Feeding my cat baby food

Can Cats Eat Baby Food? Best Baby Food for Cats

November 3, 2018July 25, 2019 Mallory Crusta5524 Views 3 Comments baby food for cats, best cat food, best food for cats, can cats eat baby food, cat food, food for sick cats, is baby food safe for cats

Last Updated on July 25, 2019

Simple meat-based baby food is an appetizing and easy-to-eat food for sick or elderly cats. In this article, we’ll talk about how baby food can be a great dietary supplement for some cats, which baby foods are best, and which types of baby food are never safe for your cat.

Again, it’s important to remember that just because meat-based baby food is safe for cats, it doesn’t mean that it’s a nutritionally complete meal for them. You should only give your cat baby food as a treat or supplement.

Simple meat-based baby food with no seasonings, onion, or garlic is safe for cats and can be used as a temporary meal replacement. Simple cooked, pureed meat is easy for your cat’s body to digest, easy for their mouths to handle, and is typically quite palatable. This makes it an ideal choice for cats who are feeling sickly or having a hard time eating.

Baby food can be a good supplemental food choice for:

Cats with a reduced appetite due to disease, including CKD, cancer, liver disease, and other problems
Cats with periodontal disease and a painful mouth
Cats who have had their teeth extracted and can no longer handle firm foods
Cats with temporary stomach sensitivities and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea
Ferals who need to be enticed into a trap or to come closer to people

If you recently had a baby, chances are you’re overwhelmed and sometimes forgetful, so it’s possible that you’ll forget to stock up on cat food. In this case, baby food might just be what you have around. Don’t feel like a bad cat guardian if you have to feed your cat baby food in a pinch!

Provided that you give your cat a meat-based recipe without any dangerous seasonings or additives, it’ll be a delicious and healthy treat.

While baby food is sometimes recommended for cats who need easy-to-eat nourishment, not all baby foods are equal. Just like adult food, some of it is safe for cats and some isn’t. You’ve got green bean baby food, pumpkin baby food, carrot baby food, chicken baby food, beef stroganoff baby food. And just as is the case with people food that isn’t pureed, not all of these varieties are appealing or nutritious for your cat.

The following types of baby food are safe for cats and can be a wholesome addition to the feline diet.

Beech-Nut Classics Stage 1 Meats include chicken in broth, turkey in broth, and beef in broth

. These recipes contain just meat and broth, so they’re entirely safe for your cat to consume. We like that they’re free from starch and therefore closer to your cat’s natural carnivorous needs.
One reviewer said the following about Beech-Nut Chicken & Broth:

“My senior cat had a period where he threw up all the time. We started giving him baby food and kitten milk to ease his upset stomach. The baby food is quite light and mild. Not stinky. Slightly oily, but not too bad! My cat really enjoyed the baby food. There are no unnecessary ingredients, just chicken and water!”

This product lineup includes ham, turkey, chicken, and beef recipes. They’re all made without any garlic, onions, or other seasonings. The simple recipes include just meat, water, and cornstarch.

While cornstarch isn’t ideal for cats, it can be an acceptable inclusion in their diet if the cat is sick or otherwise in desperate need of nourishment.
Even the first review on the Amazon listing for Gerber’s ham and gravy cat food says:

“All I can really say about this is my 35 pound, orange tabby kitty cat absolutely loves Gerber Baby Food Ham! I bought it for him for a treat once and he learned to audibly say the word “HAM” with that first meal. I’m a vegetarian and I don’t have children but I have a orange kitty that will tell you this is the best stuff he’s every eaten!”

Before you feed your cat baby food, read the ingredient list. Don’t give your kitty any food containing the following ingredients:

Onion
Garlic
Added sugars or sweeteners
Canola oil or other vegetable oils
Salt
Fruits of any type (except for the occasional pumpkin for gut motility)
Vegetables of any type
Dairy

This rules out simple fruity or veggie products like prune baby food, sweet potato baby food, and carrot baby food. It also means that you shouldn’t give your cat meal-style foods for older babies with flavors like beef stroganoff and chicken stew.

Your cat can eat baby food alone for about 2-3 days before you’ll need to start transitioning them back to a nutritionally complete and balanced raw, homemade, gently cooked, or canned diet.

Baby food is designed to nourish infant humans—omnivorous creatures who, unlike cats, can live without fresh raw meat, organs, and bones. Cats, however, require raw meat or a facsimile thereof.

It’s crucial to remember that baby food lacks taurine, an amino acid that cats can only get from supplements or raw meat.

As obligate carnivores, cats require certain vitamins and amino acids found only in fresh meat. One of these is taurine, which supports ocular health along with numerous other bodily functions. Cats who are deprived of taurine for any extended period of time will go blind and experience diminished digestion, heart function, and reproductive abilities.

If your cat is struggling to eat due to dental issues or needs an extra calorie boost, baby food isn’t your only option. Here are a few other types of foods that can help to keep your cat strong.

Kitten food is about twice as calorie-dense as a standard adult cat food. It’s usually extremely palatable and easy to eat, too—which helps your cat to get in all those beneficial calories. The kitten food we’ve found works best is Fancy Feast canned kitten food, but you’ll find many other formulas from a variety of companies. Just remember to look for canned or wet food. Hydration is always crucial, and a dry food won’t deliver the water your cat needs.

Fancy Feast Kitten food is a nutritious and easy-to-eat alternative to baby food.

Nutri-Cal is a high-calorie gel for cats who need a concentrated source of energy. It’s highly-palatable to encourage cats to eat it, though some may need to squirt it onto the feline’s gums or paw. It’s also a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.

Egg Yolks

Your cat may or may not be willing to eat egg yolks on their own, but if you’re able to get that tongue lapping, the addition of raw egg yolks to their bowl will add a lot of nutrition in a small package.

Boiled or Raw Chicken

You’ve probably heard the standard recommendation of boiled chicken and rice for cats with diarrhea and other digestive issues. Because cats are obligate carnivores with no physiological requirement for plants, we disagree with the inclusion of rice in this bland diet.

Boiled boneless chicken, however, does provide a gentle, palatable source of the nutrition your cat needs with few of the inflammatory ingredients that can make them feel worse.
If you’re willing to try out raw food for your cat, you may also consider feeding them raw chicken, with or without the bones intact. This is a nutrient-dense and extremely tasty form of species-appropriate nutrition. As explained in incredible detail on Raw Feeding for IBD Cats, raw food, as the ancestral feline diet, is potentially the only route for an IBD turnaround.

Can Cats Eat Baby Food? What You Need to Know

ExcitedCats is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Christian Adams

Last updated: Oct 28 2022

Vet approved

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Paola Cuevas

MVZ, Veterinarian

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

Your cat is your baby. But if you recently brought a human bundle of joy home, you may be tempted to share some nutritious baby food with your feline friend. But can your cat safely consume baby food? It depends. While cats can eat meat-based baby food, ones that contain veggies could be potentially harmful and even lethal.

Here’s everything you should consider before dishing out a bowl of baby food to your kitty.

Can Cats Eat Baby Food?

While cats are natural carnivores, even in the wild, they eat trace amounts of vegetables from the stomach contents of their prey to obtain essential vitamins. Also, eating whole prey with the bones contains minerals not found in the meat alone. Domesticated housecats acquire their daily dose of nutrients through their diet of commercial cat food.

While you can treat your cat to small portions of meat-based baby food every once in a while, it should never be used as a substitute for cat kibble. Baby food lacks enough taurine for cats, which will lead to malnutrition if cats are only fed baby food as their daily diet.

If you have a sick or senior cat that can’t comfortably consume regular cat food, you can feed her small helpings of meat-based baby food. However, wet cat food is always the healthier option.

Image Credit: MapleHorizons, Pixabay

Is Baby Food Bad for Cats?

Babies are extremely fragile little creatures. That’s why most baby foods are crafted with sensitive stomachs in mind. But just because a baby can safely eat baby food doesn’t mean you should be feeding it to your cat.

This is especially true if the baby food contains any onion or garlic powder, which is common with some brands. These two ingredients are extremely toxic to cats.

Never feed your cat baby food that contains:

Garlic
Onion
Salt
Veggies of any kind
Fruits of any kind (except for infrequent pumpkin as it promotes gut motility)
Added sweeteners or sugars
Dairy
Canola oil or vegetable oil

When looking for baby food to feed to your cat, always choose meat-based baby food with no seasonings. A teaspoon of turkey-, chicken-, or lamb-flavored baby food makes a tempting treat for kitties.

Our Favorite Product Right Now

Regardless of what your cat is eating you need a bowl that is sure to keep the mess contained— you can do just that with the Hepper Nom Nom Bowl.

Click to get yours!

When is It Okay to Feed a Cat Baby Food?

All-natural, meat-based baby food makes good supplemental food for cats if:

They suffer from a reduced appetite because of a disease, such as liver disease, CKD, and cancer
They’re elderly and have periodontal issues or a painful mouth
They’ve had their teeth extracted and can’t eat firm cat kibble
They have temporary digestive sensitivity
They’re feral cats that you want to entice into a humane trap

You can also offer healthy cats a small helping of meat-based baby food as the occasional treat. However, baby food should never make up a large portion of your kitty’s daily diet.

While sharing human food with your cat is not always safe, we have a solution that will keep you both smiling.

We've currently got a 33% discount to share on the HUMAN-GRADE premium cat food that ranked number #1 in our reviews! CLICK HERE & use code EXCITEDCATS2022 to SAVE 33% on Smalls cat food!

How Long Can a Cat Eat Baby Food?

A cat can consume baby food as its main meal for only about 2 to 3 days. After that, you’ll need to slowly start transitioning them back to normal cat kibble or wet cat food.

Baby food doesn’t contain taurine. This is a vital amino acid that cats can only get from commercial kibble, raw meat, supplements, or wet cat food.

Image Credit: aprilante, Shutterstock

Baby Food Alternatives for Cats

If you don’t want to feed your sick or elderly cat eating baby food, some good alternatives are:

Kitten food
Raw or boiled chicken
Egg yolks

Remember, these options should never replace your cat’s normal kibble or wet cat food.

You might also like: Can Cats Eat Chickpeas? What You Need To Know

The Bottom Line on Baby Food for Cats

A small helping of meat-based baby food that doesn’t contain any additives is perfectly okay to feed your cat. It may even be helpful for elderly or ill cats that can’t consume normal kibble.

Never feed your kitty baby food that contains garlic or onion; it can be fatal. Also, never use baby food as a substitute for your pet’s regular cat food for prolonged periods. However, your cat can enjoy a small spoonful of meat-based baby food! She’ll love the full flavor and yummy aroma!

Featured Image Credit: MapleHorizons, Pixabay

Contents Overview

Can Cats Eat Baby Food?
Is Baby Food Bad for Cats?
When is It Okay to Feed a Cat Baby Food?
How Long Can a Cat Eat Baby Food?
Baby Food Alternatives for Cats
The Bottom Line on Baby Food for Cats

Christian Adams

An American expat living in Metro Manila, Philippines for over a decade, Christian is a lifelong cat lover and the proud papa of two rescue cats, Trixie and Chloe. Both girls were formerly among the droves of strays that roam the cities and countryside. Three-year-old Trixie was pulled from a litter found under the porch of a neighbor’s house, while two-year-old Chloe was brought home by Christian’s young son, Henry, who found the kitten crying in the parking lot. As Editor in Chief of ExcitedCats.com, Christian is thrilled to be a part of the pro-feline movement.

Is it possible to feed a cat with baby food

16700 0

Contents

Feeding your cat should be treated responsibly, as your pet's health depends on it. The question of whether it is possible to feed a cat with baby food has a number of nuances that must be taken into account.

First of all, it is worth remembering that the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and cats have significant differences. For example, in the structure of the oral cavity, the length of the intestine and much more. Cats are carnivores, so their digestion is adapted primarily to digest meat food.

Can an adult cat be fed baby food?

Baby food may be given to adult animals, but not as permanent food. To maintain a high standard of living and health, a cat needs to receive a balanced diet. At the same time, purees intended for children cannot fully meet this requirement, therefore, it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian-nutritionist in advance so that he draws up a rough plan on how and what to feed the cat, what vitamins to add if necessary.

However, in some cases, softened food is a direct indication for feeding. For example:

for diseases of the oral cavity. Such as stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontal disease and others;
lack of appetite. For example, canned food can often be more appealing to animals;
the absence of teeth in elderly animals or in cases where teeth have been removed for indications;
during illness. Namely, if the animal needs softer and easily digestible food.

There are many canned foods on the market today, designed specifically for cats (including those with special needs). Therefore, each owner can choose the right diet for his pet without resorting to baby food.

How to give?

Meat should be the main ingredient in a cat's diet. However, it is wrong to give only mashed meats. The pet must receive a source of fiber. It can be vegetables, or vegetable purees intended for children. The ratio of components suitable for the pet will help you choose a veterinarian, taking into account the physiological data of the cat. But as a rule, the plant part of the diet does not exceed 15%.

It is better to choose one brand of baby food and give it only. It is necessary to accustom a cat from a small portion, gradually increasing it to the necessary one.

Cats need cereals in individual cases and are prescribed in small quantities as an addition to the main diet. Baby cereals containing sugar, salt, milk or flavorings are not suitable for pet food.

Situations when you should not give a cat food intended for children

In some cases, food may not be suitable for a pet. How to understand it:

after feeding, the animal has digestive disorders. For example, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting, soreness in the abdominal wall;
allergic reaction to food components - redness of the ears, itching, rashes.

Can kittens be given baby food?

When it comes to newborn kittens. If for some reason a cat cannot feed them, then it is impossible to replace cat's milk with a human mixture. This can lead to serious consequences, up to the death of the offspring. Infant milk formulas are adapted to the gastrointestinal tract of infants. In addition, in their composition they may contain many components that are not absorbed by the body of a small cat.

What is important:

on the first day of life, the kitten must receive colostrum;
if, for some reason, the cat is unable to feed offspring, it is advisable, if possible, to attach the kittens to another lactating cat;
if natural feeding is not possible, the offspring are transferred to artificial. The mixture should be intended strictly for kittens. For example, milk formula brands Beaphar, Royal canin, Gimpet, Hartz and others.

For older kittens who have already switched to adult food, baby food in the diet is acceptable. In the event that it is not possible to give specially designed feed or natural food products. However, it is not recommended to constantly feed baby canned food.

What to look for when choosing baby food for a cat

It is believed that products intended for children are the most environmentally friendly and do not contain spices. This is not always the case, so when choosing baby food for a cat, it should not contain:

salt;
sugar;
onion or garlic;
dyes;
preservatives;
soybeans;
lactose.

The product must have optimal shelf life and be stored under appropriate conditions.

It is acceptable to give baby food to cats and older kittens if for some reason it is not possible to choose a diet that is specifically designed for the animal. It is not recommended to give such products on an ongoing basis.

Is it possible to give a kitten baby food?

Home / Nutrition / Can cats eat baby food?

06/03/2021 owner reviews 1,163 views

Here you will find the best information about cat food. And answer your most pressing question; can cats eat baby food? Yes, but it's not what you think!

Whereas baby food may be an additional choice for some cats. You must be especially careful with baby food. Not all ingredients in different brands of baby food are the same. And in order to know what your cat is eating, it's helpful to know if it's safe or not.

So if you want to change your cat's diet to something more familiar. Like healthy baby food packed with essential nutrients. Then you need to read what's next.

Contents

What's in baby food?
Can cats eat baby food?
What to keep away from cats?
Final thoughts

What's in baby food?

The latest baby food contains no toxic ingredients or chemicals. They are healthy, safe and nutritious. So it's safe to say that cats can eat baby food without even worrying about it. But at the same time, human food, which includes cat food, should not exceed 15% of the cat's diet.

Choose baby food without the following 4 ingredients:

Arsenic : Arsenic was most commonly found in baby cereal. And now, according to the American Cancer Society, it's a common carcinogen. This can lead to inflammation, indigestion, and other problems. Even most babies are sensitive to this ingredient. So keeping it out of your cat's digestion is the number one priority.
Pesticides : Pesticides are found in baby food as a result of food processing. Harmful pesticides are used in crop production to improve taste and growth. This causes a lot of inflammatory processes in babies. And it can also interfere with the development of the brain and nerves of the child. You can expect the same exposure to pesticides in kittens. Perhaps even worse because cats are more sensitive to food.
GMOs : GMOs are genetically modified organisms. These are living organisms that have been discovered and modified through genetic engineering. A GMO product is made up of animal, viral, and plant bacteria fused together. GMO baby food has been quite popular. The best alternative to GMO foods are organic or non-GMO foods. This baby food does not contain corn and soy. They can upset the stomach and cause gas, constipation, or acidity.
Sugar : Too much sugar in cats can cause stomach upset. And there are certain types of baby food that are high in sugar. Sugar improves the taste so that the child does not refuse it. In cats, it can contribute to diabetes, thyroid disease, obesity, and heart disease. Another important ingredient to avoid is trans fats. Trans fats are added to baby food to increase its shelf life. And it makes products more accessible for bulk purchases.

Can cats eat baby food?

The variety of healthy baby food on the market is amazing. But is all baby food healthy to eat? Let's find out.

It's nice to have a new pet at home. Especially if it's a cat. And you have to be careful about the type and amount of food you feed your new cat. It's only natural for your cat to get sick due to food and water changes.

Most baby foods contain meat, which can be tempting to a cat. Baby food is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other trace elements. They are easier to digest and fight inflammation and infection in the body.

However, one nutrient not found in infant formula is taurine. And it's one of the nutrients that cats don't produce on their own like humans do. Affects the skin, coat, heart and reproductive organs of the cat. So be sure to monitor your cat's taurine intake to avoid deficiency.

This suggests that cat food is the best thing to feed your cat. However, baby food is the ideal choice recommended by doctors when:

Your cat has an appetite problem.
Your cat has difficulty chewing the pieces because of a painful jaw.
Your cat is missing teeth due to tooth extraction due to fungus or other problems.
Your cat is sensitive to fish in cat food.
Your cat vomits regularly or has diarrhea.

What to keep away from cats?

Baby food with the following ingredients is harmful to cats. Under no circumstances should cats eat these foods. These ingredients may be present in some types of baby food.

Onion : Onion contains ingredients that are toxic to cats. This can cause blood damage and blood clots.
Garlic : Like onions, garlic is harmful to cats. It causes anemia, indigestion and limits normal metabolic activity.
Raw eggs : protein is good for cats, but raw eggs are prone to parasites. This can cause pancreatic disease and infection.
Milk : Some cats are lactose intolerant and cannot digest milk. If your cat is vomiting or gasping after eating dairy, you may want to opt for a soy alternative.

Final thoughts

We all know that cats can be picky eaters. So it's best to try several options. You never know when you'll hit the spot!

Cats easily adapt to feeding. You can offer them a variety of dishes. And when your cat gets sick, the first thing to do is change her diet. It reduces signs of infection, indigestion and other symptoms.

It is strictly forbidden for cats to consume sugar, trans fats or salt. And there are many types of baby food that do not contain such a mixture. So, to properly answer your question; can cats eat baby food?

You can successfully feed your cat baby food, but only after reading this article. But if you notice a dramatic change in the behavior of the cat. Or, if your cat is eating something they shouldn't be eating, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.