What Do Cats Like to Eat for Breakfast?

In books and movies, cats always drink milk for breakfast. But cats are actually lactose intolerant, so this shouldn’t be standard! In that case…what do cats like to eat for breakfast? Wet food? Dry food? Fish? Chicken?

If you’re wanting to give your cat the best breakfast possible, we have some ideas for both daily feeding and occasional spoils.

Do cats need to eat breakfast?

It’s true what they say about breakfast being the most important meal of the day. Some people believe cats don’t need to eat in the morning, as there’s a misconception that cats are nocturnal. This isn’t the case.

So the main question really is what do cats like to eat for breakfast? Cat food, human food, protein, carbs?

Oh, and if your cat is the type who loves a good outdoor snack, you’ve probably wondered why cats eat grass. Good news – it’s probably nothing major. Bad news? It still doesn’t count as a cat breakfast!

The cat food key

Feeding your cat a healthy, well-balanced cat food product is the easiest way to give them breakfast. Especially while you’re rushing around getting ready for work and trying to get your own scrambled eggs ready.

Dry cat food or wet? It’s mostly your choice. Dry food is usually more affordable, keeps longer, and can help keep cat teeth healthy. On the other hand, wet or canned food has a higher water content so can help prevent dehydration. And some fussy cats seem to prefer wet food over dry.

Whichever one you opt for, speak with your vet and prioritise feeding high-quality food.

Human foods cats like to eat for breakfast

Say it’s a lazy weekend morning and you want your cat to join in for brunch. Or you just have the luckiest cat in the world and don’t mind feeding them some good old human food every day. What human foods do cats like to eat for breakfast?

Truth be told, they’d probably love to eat almost all of it. From peanut butter and milky coffee through to pancakes and eggs.

What cats like to eat for breakfast and what they’re allowed to eat for breakfast though, are two different things. And remember that regardless of what they’re eating, maintaining a healthy average cat weight is another important factor in their overall wellbeing.

Foods cats can eat for breakfast every day

If your cat likes to eat breakfast foods made for humans – or you just enjoy sharing the most important meal of the day with them – there are some options which are suitable on a daily basis. Your cat will be the envy of his feline friends, and you can rest assured you won’t be doing any damage to their health.

Because they need a nutrient-dense breakfast to help keep them at a healthy weight, some options include:

• Cooked eggs
• Whole grains (such as oats or brown rice)
• Cooked lean chicken or turkey meat
• Cooked white fish
• Vegetables

If you choose not to supplement this with cat food for breakfast, make sure you consult with your vet.

Your cat can happily eat these foods, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all they should eat. You want to ensure you’re giving them the right mix of nutrients, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals to keep them as health as possible.

Occasional treats

There is a range of human foods cats like to eat for breakfast that shouldn’t be given daily or in huge quantities. If you want to spoil your cat from time to time, these options are suitable for occasional treats in small amounts:

• Rindless bacon
• Deli meats like ham and vienna sausage
• Lactose-free milk
• Tinned fish like tuna or sardines (ideally packed in water instead of brine, or properly drained of oil)

Or, you could make up a batch of your own homemade cat treats. It’s kind of like showing your love with cupcakes…only a bit more fishy.

Other things to remember

Whatever you decide to feed your cat, remember a couple of things.

Firstly, cats are obligate carnivores. They need to eat meat to survive. So while you can supplement your cat’s diet with vegetables and grains, they can’t be fed a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Secondly, it’s always best to go with plain food. Don’t cook your cat things with seasoning. Not only is too much salt bad for them, some seasonings like garlic can actually be poisonous. On the same note, that’s also why cat owners should always opt for grilled or baked things rather than food preserved in brine, salt, or oil.

Anything too rich or salty is likely to cause a problem for your pet, from dehydration and gastroenteritis or stomach upset through to more serious problems which require hospitalisation.

There are quite a few things that can poison your pet, including toxic plants (especially lilies, for cats). Here are some foods you should avoid:

• Caffeine
• Onions
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Chocolate (read our article on whether cats can eat chocolate)
• Bread dough
• Macadamia nuts

Cover your cat across every meal

Whatever your cat likes to eat for breakfast; feed kibble or cans, chicken or tuna, they deserve the best of everything.

A pet insurance policy can help cover hefty bills related to things like medical care, prescription medication and veterinary hospital overnight stays.

Plus with PD Insurance, you’ll get one or more months free when you take out your cat insurance online. So that way if your cat does get hold of the grapes or chocolate, you can take them to the vet without worrying about the money for treatment.