Can Cats Eat Cheese?

Yes, in crumbs: a bit of plain hard cheese can be an occasional extra for a cat, though VCA Hospitals notes that adult cats lack the enzyme that breaks down the sugar in milk. A crumb is a treat, and a slice is a different thing.

Cats and dairy

The picture of a cat lapping a saucer of milk is a familiar one. VCA Hospitals says adult cats lack the enzyme that breaks down the sugar in milk, and that cats do not need milk at all. That is the starting point, and every other sentence in this guide sits on top of it.

Cheese is not milk, and that is why the answer is not a flat no. But it is dairy, and a cat that is given a lot of it, often, is the cat the source is describing.

Hard cheese and soft cheese

Hard cheese is drier and denser than soft cheese, so a crumb of it is a smaller amount of dairy than a spoonful of anything spreadable. That is a matter of what the cheese is, not a rule about cats.

Soft cheeses are where the trouble tends to start. They are often mixed with flavorings, and the usual ones are chives, garlic and onion. VCA Hospitals lists the onion family among the foods cats should not eat. Read the ingredient list on a spreadable cheese before a cat gets near it, and if there is a flavor on it, put it away.

Cheddar, the cheese most people have in the house, is a useful one to know. USDA FoodData Central lists cheddar at 33 grams of fat and 653 milligrams of sodium per 100 grams, which is a lot packed into a small piece. That is the argument for keeping it to a crumb.

Processed slices and cheese spreads are a third group. They tend to carry added ingredients on top of the cheese, and the list is longer than the cheese itself. A cat does not need anything on that list, so the ingredient list is again the page to read.

A cheese crumb as a treat

How big is a crumb? About the size of a lentil. Break it from a hard cheese with your fingers, offer it on a fingertip, and leave it at one crumb for the day. If the cat likes it, it can be an occasional extra. It still should not be a staple.

The trade off is plain: a cat that learns that cheese comes out of the fridge will ask for it at every opening of the door, and a crumb becomes a habit. If you want the cat to work for a reward in a training session, a different treat is a better tool.

Dogs get a longer answer on the same question, in can dogs eat cheese.

Better options for most cats

A cat that wants a savory extra is usually better served by a plain fish or meat, which asks nothing of the dairy question. The cheddar from Sniff and Shift is labeled for dogs, so it is not suggested for cats; its freeze dried pink salmon is labeled for dogs and cats, and the salmon is imported. A piece broken to the size of a fingernail gives the cat the savory smell it is after, and the cat is not offered dairy at all. The page on can cats eat salmon goes through that fish in more detail.

For a wider look, the cat treats shelf is sorted by protein and form, and a single piece of fish or meat is a simpler thing to give a cat than a piece of cheese.

Common questions

How much cheese can a cat have?

A crumb about the size of a lentil, now and then. Offer it from your fingertip and let a few days pass before offering another.

Is hard or soft cheese better for a cat?

Hard cheese, because a crumb of it is a smaller amount of dairy. Soft cheeses are often flavored with chives, garlic or onion, so read the ingredient list first.

Can cats drink milk?

VCA Hospitals says adult cats lack the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar and that cats do not need milk. Water is the drink to put down.

Can kittens have cheese?

Kittens are a question for a licensed professional who cares for the kitten, and not for a cheese page. A treat labeled for kittens, crushed small, is the easier place to start.