Can Cats Eat Rice Pudding? Vet Reviewed Nutrition Facts & FAQ
Sometimes, it can be tempting to treat our cats to a little bit of something we are enjoying, but it can be tricky to tell which foods are good for them and which are not. If you are wondering whether your sweet-toothed kitty can indulge in rice pudding, unfortunately, rice pudding is not good for cats at all and should be avoided due to the inclusion of certain ingredients.
Read on to find out more about why cats shouldn’t eat rice pudding and to get some tips on human foods cats can safely have as an occasional treat.
Why Is Rice Pudding Bad for Cats?
While a bit of plain rice (no sauce or seasoning at all) is okay for cats now and again, and rice is commonly found in commercial cat foods, the dessert rice pudding is not good for cats for two reasons.
The first reason is that it contains ingredients that are high in fat and calories, including sugar and butter. It also contains cow’s milk, which, contrary to popular belief, is bad for cats because their digestive systems aren’t built to handle lactose.
The second reason is that rice pudding often contains raisins, which are toxic to cats. Eating even a few of these dried grapes can cause an upset stomach with symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, lack of appetite, drinking more, and decreased urination. In severe cases, cats can experience kidney failure as a result of grape and raisin toxicity. There is no known safe threshold for avoiding raisin toxicity.
My Cat Ate Rice Pudding, What Should I Do?
If your cat ate rice pudding containing raisins, you should contact your vet for advice. Because raisins are toxic to cats, it is always best to be on the safe side, even if your cat seems perfectly fine or you only suspect they’ve eaten raisins.
What Human Foods Can My Cat Eat?
First and foremost, cats should be fed a diet formulated specifically for them that contains a certain amount of protein, carbohydrates, fats, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. The best way to make sure your cat is getting all the nutrients they need is by choosing a high-quality commercial diet that is complete and balanced. They also need fresh water to be available at all times.
That said, you can offer certain human foods occasionally as a treat and in small amounts. Some cats never touch human foods and will happily stick to cat food, whereas others will nibble at anything they can get their paws on. If your cat has taken a shine to a certain kind of human food or is the adventurous type, here are some safe human foods you can give as treats:
- Plain cooked meat like chicken (no seasoning)
- Canned or cooked fish (no raw fish, not fish in oil)
- Cucumber
- Cantaloupe
- Steamed broccoli
- Steamed asparagus
- Steamed green beans
- Plain cooked rice
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Melon
- Oatmeal
- Pumpkin
- Cooked eggs
- Bananas
- Cooked winter squash
What Human Foods Shouldn’t Cats Eat?
In addition to rice pudding, there are quite a few human foods you should keep away from your cat, either because they’re toxic to them or simply very unhealthy.
These include:
Final Thoughts
Rice pudding is not good for cats due to the presence of sugar, high-fat, and toxic ingredients. For their regular diet, cats should stick to a standard, quality cat formula suitable for their age group and should only occasionally indulge in safe human foods like cooked meat and fish and certain fruits and vegetables as an occasional treat.
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Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
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Kit Copson is a freelance writer and lifelong animal lover with a strong interest in animal welfare. She has parented various furry beings over the years and is currently a proud cat mom of two—one very chilled (unless hungry) Siamese and a skittish but adorable Domestic Shorthair—and dog mom of one—an adopted Bichon Poodle cross. When not writing about or spending time with animals, Kit can be found doodling in her sketchpad, reading, or more often than not, drinking tea.
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