Why
Small amounts of cheese may be tolerated by some cats. Many adult cats are lactose intolerant and can get gas, diarrhea or vomiting, and dairy adds nothing a balanced cat food doesn't already provide.
How to serve cheese
- If you offer it, use a pea-sized piece of hard cheese.
- Try once and watch for stomach upset.
Watch out for
- Skip it for cats with sensitive stomachs.
- Cheese is high in fat and salt.
How much cheese can a cat eat?
Treats of every kind should stay under 10% of a cat's daily calories. Here is that daily treat budget by size, and how much cheese it buys if cheese is the only treat that day. Cheese has about 254 kcal per 100 g; 1 oz (28.4 g) is about 72 kcal.
| Cat size | Daily treat budget | Max cheese a day |
|---|---|---|
| Small cat (6 lb) | 18 kcal | 7 g (a quarter of oz) |
| Average cat (10 lb) | 26 kcal | 10 g (a third of oz) |
| Large cat (14 lb) | 34 kcal | 13 g (half of oz) |
Less is better for overweight or diabetic cats. Work out your own cat's numbers with the cat food calculator. Calories: USDA FoodData Central, Cheese, mozzarella, part skim milk.
Other dairy: quick answers
| Food | Verdict | Short answer |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | Avoid | Best avoided. Many adult cats are lactose intolerant, and cow's milk can cause vomiting and diarrhea. |
| Yogurt | Small amounts | Plain yogurt in a very small amount may be tolerated by some cats. |
Rules for any new food
- Plain is the rule: no salt, butter, oil, onion, garlic, sugar or sweeteners. Most of the danger in human food comes from what is added to it.
- Keep all treats under 10% of your cat's daily calories . The rest should come from a complete cat food.
- Check labels for onion and garlic powder, which turn up in stock, gravy, baby food and seasoned meat.
- If your cat has a health condition, such as diabetes, kidney disease or a sensitive stomach, ask your vet before adding any new food.
Frequently asked questions
Is cheese safe for cats?
A tiny piece is tolerated by some cats, but most adult cats are lactose intolerant.
How much cheese can a cat have?
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of a cat's daily calories. For an average 10 lb neutered cat that is about 26 kcal a day, or roughly 10 g of cheese if it is the only treat that day.
Sources
- Embrace Pet Insurance, "7 Foods You Can Share With Your Cat" (Chyrle Bonk, DVM, updated Apr 10, 2025)
- PetMD, "Human Foods That Are Dangerous for Cats" (reviewed by Nicole Silva, DVM)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control, "People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets"
- Pet Nutrition Alliance, "Calculating Calories Based on Pet Needs"
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (April 2018 release)
Checked October 17, 2026. We are a reference, not a vet: if in doubt, call yours. How we check.