Can Cats Eat Cheese?

Conditional: Small amounts of certain cheeses can be an occasional treat, but most adult cats are lactose intolerant and cheese is high in fat and salt.

Conditional: Cats can eat small amounts of certain cheeses occasionally, but most adult cats are lactose intolerant and cheese should be given sparingly and only as an occasional treat.

Quick Safety Summary

- Most adult cats are lactose intolerant; dairy can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and gas. (Merck Vet Manual, AVMA)

- Small pieces of low‑lactose, aged hard cheeses (cheddar, Parmesan) are less likely to upset a cat than soft, fresh cheeses or cottage cheese.

- Cheese is high in fat and sodium; frequent or large servings can cause obesity and pancreatitis.

- Avoid cheeses containing toxic ingredients (onion, garlic, chives, xylitol) and moldy cheeses — call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426‑4435 in an emergency.

Short answer

Cheese is a conditional treat for cats. It is not inherently toxic to most cats, but it is not nutritionally necessary and can cause digestive upset because many adult cats have reduced lactase activity (lactose intolerance). If you choose to give cheese, select low‑lactose, lower‑fat varieties in very small amounts and limit frequency.

Why many cats can't tolerate cheese: lactose intolerance explained

• Kittens produce the enzyme lactase to digest their mother's milk. Many cats lose much of this enzyme after weaning.
• As a result, a majority of adult cats show decreased lactase activity and can develop lactose intolerance when fed milk or significant dairy. Clinical signs include diarrhea, soft stools, flatulence and vomiting after dairy ingestion (Merck Veterinary Manual, AVMA).
• Prevalence: precise numbers vary, but veterinary sources agree that lactose intolerance is common among adult cats — more than half will have some degree of intolerance.

Nutritional and toxicology specifics (numbers you can use)

Below are typical nutrition values (approximate; USDA FoodData Central values vary by brand and variety):

• Cheddar cheese (1 oz / 28 g): ~114 kcal, fat 9–10 g (saturated ~6 g), protein 6–7 g, carbohydrates ~0.4 g, sodium ~170–180 mg.
• Parmesan (1 tbsp grated / ~5 g): ~21 kcal, fat 1.4 g, protein 1.9 g, very low lactose (typically <0.1–0.5 g per serving).
• Cottage cheese (1/4 cup / ~56 g): ~50–100 kcal depending on fat level, lactose higher than aged cheeses (can be several grams per serving), sodium variable and often high.

• Fat: High fat meals can precipitate pancreatitis in susceptible animals. Even one fatty meal can trigger signs in at‑risk pets.
• Sodium: Cats are sensitive to excess salt; high sodium can be problematic especially for cats with heart or kidney disease.
• Lactose: The carbohydrate in milk/dairy leads to osmotic diarrhea when lactase is absent or low.

• Flavored cheeses may contain onion, garlic, chives or other Allium species which are toxic to cats and cause oxidative damage and anemia. Avoid any cheese with these seasonings.
• Xylitol (a sweetener) is highly toxic to dogs and, while rare in cheese, any product containing xylitol should never be given to pets.
• Moldy or strongly aged blue cheeses are best avoided; some Penicillium molds can produce mycotoxins (e.g., roquefortine) that have caused neurological and gastrointestinal signs in pets. If you suspect ingestion of moldy cheese, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control immediately.

Which cheeses are safer for cats?

• Better choices (lower lactose, generally lower chance of digestive upset):

• Cheeses to use with caution or avoid:

Recommended serving sizes and frequency (by cat weight)

General rules:

• Treats should be <10% of daily calories. An average indoor adult cat (~4–5 kg / 9–11 lb) needs ~180–250 kcal/day depending on activity and body condition. A 1‑gram cube of cheddar contains roughly 4 kcal.
• Start very small and watch for GI upset. If loose stool or vomiting occurs within 24 hours, stop giving cheese.

• Cat ≤4 kg (≤9 lb): 1/4 teaspoon (≈1 g) of a hard cheese, once every few days at most.
• Cat 4–6 kg (9–13 lb): 1/2 teaspoon (≈2–3 g) of a hard cheese, once every few days.
• Cat >6 kg (>13 lb): Up to 1 teaspoon (≈3–5 g) of a hard cheese, occasionally.

Cheese to hide pills: tips and cautions

Pros:

• Cheese is palatable and often entices picky cats to accept medications.
• Aged hard cheeses have low lactose and firm texture that can hold a small pill.

• Fat content can alter drug absorption for some medications; ask your veterinarian if the specific drug is affected by a fatty snack.
• Cheese can mask the taste but some cats will eat the cheese and spit out the pill. Watch the cat eat and confirm the pill was swallowed.
• For cats with pancreatitis, obesity, or chronic kidney disease, hiding pills in high‑fat or high‑sodium cheese is not recommended.

• Use a very small amount of a low‑lactose aged cheese or a commercial pill pocket specially formulated for cats. Confirm swallowing, or follow with a small water flush if your cat will accept it.
• If you have difficulty, ask your veterinarian about compounding medications into a flavored liquid or transdermal gel.

When not to give cheese

• Any cat with chronic gastrointestinal disease, pancreatitis, obesity, heart or kidney disease should not receive cheese without veterinary approval.
• If your cat has had a recent episode of diarrhea/vomiting after dairy, avoid cheese permanently.
• Do not give cheese containing onion, garlic, chives, xylitol, or unknown additives.

Emergency steps if your cat eats a toxic cheese or a cheese containing harmful ingredients

Bottom line

Cheese is not a necessary part of a cat's diet. Small amounts of certain low‑lactose, aged hard cheeses can be used occasionally as a high‑value treat or to hide medication, but because many adult cats are lactose intolerant and because cheese is high in fat and sodium, it should be offered very sparingly and never to cats with certain health conditions.

Key Takeaways

• Conditional: small, infrequent servings of low‑lactose aged cheeses are usually safe for most adult cats, but most adult cats are lactose intolerant and any dairy can cause GI upset.
• Avoid flavored, moldy or soft high‑lactose cheeses and any products containing onion, garlic, xylitol, or other additives.
• Keep cheese treats tiny (1–5 g depending on cat size) and under 10% of daily calories; prioritize vet‑approved methods for medication administration.
• For suspicious or toxic ingestions, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426‑4435 immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions