Breakfast is the day’s first and most important meal, and we all know that.
Cats are not exempt from this connotation, and it’s recommended that pet cats eat nutrient-dense food with their first meal.
And when it comes to breakfast, there’s one question on cat parents’ minds: What do cats like to eat for breakfast? The answer depends on the individual cat since there is no specific menu for cats. They may enjoy the same breakfast as you, or they may prefer something different.
Generally, they want to eat everything we eat. So even if you’ve already fed them their cat food, they’ll be meowing for a piece of the crispy bacon, egg, bread, or whatever you’re having for breakfast.
Ultimately, it’s up to your cat what they like to eat for breakfast – as long as it’s a healthy, balanced diet.
This was just a quick answer to the question: what do cats like to eat for breakfast.
If you want to learn more about what we should feed our cats and what we shouldn’t, keep reading.
What Do Cats Love To Eat For Breakfast?
Cats are creatures of habit, and they like their routine. Unlike indoor cats, who have developed a routine similar to their cat parents, wild cats don’t follow any schedules.
Indoor cats like having the same eating times, clean litter, and play times.
So, if they’re used to eating at a particular time, they’ll be meowing for food as soon as they wake up.
So, What Do Cats Like To Eat For Breakfast? It depends on your cat’s preferences and needs. For example, some cats like to eat the same thing every day, while others prefer a variety of foods.
Below is a list of the best breakfast foods your pet kitty would enjoy eating in the morning.
Best Food To Give Cats In Breakfast
Make sure your cat’s first meal of the day is filled with nutrients to start the day off right.
Along with a healthy, nutritious cat serving, you can offer your pet cat a variety of homemade foods for breakfast.
Here’s a list of breakfast foods for your kitty:
Cooked Meat Mixed With Rice
To develop the muscles and have a strong heart, cats need protein, and the best meal to get the protein is meat.
You can make your feline friend a nutritious and tasty breakfast by cooking beef, chicken, turkey, or lamb along with rice.
Never give them raw meat; otherwise, your pet can follow wild cats hunting tradition next time.
Eggs
Eggs are another excellent source of protein for your cat’s breakfast. You can serve them scrambled, boiled, poached, fried, or plain eggs.
However, remember you cook them properly. Raw eggs will most likely harm your cat in the same way as raw meat.
Cooked Fish
There’s no denying that cats love fish. Instead, you can feed them oily fish like tuna, salmon, and sardines.
They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that keep your pet’s eyes sharp and prevent diseases. Your kitty would enjoy eating these cooked fish for breakfast.
But remember, don’t add salt or seasoning because cats prefer the natural taste. So keep an eye out for spoiled fish. So while your cat might not mind eating it, it will surely make it sick later.
Fully Baked Bread
Most cats eat bread. According to the ASPCA pro, bread that is fully baked and not raisin-based is safe for cats. But it is not recommended to give cats even a small amount of uncooked dough.
Remember that moderation is the key when giving fully-baked bread to your kitty. So don’t feed your cat too much bread—just small amounts.
If you give them too much bread, they can get gas, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting.
Vegetables
You can also offer some veggies to your cat as a part of their breakfast. Even though cats don’t need vegetables in their diet, they can still enjoy them as a healthy treat.
Boiled or cooked carrots, green beans, peas, and broccoli are some of their best veggies.
But, ensure you don’t give them raw vegetables because they can’t digest them properly. Also, never provide them with onion, garlic, and chives as they can be toxic to cats.
Fruits
As carnivores, cats usually don’t like fruits that much, but they can eat them in moderation. So you can give them small pieces of Banana, berries, or diced apples as a treat.
Just like with vegetables, don’t give them raw fruits as they can’t properly digest them. Also, avoid giving grapes and raisins to cats as they can be toxic.
Whole Grains
You can give your cat some whole grains like oats, quinoa, barley, brown rice, and wheat. These are an excellent source of fiber and proteins, which helps the digestive system of cats to function correctly.
Corn is a favorite food for cats, especially polenta ground cornmeal, which has a nice texture.
As long as the grains are small enough for your cat to digest, you can choose something else. You can also serve leftover whole-wheat breadcrumbs.
Milk
As we all know, most cats love to drink milk. However, don’t give your cat dairy milk. Dairy milk contains lactose sugar, and cats are lactose intolerant, so their bodies can’t digest lactose properly.
Because of that, you are giving your furry friend whole milk, and any dairy product will most likely upset their stomach or cause diarrhea.
Thus, it’s better to avoid giving them milk and dairy products altogether. And be sure to warm it slightly before serving it to the cat.
Tuna Pizza
Giving a small bite of pizza is not harmful to cats but ensures they get a proper meal rather than one containing empty calories.
Cat loves to eat tuna, and you can share tiny bits of your tuna pizza with your kitty and watch him relish the treat. Ensure the slices are small, as cats do not have molars for chewing large chunks.
Cat Food
In today’s busy world, almost no one has time to prepare a home-cooked meal for their pets, not even themselves.
The easiest and usually most nutritious option is food made specifically for cats. Feeding your furry friend some cat food should be sufficient.
Make sure you give them wet food if possible. Canned cat food is an excellent option for cats because of the water content.
Most fresh and canned food have around 80% water content, so it’s a great way to fulfill their thirst.
Other Foods You Can Give Your Cat
You can also give your cat some other human foods like cottage cheese, plain yogurt, and peanut butter for breakfast. Just ensure you don’t provide them with flavored yogurts, as they can be harmful.
The best way to find out what your cat likes to eat is to offer them a variety of foods and see what they prefer. You can also ask your vet for recommendations on the best food for your cat.
Whatever you do, ensure that you are providing your cat with a healthy diet rich in protein and nutrients. In addition, cats need a balanced diet to stay healthy and happy.
What Foods Should You Not Feed Your Cat?
In the previous section, we discussed What Do Cats Like To Eat For Breakfast in detail; now, let’s see what human foods can be harmful to cats.
You should avoid giving your kitty the following human foods at all costs because they can poison them.
- Bread Dough
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Tea
- Onions
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Macadamia Nuts
- Anything With Alcohol
Keep your cat away from these foods while feeding them. Foods like these are toxic and won’t benefit your cat.
Things To Consider When Choosing A Breakfast For Cats
Breakfast could mean a lot of things. There are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing the proper breakfast for your cat:
The Type of Food
When it comes to the type of food, you have to consider what your cat likes to eat. If they are a picky eater, you’ll have to experiment with different foods to find something they enjoy.
Here are some things you can try:
- Wet Cat Food: Wet cat food is a good option for breakfast because it’s easy to digest and has a higher hydration content than dry food.
- This breakfast food provides cats with all the necessary nutrients and keeps them hydrated throughout the day.
- Dry Cat Food: Dry cat food is also a good option if your cat doesn’t prefer wet food. Choose a nutrient-rich, high-quality dry food for your kitty.
If your cat eats dry food for breakfast, they are only getting the necessary nutrients but not fluids.
Because of that, if your cat relies heavily on dry cat food, ensure that they drink ample water.
- Home Cooked Food: If you want to ensure your cat is getting the nutrients they need, you can cook their breakfast yourself.
- Homemade breakfast meals are a good option if your cat has specific dietary needs.
The Amount of Food
The amount of food you give your cat depends on their age, weight, breed type, and activity level.
Using the chart below, you can figure out how much food your kitty needs according to its weight:
If you’re not sure how much to feed your cat, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian. They can help you create a feeding plan that’s tailored to your cat’s individual needs.
The Time of Day
Like their ancestors in the wild, many cats eat their main meals at dawn and dusk. The time coincides with your breakfast and dinner schedule, so it’s an excellent time to feed them.
Can Kittens Eat The Same Breakfast As Older Cats?
Yes, kittens can eat the same breakfast as older cats. But remember, kittens’ stomachs are still developing and growing, so the food needs to be soft.
Also, kittens need more protein and fat than adults, so their diet should be higher in those nutrients. Finally, make sure kittens have plenty of fresh water available at all times as they need more water than adult cats.
Please don’t give your kitten raw meat until she’s 20 weeks old because it may contain harmful bacteria. A good rule of thumb is to start feeding your kitten raw meat around six months of age.
What Drinks Can Cats Have?
Water is the best liquid cats can drink at all times. Apart from water, cats drink almond milk, cat mink, and soya milk. Avoid giving cats dairy milk; never the dairy milk.
Providing these liquids to your cat regularly is safe.
It would help if you did not share any other types of juice with your cat, as this will harm her stomach and kidneys, causing her to become ill or even die.
FAQs
How Often To Feed A Cat?
There is no specific number of meals a cat eats per day; it depends on their family schedule.
Ideally, it would help if you fed your cat at least twice a day, about 12 hours apart. If more than 12 hours elapse between meals, the stomach can develop hyper acidic, causing nausea.
How Many Calories Should A Cat Take In Breakfast?
Or how much food should my cat eat every meal? Your cat’s size, age, and weight determine how much food your cat should consume.
Generally, if you feed high-quality dry cat food with a better protein source, an indoor cat can consume 1/3 to 1/2 cup of meal daily. Therefore, the calorie count for a healthy cat should be 167-250.
Can A Pet Cat Eat Human Food?
Yes, cats can eat breakfast food but not all human food. We already talked about what human food groups cats eat or what human food is not in our discussion of What Do Cats Like To Eat For Breakfast.
Does A Cat Skip Eating Breakfast?
Yes, if you ignore the diet of your cat. Since indoor cats cannot eat while you’re not around, it’s best to feed them a healthy breakfast before you leave for work or school. Your adult cats can suffer from hyperacidity and nausea if you keep them hungry for more than 12 hours.
What Food Should I Give to Kittens?
Each kitten needs individual care and veterinary advice for the proper food needs. It should be excellent quality commercial kitten food for better growth and development.
For example, Wet cat foods and dry cat foods are the best food groups. Experts and Vets have strictly advised avoiding puppy food for your kitten as it will be deficient in taurine.
Final Words
I hope this article answers your question: what do cats like to eat for breakfast. We have also given you tips on ensuring your cat gets the nutrients they need and how often to feed them.
We make it easy for cat parents to feed their cats. There are a lot of different food groups available for cats as breakfast. They would be perfect for your pet cat as a fun morning activity.
Ensure you’re giving them the right amount of food and the proper nutrients. If you have any concerns about your cat’s diet routine, be sure to speak with your veterinarian. They can offer you tailored advice based on your cat’s health.
To know more about your feline companion’s health, keep reading our articles on myanimalzone.com. We’ll continue posting more content about cats, so stay tuned!
