Is it a good thing or a bad thing to feed cats table scraps? I guess it depends on who you ask and whether you’re considering their health or their behavior. The simplest and most complete answer is: no, it’s not a good thing. However, as with many things in life, the situation becomes more complicated when you start looking at it from different angles.
When you start feeding cats table scraps, you’re essentially training them to expect food from the table. Of course, you’re going to get frustrated when your sweet kitty jumps up on the Thanksgiving table and helps himself to the turkey that hasn’t even been carved yet, while you’re outside gathering the family for a meal that would have been to die for. At least the cat thought so. More often than not, when you give cats human leftovers, they begin to take liberties you never intended to grant them. Some cats will help themselves even if you never feed them a single morsel that falls on the floor. Others will take their cue from you, determining that if it’s good enough for you to give them, it’s good enough for them to take. Somehow, they miss our human logic that says they can’t help themselves.
The Health Implications of Feeding Cats Table Scraps
Some veterinarians believe that table scraps are the healthiest treat you can give a cat (or a dog, for that matter), while others argue they should only ever be given specific cat treats. Most fall somewhere in between. In some cases, feeding a cat table scraps is healthier than feeding them certain commercially available treats. For example, if you’re offering your cat unprocessed, healthy meat scraps, some vets argue this is healthier than treats with a primary ingredient of wheat or “byproducts” and “meals.” These terms are code for “not the real thing.” Fish byproduct, for instance, refers to a product derived from fish, not the fresh fish we think of as a meal.
Some experts say that it can be okay to feed your cat pieces of fresh meat, provided this isn’t done at the table. This way, you can offer your cat the best sources of protein and crude fats that are healthy for their digestive system and coat, while also regulating their behavior. Cats can be trained to eat only what is served to them in their dish. However, these same experts warn that regularly dishing out table scraps can make your cat fickle, causing them to turn their nose up at their regular cat food.
Cats need regularity in their diet for their digestive tracts to function well. Despite your best efforts, unless you’re eating the same thing every night, giving your cat random scraps can occasionally cause stomach upset, leaving you with an unattractive mess that hopefully makes it to the litter box.
Cats do not digest milk or other dairy products well at all. Despite the cute cartons showing milk as a staple for cats, dairy is one of the quickest ways to cause explosive bowel issues. And cats cannot always make it to their litter box when they’re ill. While it’s true that cats love dairy products and will often break the rules to sneak a few licks of ice cream left in your dish when you’re not looking, dairy is a terrible treat for them. In rare cases, dairy can cause serious health problems, and on even rarer occasions, it can be fatal. As rare as this may be, it won’t matter how often or how little it happens if it happens to your kitty.
For those of us who still live without the convenience of a dishwasher, having a cat around to clean up unattractive leftover meal remnants may seem like a handy idea. And it is handy. Nobody can deny how much easier it is to wash a plate that has been completely cleaned by a cat on a mission. If it weren’t for the telltale “kitty slime” on the plate, you could easily stick it back in the cabinet, and no one would be the wiser—except your cat. Your rather obese cat who can no longer jump onto his favorite perch to watch the birds outside, or the cat you now have to lift onto the bed for a cozy night of cuddling.
The number one health issue facing cats today is obesity. Fat cats are not cute—they are dangerously unhealthy. Fat cats suffer from many of the same issues as obese humans, plus a few extras that we don’t have to contend with. When you allow your cat to become morbidly overweight, you’re robbing him not only of his life expectancy but also of his quality of life. How much fun is life for a cat who can’t creep around his favorite places because he can’t jump anymore? How much enjoyment does he get from sleeping on the floor because you aren’t home to pick him up on command? How heartbreaking is it to watch your cat struggle with back pain, knowing that you had a direct role in his condition?
Feeding your cat table scraps can speed up this process faster than you might think. The best way to protect your cat, whether you’re concerned with his health or behavior, is to regulate his food intake, provide plenty of exercise, and replace that slice of fish with safe, nutritious treats—while offering an abundance of loving attention. Your cat will live a healthier, happier, and longer life, and you’ll be grateful for the lack of kitty paw prints on the kitchen counter.
