Cats have been sharing our lives and our food since about 8,000 BC. And yet, they haven’t changed that much since they started living with humans. Dogs, by contrast, have changed a great deal in how they look and behave since they were domesticated more than 15,000 years ago. Unlike dogs, who can be taught to respond to commands, cats tend to interact with humans on their own terms. Cats enjoy living with humans but are happy to just do their own thing, which includes only eating the foods that they prefer. What human foods can cats eat? Cats have been sharing our lives and our food since about 8,000 BC. And yet, they haven’t changed that much since they started living with humans. Dogs, by contrast, have changed a great deal in how they look and behave since they were domesticated more than 15,000 years ago. Unlike dogs, who can be taught to respond to commands, cats tend to interact with humans on their own terms. Cats enjoy living with humans but are happy to just do their own thing, which includes only eating the foods that they prefer. When thinking about sharing a little of your own food with your cat, keep in mind that a cat’s diet should not be identical to a human’s. Not everything that we eat is good for cats and some of it is downright dangerous. It is important to note that even though your cat can eat certain human foods it is always a good idea to test a small piece first to see if they can digest it. If any vomiting or diarrhea occurs, immediately stop giving your cat any human food. To be sure that there are no emergency visits to the cat hospital, here are three of the best foods that you can share with your furry friend. Meat If your cat had the choice, he or she would choose to eat meat. Small birds and rodents are their favourites. Cats are obligate carnivores. That means that they’re able to eat things other than meat, but some of their diet must be meat. Of course, since we humans get our meat through the supermarket, where it can be contaminated, it’s best to only feed your animals cooked meat. Eggs Because cats are carnivores, they need a lot of protein. In fact, at least 30% of their diet should be made up of protein. Eggs, of course, are a great source for this and cats often raid birds’ nests in the wild. To avoid any possibility of disease, however, any eggs you share with your cat should be cooked. Fish Although cats are often associated with eating fish and many cats do enjoy it, there are quite a few who don’t. Cats, of course, wouldn’t typically have come across fish in the wild before they started living with humans. Fish has some healthy amino acids to offer cats but they shouldn’t be on an exclusive diet of fish. While there are a lot of foods you can share with your cat, there are a few that you should keep away from them at all costs. Chocolate, grapes, onions, some nuts, alcohol and caffeine are all very bad for your pet. Be sure to keep them out of your cat’s paws and see your local cat clinic if you think your pet may have gotten into one of them. At Bellamy-Lawrence Animal Hospital, we love cats and want them to have the healthiest lives they can. If you have any questions about your cat’s diet or any other aspect of cat health, contact us today to or stop by our walk-in clinic in Toronto.