The Human Equivalent of Feeding Your Cat Snacks

You hear a mew from under your feet and there sits your kitty cat waiting for you to toss her a morsel. In your hand is a piece of cheese so you give her a taste. You rationalize that she deserves it because she’s so good to you. No harm done, right, it’s only a small piece of cheese?

In fact, given the size difference of humans and cats, a small portion of something for us can almost constitute a meal for your cat. Our cats need remarkably few calories compared to our needs and a treat translator can be helpful. Read on to see what different snacks mean in human terms when you feed them to your cat.

(WARNING: Consult your vet before providing any "human food" as some may be dangerous for cats.)

1. 1 oz piece of cheddar cheese
One small piece of cheese for a 10-lb. cat is the caloric equivalent of two and a half hamburgers for a person. For a human, that’s around 750 calories!

2. 1 Potato Chip
One potato chip for a 10-lb. cat is the caloric equivalent of 1/2 a hamburger for a person. That one potato chip may not look like much but it has around 150 calories! “I think people get gratification out of their cat eating and being happy about it, but they don’t think about the long-term consequences,” says Dr. James Darden, DVM, chief of staff at Banfield Pet Hospital, East Houston, Texas.

Instead, resist those sad meows and big kitty eyes and consider rewarding her with a high quality, low calorie cat treat. Remember, it’s important to feed treats as a snack --- they should not be more than 10% of your cat’s daily nutrition --- and make them a part of a healthy routine.