What Can I Give a Stray Cat to Eat? And Foods to Avoid

You probably feel pity when you are walking down the alley and see a stray cat looking for leftover food in dumpsters and obviously asked yourself ‘’what food can I give to stray cats?’’.

You can give a stray cat anything you think is healthy including cooked eggs, fish, beef, chicken, turkey, and lean deli meats. These are good for cats because cats are natural meat eaters. But avoid giving it raw or spoiled meat, these could make a cat sick.

Read also: Can Cats Eat Cornish Hens? Can Meat Cause IBD In Cats?

The general rule is, if you can’t eat it, don’t give it to your cat.

All in all, avoid giving a cat the following, this is because these are all toxic for cat

• Grapes and raisins
• Chocolate
• Onions and garlic
• Bread dough
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol
• Xylitol, (an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free gum and candy)

While house cats will need to eat branded packaged foods because they are weaker due to their upbringing indoors, stray cats don’t necessarily need packaged foods.

Some cats would eat some food which others wouldn’t it. But as I said, you can feed him pretty much anything that cats can munch on!

Stray cats are likely to suffer from a variety of diseases and parasites that are often fatal. But don’t worry, all is not lost for these poor lost kitties.

This is especially true if you’re dealing with an old stray cat, or a young one that was abandoned. If you’re looking for something to feed a stray cat, look no further than your own pantry!

More foods you can give a stray cat

• Daily products. Some cats are intolerant to daily products while others are not. So, while you can give your cat milk, cheese, or York. Give it in small quantity and see if there will be any reaction before gradually giving it some more.
• Canned cat food: You can purchase canned cat food at most stores and grocery stores. It’s usually very inexpensive and easy to prepare. Simply add water and mix it up in a bowl or container so that it’s just right for the kitty.
• Dry dog biscuits: Dog biscuits are often made from chicken, beef or fish protein and make great treats for cats too! (In case you have them for your dog)
• Rice and milk: While many cats would eat this, don’t be surprised if that cat refuses to eat it. Otherwise, this is another common food that you can give to stray cats, but it is not very nutritious for them.

Can I Give a Stray Cat Tuna?

Yes, you can give a stray cat tuna. Tuna is very good for cats and helps them stay healthy and strong. The high protein content and omega-3 fatty acids in tuna are great for your cat’s heart, skin, and coat!

It’s inexpensive to buy canned tuna at the grocery store or even online. You can also find it in the health food section of most stores.

Remember to be extra careful when trying to feed the stray cat because most stray cats have an aggressive nature that can be dangerous to you.

What To Give a Stray Cat to Drink

Give it water.

It’s the first thing that should come to your mind when you are thinking of giving a stray cat something to drink.

Just pour some of your own in a bowl, then offer it to the stray cat. Cats are naturally drawn to water, so they’ll usually drink if they are thirsty before moving on to other things.

You can also give the stray cat some milk to drink. Give it to him in a small bowl and allow him to drink it down as he pleases.

Can Stray Cats Eat Bread?

While stray cats can eat bread, its not recommended and if there are other options give them alternative.  However, they will eat pretty much anything that they can get their paws on. Stray cats are not picky eaters. They will eat whatever is available to them, even if it’s something as simple as bread.

You see, stray cats are essentially wild animals. They spend their days hunting for food and sniffing around for anything interesting.

While bread might not be their best choice, they just eat it because they are starved.

Also read: My Cat Will Only Eat Chicken: Can Cats Live On Chicken Alone?

Cheap Food for Stray Cats

If you are looking for cheap food to feed stray cats, you can try the following.

• Crab – This is another great option for stray cats because it’s not too expensive and can be found at most grocery stores. Just make sure you cook it first.
• Sardines – Sardines are very cheap and easy to find, so they’re a great choice for your strays! Just make sure you cook them first.
• Chicken – This is a great food for stray cats because it’s easy to find and inexpensive. Just make sure you dry it out before giving it to them.

As you go on to deciding what food products are cheap for stray cat, you need to consider the price of the food itself.

Many people assume that all pet stores will sell cheap cat food for stray cats, but this isn’t always the case.

Some pet stores may have a low price on their own brand of cat food, but they also have other brands made by other companies that cost more money than the other brands do.

In order to get the best deal on your cat’s food, make sure that whatever store you go into has plenty of different options available so that you can get exactly what your cat needs without breaking the bank!

What To Feed Stray Cats in Winter

We know that feeding stray cats in winter can be tricky, but we’re here to help. Here are some tips for what to feed your stray cats in the winter:

In fact, there are actually two types of foods that are perfectly safe for all cats in winter: canned and dry!

Canned food gives your cat a more reliable source of nutrients than dry food, which means they’ll be healthier overall. Plus, canned food can sit on the shelf for a long time without going bad.

There are a number of canned foods, in winter you can feed stray cats canned tuna. Cats are also attracted to poultry and fish.

Dry food also has its own benefits, it’s less expensive and easier to find than canned food. But it also lacks some important vitamins and minerals that canned food provides.

So, while both types of food will work for your cat in winter, I recommend you opt for canned over dry when deciding what to feed a stray cat during winter.

Read also: Can Cat Eat Chipmunks?

What To Feed a Stray Cat Without Cat Food

Cats are carnivores by nature, so they need meat-based foods for their nutrition. In fact, many people believe that feeding your cats meat-based food is more nutritious than commercial cat food. However, this isn’t always true—the quality of the meat is key, as well as its nutritional value and preparation methods.

Here’s what you can feed your stray cat without using commercial cat food:

• Fish
• Chicken or turkey necks
• Eggs (boiled or hard-boiled)
• Cooked liver (cooked ham or turkey work too!)

Can Stray Cats Eat Anything?

Like I said before, stray cats are not picky eaters. They will eat whatever they have a chance to eat. Stray cats can eat whatever they want as long as they don’t have any allergies or food intolerances. That is because they are brought up to be much stronger and more adaptive than their counterparts, the indoor cats.

What Do Most Stray Cats Eat?

The most common food for stray cats is mice, birds spiders, and small game like squirrels. They will also eat almost anything, from tin cans to fish heads.

Cats are carnivores, which means that their diet consists largely of meat and other animal products. They also have a voracious appetite.

Not forgetting that some stray kittens are born with a natural instinct for hunting, so they’ll eat whatever small game is available in their environment.

. Still others may have developed an affinity for garbage around human dwellings.

How Can You Tell If a Stray Cat Is Hungry?

Stray cats are often hungry. They may come to you with their tails down, or they may just look hungry.

And you can tell by their behavior. If a stray cat is hungry, it will be more likely to approach humans than other animals.

It’s also important to note that hungry stray cats are more likely to approach people who have food or other things they like: pet food, fresh fruit, or even garbage.

Although it’s not always possible to feed them directly from your hand, there are many ways you can help keep your cats fed when they’re out in the wild.

You can tell if a cat is hungry by looking at its eyes: Are they blinking? Is he or she licking his or her lips? If so, that’s a good sign!

If the stray cat is really hungry, it will probably start pawing at the door and won’t stop until you feed him.

Read also: Can A 2-Month Old Kitten Eat Dry Food

Conclusion

We hope that you now have a better understanding of what to give a stray cat to eat if you encountered one. You don’t need to panic or spend a lot of money on branded cat food as stray cats can eat almost anything that you can eat.  

That said, ensure that you don’t give it food that could potentially make it sick(check in above in the article for the list of foods we don’t recommend giving your cat.)  Thank you for reading.

Userful resources

https://tenlives.com.au/welfare/feeding-stray-cats-cruel-or-kind/

https://www.thefelinefoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Stray-Cat-Feeder-Manual.pdf