What can I feed my cat when I've run out of cat food?

Have you accidentally forgotten to pick up cat food during the weekly shop? Or perhaps your cat’s brand of food is out of stock at the local pet shop? Whatever the reason, we understand that it can be difficult to know what’s safe to feed your cat when you’ve run out of their usual food. 

We’ve created this guide to help make sure your cat gets as many nutrients as possible, while you’re waiting to get hold of their normal wet food or cat biscuits.

Discover some safe alternatives to cat food that you can give them in the short term, to ensure your feline friend stays happy and well-fed…

A few things to consider before providing an emergency meal

While you can provide a suitable alternative to cat food for your feline friend, the following suggestions aren’t nutritionally complete and are not designed to replace their proper diet.

Emergency meals should provide you with enough time to get your cat back to their normal feeding routine.

Check your chosen ingredients are low in salt and/or fat, as high salt and/or fat content can cause excessive thirst and tummy troubles in cats.

Also, you’ll need to consider any special dietary needs, along with any allergies or intolerances your cat may have, and avoid any food that could be toxic.

Important: If you have to prepare your own cat food, remember that cats have special dietary requirements due to being obligate carnivores – which means meat is essential for their survival. Cats need taurine (an essential amino acid) to live and function, which is found in ready-made cat food; so, remember this when making an emergency meal for your feline friend.

How to make cat food when you’ve run out

You might be surprised at how easy it is to build a meal for your cat from the ingredients you have in your fridge or cupboard! Here are some cat-safe foods (that must be plain, unseasoned, and additive-free) to help feed your cat in an emergency:

• Cooked, boneless, skinless, unsalted meat (e.g. chicken, turkey, beef, lamb). 
• Cooked, boneless white fish (like cod).
• Tinned tuna (provided it’s free from bones, oils, and seasonings).
• Roasted, grilled, or poached salmon (without oils, seasonings, or flavourings).
• Cooked eggs (scrambled or boiled – cut into tiny pieces, to prevent choking).
• Boiled, unseasoned white rice.
• Boiled, unseasoned brown rice.
• Cooked butternut squash.
• Cooked, skinless, unseasoned sweet potato.
• Additive-free, cooked, tinned, or pureed pumpkin.
• Asparagus.
• Steamed broccoli (in very small amounts).
• Carrots.
• Frozen or fresh, cooked garden peas (without additives).
• Spinach.
• Strawberries.
• Blueberries.
• Watermelon (without seeds).
• Apples (peeled with core and seeds removed).

Remember: You need to include a source of meat or fish as part of your cat’s emergency meal.

Can cats eat dog food?

No, cats should not be given dog food because it doesn’t contain all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. 

A tiny amount of dog food shouldn’t harm your cat, so, if your cat manages to swipe a mouthful of your dog’s food, there’s no need to panic! However, if you’ve run out of cat food, we suggest opting for the types of foods listed above in the short term, instead of giving your cat dog food.

Foods to avoid when making a quick meal for a cat

Unfortunately, not all food is pet friendly. So, there are some ingredients you’ll need to avoid, to protect your cat from eating something poisonous to them.

Avoid these foods and flavourings when prepping your cat’s meal:

• Raw meat.
• Raw fish.
• Raw eggs.
• Raw bones.
• Cooked bones.
• Skin (e.g. turkey skin, chicken skin, etc.).
• Bacon.
• Dairy products.
• Nuts (e.g. macadamia, almonds, walnuts).
• Grapes.
• Dried fruit (e.g. raisins, sultanas, currants).
• Alliums (e.g. onions, garlic, and chives).
• Leeks.
• Corn on the cob (the cob can cause a blockage).
• Tinned peas.
• Avocado.
• Cakes.
• Pies.
• Pastries.
• Sweets.
• Chocolate.
• Alcohol.
• Caffeine (e.g. in coffee and tea).
• Salt.
• Sugar.
• Nutmeg.
• Xylitol (an artificial sweetener).

Please note: Most cats are lactose intolerant, so they should never be given milk to drink – they should have constant access to fresh, clean water instead.

Be careful of the quantities you feed your cat, since it can be easy to give them too much food. Although there’s a selection of human food that’s safe for your feline friend, we recommend returning to their normal cat food as soon as you can.

Always speak to a vet if you have any concerns about your cat’s dietary needs.