Can Cats Eat Rice?

Yes, cats can eat a small amount of plain, fully cooked rice. It is not poisonous. But cats are meat eaters and do not need rice, so treat it as an extra, never a meal. Seasoned rice and rice dishes with onion or garlic are not okay.

Is rice safe for cats?

Plain cooked rice is a food cats can handle. The Merck Veterinary Manual says properly cooked starches are digested with better than 90% efficiency by cats and dogs. A peer-reviewed review of cat nutrition reached a similar view: cats can digest starch well when it is cooked.

Rice does not add much that your cat needs, though. Cornell’s Feline Health Center explains that cats are obligate carnivores. That means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. A cat’s main food should be a complete cat food, not rice.

How much rice can a cat eat?

None of the sources we read give an exact amount of rice for cats, so we will not make one up. Keep it to a small spoonful at most, once in a while. Cornell says treats should be no more than 10 to 15 percent of a cat’s daily calories, and rice counts toward that.

Is rice a cause of weight gain or diabetes? The evidence is unclear. The review says carbohydrates do not look like the biggest cause of obesity in cats. Eating too many calories of any kind is the bigger worry. The same review says obese cats are up to four times more likely to get diabetes.

How to serve rice to a cat

• Cook it fully. The review says cooking is needed for cats to digest starch well.
• Serve it plain: no salt, butter, oil, sauce, onion, or garlic.
• Let it cool first.
• Offer only a small amount, and see how your cat’s stomach reacts.

Other kinds of rice

Is white rice okay for cats?

Yes, a little, if it is plain and fully cooked. It is the simplest form of rice. The same limits apply: it is a small extra, not a meal.

Is brown rice okay for cats?

Yes, a little, if it is plain and fully cooked. Brown rice has more fiber. The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats do not need fiber. Some can be helpful, but too much can get in the way of absorbing nutrients. We found no source that says brown rice is better for cats, so white or brown is fine in tiny amounts.

Is cooked rice better than raw rice?

Yes. Cooked rice is the only kind to offer. The review says proper cooking is needed for cats to digest starch well. Uncooked rice is hard to digest, and we do not recommend it.

Can cats eat chicken and rice?

A little plain, cooked chicken and plain, cooked rice will not poison your cat. But do not use chicken and rice as your cat’s regular food. Cornell and the Merck Veterinary Manual both warn that homemade diets often miss key nutrients, including taurine, an amino acid cats must get from animal foods.

You may hear that chicken and rice helps an upset stomach. The sources we read do not set out that plan for cats. Merck notes that some cats with colitis, an inflamed large bowel, respond to special diets such as lamb and rice. Those diets come from a vet. If your cat has vomiting or diarrhea, call your vet before changing food.

When should you call the vet?

Cornell says a cat that vomits more than once a week should be checked. Go sooner if your cat is tired or weak, eats less, drinks more, has blood in vomit, or has diarrhea. Merck says vets may ask owners to pause food for a day or two for some bowel problems, so do not guess at this on your own.

Better treats for cats

Cats do best on complete, balanced cat food. Merck recommends well-known commercial brands and advises against table scraps. If you want to give something extra, ask your vet about cat treats or small bits of plain cooked meat. See our guides on whether cats can eat eggs and foods that are toxic to cats.