Can Cats Eat Carrots?

Updated on July 18, 2024
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team
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Can cats eat carrots? Safety for cats

Yes, cats can eat carrots if they are prepared properly. They should be washed, peeled, cooked plainly (by steaming, boiling or baking) without oils or seasonings and cut into small pieces or mashed. As no part of a carrot contains chemicals or proteins that are toxic to felines, carrots are a safe treat to give your cat in small amounts. Carrots should be considered a treat that shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your kitty’s daily caloric intake, and you should always consult your veterinarian before feeding your pets new foods.

Health Benefits of Carrots for Cats

Many feline pet parents wonder, “can cats eat carrots?” And the answer is yes. Even though carrots lack protein, they have some potential health benefits for cats:

  • Excellent source of vitamins K and E
  • Excellent source of manganese
  • Excellent source of potassium, phosphorus and magnesium
  • Provides your cat with a healthy amount of dietary fiber

Carrots are loaded with vitamins, magnesium and many other nutritious things and supply them with plenty of fiber. The reason carrots are orange is because of an antioxidant called beta-carotene that converts into vitamin A—a very healthy supplement for cats.

How to Feed Carrots to Your Cat

When fed appropriately, carrots can be tasty, natural snacks for cats. Always wash the carrots thoroughly and peel them before cooking them—boiled, steamed or baked—to a soft and chewy texture. Raw carrots that are hard to chew can become a choking hazard to your feline.

As long as you don’t add any seasoning or cook them with other ingredients, small portions of bite-size, cooked carrots can be a wonderful, occasional treat for your pet.

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You can find out more about other cat food information at Petco’s food and nutrition hub and pet resource center pages.

FAQs About Feeding Your Cat Carrots

Yes, your cat can eat carrots as long as they are cooked to a soft texture and without any added seasonings. Raw carrots or carrots cooked with added flavoring can cause digestive issues. If you’re looking for ideas on what to feed your cat, we have some of the best cat food for indoor catsbest cat food for indoor cats. If you’re still unsure about how to choose your cat’s food, check out our article about How to Choose A Quality Cat FoodHow to Choose A Quality Cat Food.

Yes, your cat can eat certain vegetables. In this article, we’ve covered that your cat can eat cooked, unseasoned carrots, but there are plenty of other veggies that your cat can snack on. Some vegetables your cat can safely eat include peas, green beans, lettuce, pumpkin and more. Just remember that vegetables shouldn’t be a major part of your cat’s diet because of their need for high amounts of protein. However, some vegetables your cat should not eat and some that are actually toxic for your feline. Some of the vegetables your cat needs to avoid include onions, garlic, leeks, chives and others.

No, you should not feed your pet feline raw carrots. Raw carrots can cause digestive issues, and they can also be choking hazards.

Artificially flavored juices are not healthy for your cat, and some of the potential additives and preservatives can be toxic. While naturally pressed carrot juice is very healthy for humans, it serves no health purpose to cats and should not be given to yours.

A small amount of cooked carrots won’t cause your little kitten any harm, but the best thing for your kitten is to feed them specialized kitten food until they are mature. As always, consult your veterinarian about any health and dietary questions you have about your new kitten. Also, young kittens tend to be much more sensitive to new foods and changes in diets than adult cats.

Every cat is different. What the neighbor’s cat likes may not be what your cat likes and that applies to carrots too. Some cats will take to carrots, and some won’t.

Because cats are natural carnivores, vegetables are not necessary for their regular diet. They require a host of certain nutrients that can only be found in meat, like amino-acid taurine. If your cat lacks this nutrient, it can lead to blindness and heart failure in extreme cases. Small amounts of vegetables every now and then won’t cause any harm to your kitty, but they should never be used as a primary substitute in their meals.

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