Can Cats Eat Baby Food – Are There Nutritional Benefits?

If you find yourself reaching for your cat’s food, only to discover that it’s run out, you might begin scrambling to find something your cat can have so your furry friend doesn’t go hungry. While scouring your kitchen, if you happen to come across extra baby food, you might wonder, can cats eat baby food?

Cats can eat meat-only baby food in moderation. Baby food can be an excellent way to help them get their appetite back if they’re sick since it’s much easier for them to chew. However, don’t solely feed your cat baby food long-term as it doesn’t have the necessary nutrients.

So, now that you know that it is safe for cats to eat baby food, you might be wondering how much and how often you can feed your cat baby food or what kinds of baby foods they will even eat. These are all critical questions that cat owners should be able to answer before providing their cat with baby food to ensure that it stays happy and healthy.

How much baby food can you give a cat?

If you’re trying to get your cat to eat or are running low on cat food, how much should you give them? The age-old phrase “everything is fine in moderation” holds up here. While cats can eat meat-only baby food, they should only do so on a need-to basis. 

Cat food is explicitly designed with cats in mind, so it features nutrients that baby food does not. So if you were to put your cat on baby food long-term, it could mean they are missing out on significant parts of their diet, which could lead to blindness or even death.

What kind of baby food should I give my cat?

For cats, you’ll need to stick to meat-only baby foods. Sticking to meat-only will ensure that your cat is still getting most of the nutrients they need while also being something they will find tasty, which can help them build their appetite back up.

It’s imperative that the baby food you select only features meat and water in the ingredients. The baby food should not list any fruits or vegetables in its ingredient list. The only exception to the meat and water ingredient rule would be cornstarch.

If you’re searching and can’t find meat-only baby food anywhere, you can opt for one that includes cornstarch as a last resort. As a reminder, cats with diabetes should not ingest cornstarch since it can increase blood sugar levels.

Best baby food brands for cats:

• Beech Nut Classics 1st Stage
• First Choice Stage 2
• Gerber 2nd Stage
• Wild Harvest Organic 2nd Foods

These are all great options because they offer meat-only varieties that cats love. Beech Nut features chicken, turkey, and beef. First Choice provides chicken or turkey. Gerber has several options: chicken, turkey, ham, and beef. And finally, Wild Harvest Organic features chicken and turkey.

Baby food brands you should never give your cat:

• Earth’s Best Organics
• Happy Baby or Happy Tot
• Plum Organics

Cat owners should avoid all of these brands since they do not offer meat-only baby foods, making them unsafe for cats to ingest.

What should I supplement baby food with for my cat?

So what should you feed your cat to fill in the nutritional gaps of baby food to ensure they get all the nutrients they need?

It’s quite simple — taking some baby food and mixing it with a bit of your cat’s regular cat food can help get them the vitamins and minerals they need. It can be an excellent help for amino acids, too. Mixing cat food and baby food is also a great way to wean them off of the baby food and back on to their own food if they’ve been eating solely baby food for a while.

Since baby food alone will not give your cat all the nutrients they need, the act of adding cat food to their diet will be sure to make up for the missing vitamins and minerals, lack of fiber, and Omega-3 in baby food. The most prominent nutrient gap in baby food is the lack of taurine, which is a vital amino acid.

Even if some baby foods have taurine in them, it is most likely not enough for a cat. Cats and most other pets need high levels of amino acids like taurine. In the 1970s, there was a rise in cats passing away or going blind due to a lack of taurine in cat foods of the time. This lack of taurine is a core reason why you should mix both baby food and cat food if your cat is eating baby food for an extended period.

When should I give my cat baby food?

You now know it is safe to give your cat meat-only baby food and that you should avoid it when possible. There will always be rough patches where you might need to use baby food to get by; but due to the lack of nutrients that cats need in most baby foods, it’s best only to give the baby food in the following scenarios:

• Cats with sore mouths or teeth and are having difficulty eating
• Cats with reduced appetites due to issues like liver disease or cancer
• Cats who experience regular vomiting and diarrhea
• Cats that are older and need the motivation to eat

Final Thoughts

It’s essentially a guarantee that an unusual situation with their food will arise at least once throughout our cats’ lives. Whether it’s an illness, a food shortage, or your cat is in a mood and doesn’t want to eat, sometimes cat food won’t be enough to get by. 

In times like that, it’s handy to know that you can indeed give your cat baby food in a pinch. As long as the baby food is meat-only, and you’re only giving it to them for a short amount of time, it’s okay. 

Cats need additional nutrients and amino acids that are not in baby foods. Baby food can help cats with little or no appetite start to eat again since the puree style of the baby food is easier for them to ingest. Again, this should only be for a limited time since the baby food will not give them all the nutrients required. 

So overall, yes, baby food can be a cat food alternative in critical situations for a short time. While it’s not a balanced diet for them, it can help get you through a tough time and get your sick cat back to feeling like their happy selves.