Carrots are a superfood for herbivores and omnivores. Raw or cooked, they are full of nutrients, but are carrots good for cats? We’ve peeled back the raw truth.

Can cats eat carrots?

Yes, cats can safely consume carrots. Unlike some other fruits and vegetables, carrots aren’t toxic and can be used as a healthy ingredient in a complete and balanced diet.

Are carrots good for cats?

Many people believe that, as obligate carnivores , cats are incapable of digesting anything but meat. While it is true meat needs to be part of their diet, they can and do digest fruits, vegetables, and carbohydrates as well.

Carrots contain many beneficial nutrients including fibre, they are rich in Vitamins C, K and B, which all provide important health benefits. This superfood may be used as an ingredient in a complete and balanced cat food like The Nosh Project Cat and Kitten Daily Diets.

While it is a healthy ingredient added to some cat foods, cats can’t subsist solely on carrot and if fed too much or in too larger pieces it can cause gastrointestinal upset. If you’re ever unsure whether carrot is good for your cat, ask your veterinarian for advice.

If your cat likes the taste of carrot and you want to give them a small amount to eat as an occasional treat, only serve carrot plain. That means skipping butter, sauces or seasonings like salt and spices that we tend to use when cooking for humans. These can cause gastrointestinal upset or contain more harmful ingredients that are toxic to cats.

Frequently asked questions about cats eating carrots

Can cats eat cooked carrot?

Plain cooked carrot, whether that’s steaming, boiling, blanching or roasting, is the best way to prepare this crunchy vegetable for your cat. By softening the consistency, it becomes much more digestible. Do not feed carrots that have been coated with sauces, seasonings, and other flavour enhances that may be toxic to cats.

Can cats eat raw carrot?

Yes, raw carrot is safe for cats to eat, but the hard, crunchy texture is harsher on digestion. So, if it’s raw, be sure to keep pieces small. Cooking it and feeding in small portion sizes is best. Large pieces, especially raw, can be a choking hazard or cause intestinal obstruction.

Can cats eat carrots every day?

Cats can eat a small amount of carrot every day if it is an ingredient in their commercial cat food, as part of a complete and balanced diet. If you want to feed your cat a small amount of cooked, plain carrot as a treat, because they like it, this should only be fed as an occasional treat.

Carrots are not suitable as the only food given to a cat every day.

Do cats react to carrots?

It is rare for cats to develop food allergies to fruits and vegetables. If you are concerned your cat may have a food allergy, take them to your vet.

Are carrots hard for cats to digest?

Raw carrots can be harder to digest than cooked carrots, but cats can digest carrots.

Why put carrots in cat food?

Carrots are superfoods, packed full of nutrients that other ingredients in the cat food recipe may not provide in sufficient quantities. Adding carrots may help make that specific recipe nutritionally complete and balanced for cats.

Can carrots help with cat hairballs?

Carrots are high in fibre, which helps promote regular healthy bowel movements. A high fibre diet may help reduce hairballs in cats, as it encourages the movement of hair through and out of the digestive tract.

If your cat is having problems with excessive hairballs, consult your veterinarian for advice.