Rice is found in many pantries around the world, but should this staple grain be a staple in your cat’s diet?

We’ve boiled down the basics.

Can cats eat rice?

The long and short of it, is yes. Plain, cooked rice is not toxic to cats and may be found in existing cat food recipes.

Is rice good for cats?

Despite some common misconceptions about a cat’s ability to process carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables; cats can digest cooked rice. Rice, particularly wholegrain brown rice, is packed full of good nutrients. Some complete and balanced cat foods, like The Nosh Project Daily Diets for Cats and Kittens, use rice in their formulations to supply key   and micro-nutrients to their diet.

However, long-term addition of extra rice to your cat’s food, or feeding a diet of only or majority rice is not recommended, as the lack of balance would lead to nutritional deficiencies. Enter The Nosh Project; meals purposely developed to bring balance to bowls with a mix of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.

What types of rice can cats eat?

Rice included in cats’ diets is always cooked and plain. That means they do not contain any 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 like onion or garlic.

Cooked white rice is safe for cats to eat in small amounts as long as there are no additives, like sauces or spices, which may be toxic for cats.

Can cats eat brown rice?

Cats can eat cooked plain brown rice. Like white rice, it should be cooked plainly with no flavour additives like sauces or spices.

Can cats eat microwave rice?

It is not recommended to feed your cat microwavable rice. While instant, or microwavable rice, offers convenience, it could be harmful to your cat dependent on added ingredients.

Can cats eat uncooked rice?

It is definitely not recommended to feed to your cat uncooked rice. Not only is it unpalatable and very hard, but cats cannot digest uncooked rice. And, worse still, uncooked ricear contains a protein called lectin which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in cats if large quantities are consumed.

Can cats eat food made from rice?

Some human snacks, desserts, and ingredients are made from rice and rice by-products. It is not recommended to feed any of these products to cats as a snack, but if they do end up getting to a small amount, the list below explains which ones are concerning.

Can cats eat rice cakes?

Plain, unsalted rice cakes are not toxic to cats. Flavoured versions are best avoided as they can contain toxic ingredients like garlic or onion powder or be very high in salt.

Can cats eat Rice Bubbles and other puffed-rice cereals?

Plain, puffed rice cereal is not toxic to cats, though it is best avoided as they may contain added sugars. Some puffed rice cereals will also contain other toxic ingredients like cocoa powder or chocolate.

Can cats eat rice pudding?

Cats should not eat rice pudding. This dessert often uses milk, which can lead to stomach upsets as cats are lactose intolerant, and may include additional ingredients like raisins which are toxic to cats.

Can cats eat rice noodles?

Plain, cooked rice noodles are not toxic to cats.

Can cats eat rice paper?

Rice paper is not toxic to cats.

Can cats eat rice flour?

Cooked rice flour is not toxic to cats. Raw flour of any kind should be avoided as it can cause serious gastrointestinal issues in cats.

Can cats eat rice bran?

No, cats should not consume rice bran. There is at least one specific scientific study that suggests diets containing rice bran reduce the amount of taurine in the blood in cats, due to gastrointestinal taurine losses.

Can cats eat rice chips or rice crackers?

Keep rice chips and rice crackers away from your cat. These are often high in fats and covered in salt or other flavourings that are bad, or even toxic, for cats.

Can cats have rice milk?

Rice milk is not toxic to cats, but there is no real benefit to giving it to your cat. Added ingredients like salt and sugar can cause health issues.

Can cats have rice syrup?

Rice syrup is an artificial sweetener that is not toxic to cats, but also not recommended for them as it is high in sugars.

Can cats have rice vinegar?

Rice vinegar is not necessarily toxic in small amounts but can be highly acidic and is not recommended for cats.

Other frequently asked questions about cats eating rice

Can rice cause allergies in cats?

Potentially, but grain allergies are rare in cats.  If you are concerned your cat may have an allergy to rice or other food, take them to your vet.

Can I feed my cat only chicken and rice every day?

If you are thinking of feeding this because your cat is experiencing a stomach upset, talk to your veterinarian about diets they’d recommend for your cat.

Is rice better than pasta for cats?

Rice and pasta are both good sources of carbohydrates and other nutrients, best fed as part of a complete and balanced diet.