Can Cats Eat Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, most cats can have a small bite of plain, cooked sweet potato once in a while. Cats do not need it, because they get what they need from animal foods. The risks come from how it is served: raw, seasoned, or in a big portion.

Is sweet potato safe for cats?

None of the veterinary sources I read list sweet potato as poisonous to cats. The ASPCA does list sweet potato vine, the plant, as non-toxic to cats. I did not find a veterinary source that gives an exact safe amount of sweet potato for cats, so treat it as a rare, tiny treat.

Cats are “obligate carnivores,” says Cornell’s Feline Health Center. That means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Their natural food is high in protein, has a moderate amount of fat, and has very little starch.

Why cats do not need sweet potato

Sweet potato is mostly starch, a type of carbohydrate. A review in a scientific journal reports that wild cats get only about 2% of their energy from carbohydrates. Cats can still digest starch that has been cooked well. The same review says digestion ranges from 40% to 100%, depending on the food and how it was prepared.

The Merck Veterinary Manual agrees that cats digest cooked starch very well. Merck also says cats need things that plants do not give them, including vitamin A, arachidonic acid, and taurine. So sweet potato is a snack, not nutrition your cat is missing.

How do I serve sweet potato to my cat?

• Cook it. Bake, steam, or boil it until it is soft.
• Leave it plain. Skip butter, oil, salt, sugar, and spices.
• Mash it or cut it into tiny pieces.
• Start with a bite. Watch for vomiting or diarrhea. If either happens, stop and call your vet if it does not clear up.

Treats should be no more than 10 to 15 percent of your cat’s daily calories, according to Cornell. A bite or two is far below that. Cornell also says obesity is the most common nutrition problem in cats, and it can raise the chance of arthritis and diabetes. If your cat is overweight or has health problems, ask your vet first.

Other kinds of sweet potato

Can cats eat raw sweet potato?

Skip raw. I did not find a veterinary source that talks about raw sweet potato for cats. The sources I read say cats digest cooked starch well, and the review says starch is usually cooked to help digestion. Cooked and cooled is the safer choice.

Can cats eat sweet potato fries, casserole, or pie?

No. These usually have extra ingredients. The ASPCA says onion and garlic can damage red blood cells and cause anemia, which means too few red blood cells. It also says too much salt can cause extreme thirst and peeing, and fatty foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes pancreatitis, a painful swelling of the pancreas.

What about sweet potato vines and leaves?

The ASPCA lists sweet potato vine as non-toxic to cats. A cat that nibbles the leaves should not be poisoned by the plant. The ASPCA page does not cover sprays or fertilizer, so call a vet if the plant was treated.

What if my cat ate a lot of sweet potato?

Plain cooked sweet potato is not known to be poisonous, but a big serving can upset your cat’s stomach. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or not wanting to eat. Call your vet if signs last or your cat seems unwell.

Other treats to try

A cat’s regular “complete” cat food should be most of what it eats. Another plain, cooked treat is egg, which we cover in can cats eat eggs. For foods to keep away from your cat, see our list of foods that are toxic to cats.