What Human Foods Can Bengal Cats Eat?

So:

Your child shared his fruit candy with your precious Bengal cat, and the kitty got an upset stomach?

Here’s the thing:

Bengal cats cannot eat all human food.

What human food can Bengal cats eat? They can eat cooked meat, canned veggies (only a few), fried chicken, and a very tiny amount of fruits. Bengal cats cannot eat everything we eat. There are certain limitations in their eating habits.

I’d highly advise you to read on so you can learn about what exactly your Bengal cat can eat and how much of it is healthy.

Dietary Needs of Your Bengal Cat

Before digging deep into what Bengal cats can eat and what not, it is obligatory to identify their needs first.

As Bengal cats are descendants of wild leopard cats, meat is their utmost necessity.

Asian leopard cats (predecessors of Bengal tabbies) ate lizards, mice, birds, insects, etc.

But, as pet cats cannot go out and hunt for themselves, therefore, it is obligatory for you to provide them with enough meat.

You cannot replace meat with anything else.

Bengal cats are obligatory carnivores which means they cannot eat veggies.

And even if they do, they can’t digest them well.

To stay healthy and fit, your Bengal cat’s diet must contain enough proteins.

And there is no better source of protein than meat.

Well:

You must’ve heard that lentils are a good source of protein.

But can you imagine a kitty eating lentil soup? I’m sure that’s very unnatural for a cat.

So, long story short, Bengal cats need lots of meat to be healthy and active.

But:

Meat isn’t the only thing they need.

Keep reading this article to understand what else Bengal cats need.

Human Food That Bengal Cats Can Eat

I think it is high time we should debunk the myth that cats only eat mice.

There are a lot of things they can eat (in fact they love to eat).

Here’s a list of food items that Bengal cats love:

1. Fried chicken

Does it sound crazy?

Believe me; it’s not.

Bengal cats love fried chicken, and they easily digest it.

Although:

Most people say that it is good to give raw chicken to your Bengal cat, but there’s nothing wrong in experimenting with your cat’s food.

A friend of mine told me that her Bengal cat stole a piece of fried chicken from her plate when she wasn’t paying attention.

Such a little thief.

So:

Next time when you make or order fried chicken for yourself, don’t forget your young Bengal kitty.

2. Cooked meat

As a common practice, people prefer to serve their pet Bengal cats with raw meat.

But that isn’t mandatory at all.

Bengal cats love a little spice in their food.

Amazing, no?

Bengal cats can eat and digest cooked meat very well.

Be it a beef steak, boiled mutton, or ham; your Bengal feline can eat them all.

However:

Before feeding your Bengal cat with raw meat, make sure that it is properly cooked.

Half-cooked or extra spicy meat can leave your feline’s stomach disturbed for days.

Also, don’t make cooked meat a regular part of their diet.

Just keep cooked meat as a small treat for your little fellow.

3. Canned vegetables

I am sure many people who are not familiar with Bengal cats will find this odd.

But Bengal cats can certainly eat a few canned vegetables.

However:

The proportion of these veggies should be tiny as compared to their overall diet.

The vegetables you can share with your Bengal cat are:

Pumpkin
Spinach
Broccoli

These veggies are high in iron and phosphorus, which makes them a good source of minerals for Bengal cats.

Now, this is interesting:

You can feed your Bengal cat with canned pumpkins, and it will love it.

In fact:

Canned pumpkin is proven to be beneficial for diarrhea and upset stomach in Bengal cats.

4. Bananas and Melons

Although your Bengal cat can’t eat all fruits, bananas and fruits are completely safe for it.

Here’s a fact:

Bengal cats need a very tiny amount of dietary fiber.

Fiber comes from the fruits or vegetables that you share with your Bengal.

However:

Excessive fiber intake can lead to digestion problems in Bengal cats.

The fruits your Bengal cat can eat comfortably without getting constipation or diarrhea are:

Bananas
Melons

That’s all.

There is no other fruit that your Bengal cat will be able to digest.

These two fruits are a good source of essential fiber that your kitty needs.

So you can give it a few pieces of frozen banana or melon as a treat, but make sure you remove seeds from the melon beforehand.

5, Canned Baby food

Canned baby food is something your Bengal cat will love to eat.

As most baby foods are meat-based, these tabbies love the smell and taste of canned baby food.

Here’s the thing:

Bengal cats are extremely allergic to garlic and ginger.

Before giving them baby food, check the ingredients to ensure there’s no ginger and garlic powder.

6. Fish

Cats love meat, and it is no hidden secret.

But, have you ever heard a cat eats cooked and canned spicy fish?

Well, don’t be surprised because these amazing Bengal cats love canned fish.

You can share your canned tuna or mackerel with the kitty, and it will enjoy them.

Bear this in mind:

Fish is not a part of cats’ natural diet.

That’s why you should avoid feeding them fish very often.

I am quite sure you have gotten a clear idea of which human foods you can share with your Bengal cat.

Now let us discuss what you shouldn’t share with your Bengal feline.

The human foods Bengal cats cannot eat

Interestingly:

The human foods which are harmful to Bengal cats are way more than those which are beneficial.

There are numerous food items your Bengal kitty should never taste.

The human stomach is quite flexible (although mine is not) and it can digest a lot of things.

From meat to herbs, and from veggies to fruits, there’s a lot we can eat.

But:

Don’t share everything with your cat.

Here’s a complete list of what your cat should avoid eating.

1. Grains

Bengal cats cannot digest grains at all.

Many cat foods have loads of grains (cheap tactics to increase weight), but it can destroy your cat’s health.

Never share bread, cereals or chips with your kitty.

2. Raw eggs

Even though cooked eggs are good for Bengal cats’, raw ones aren’t.

They have salmonella bacteria in them, and Bengal cats can fall sick after eating them.

3. Potatoes

Does your Bengal cat love to snuffle into your French fries’ plate?

Never let it do so.

Potatoes are high in carbohydrates, and cats’ digestive system cannot bear excess carbs.

Never let your Bengal cat eat potatoes, either raw or cooked.

4. Caffeine

Tea and coffee are Bengal cats’ enemies.

No cat can digest caffeine, which is why you should never let it take a sip from your cup.

5. Alcohol

I am sure no one lets his Bengal cat get drunk.

But what if it sips from the leftover wine you forgot at the kitchen table?

Never let your cat drink any alcoholic beverage.

Alcohol can even be fatal for your Bengal.

6. Milk

I used to think every cat loves milk.

But I was wrong.

Bengal cats become lactose intolerant with age.

They cannot digest milk, and if you keep feeding it to them, the result will be nasty diarrhea or food poisoning.

7. Fats

Do you put the leftover fat from your beef steak in your cat’s dish?

Stop doing this right away.

Cats love meat, but not all flesh.

They can get pancreatitis if their food has excessive fatty acids.

A little bit of animal fat is good for them, but don’t make it a habit.

8. Raw fish

As I said earlier, fish is not their natural food.

And they cannot digest them well either.

Try and minimize your Bengal cat’s fish intake to once in a week.

9. Xylitol

Don’t worry if you don’t know what this is.

I am here to explain.

Xylitol is a sweetener which is present in candies, gums, bubble gums, and lollypops, etc.

In short, most things kids eat have xylitol in them.

These things are the kids’ favorite, and they often love to share their food with the feline.

But you should never let this happen.

Once your Bengal cat eats xylitol, its blood sugar level will decrease rapidly.

And your Bengal kitty might end up in the hospital.

Teach your kids about this.

Dietary Needs of Your Bengal Cat