1. Onion and Garlic

Onion and garlic are very harmful to your tabby cat as it can damage its red blood cells.

Chemicals like sulfoxides and disulphides present in them are responsible for breaking down RBCs, leading to anemia, weight loss, and digestive disorders.

2. Raw meat products

Although meat products are beneficial for the cat’s well-being, raw meat should never be a preferred meal for the tabby cat.

Raw meat is filled with pathogens that might harm your cat and spread diseases to other members of the house. It can also be a cause of food poisoning in your cat.

3. Raw eggs

Raw eggs might contain a lot of harmful pathogens that could disrupt your cat’s health. It also includes a toxic protein called avidin and could cause salmonella or E. coli poisoning.

Symptoms of such poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting and weakness, and loss of appetite.

4. Caffeine

Pets like dogs and cats are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than human beings.

If your tabby cat consumes caffeine, you will notice a sudden increase in heart rate, and they become hyperactive.

It also increases their blood pressure, which could lead to cardiac arrest. Excess consumption of caffeine can cause fevers and induce coma in cats. It might also be fatal to the cat.

5. Alcohol

It is one of the most dangerous substances for your tabby cat. It causes ethanol poisoning, which could lead to the failure of the nervous system.

It can also cause kidney failure, liver disease, respiratory problems, seizures, etc. If your cat does not receive treatment on time, it can go into a coma or even die.

6. Chocolate

Chocolates can be very toxic for your tabby cat. A chemical compound called theobromine, found across all chocolates, is poisonous for the cat.

Dark chocolates are even worse than the white ones. It can lead to increased heart rate, seizure, and even death.

7. Green tomatoes

Unripe tomatoes tend to be toxic to your tabby cat. Green tomatoes are even listed as highly toxic by ASPCA for pets like cats, dogs, and horses.

It contains a chemical called solanine that might even be fatal for your cat if ingested in larger quantities. However, it is safe to feed the ripe cat tomatoes as it does not contain the chemical.

8. Milk (if your cat is lactose intolerant)

Although tabby cats always get very excited when presented with a bowl of milk, it is still better to keep it away from them.

Most cats are lactose tolerant, and milk products might disrupt their digestive system. It is not required food to complete its nutritional needs.

Ingestion of milk can cause diarrhea and vomiting in your cat, which would leave them weak and prone to other diseases.

9. Grapes and raisins

Grapes and raisins are very harmful to your cat’s health. Even a small amount of it can upset its stomach. It can lead to continuous vomiting and loose motions.

Although some tabby cats do not show any significant side effects of these fruits, it is always better to be safe than to regret such a decision later.

Conclusion:

A well-balanced diet is essential for your tabby cat. You should also ensure that the cat enjoys its meals by providing it with their favorite snacks from time to time.

Do not overfeed the cat out of love as it might harm their health. You should also take extra care to keep them away from the foods that can harm them.