Can Cats Eat Carrots?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Cats can eat small amounts of plain cooked carrots. The ASPCA includes carrots in its list of garden vegetables that can be fed to pets as snacks in moderation, and Tufts Petfoodology lists steamed carrots among its low-calorie treats for dogs and cats.
What Carrots Offer a Cat
Carrots are mostly water and carbohydrate, with some fiber. People eat them for vitamin A, which carrots supply in the form of plant carotenoids. Cats get little from that. Tufts Petfoodology explains that the enzyme needed to turn plant carotenoids into vitamin A is not very active in cats, so cat diets must include pre-made vitamin A from animal sources. The Cornell Feline Health Center notes that cats are obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients found in animal products, and complete cat food covers those needs.
So carrots are a low-calorie snack for a cat that enjoys them, not a way to add vitamins.
How Many Carrots Can a Cat Have?
WSAVA says treats should stay under 10% of daily calories, about 22 to 25 calories a day for a 10-pound adult cat. Tufts lists 1/3 cup of chopped steamed carrots at 15 calories, so 1 to 2 tablespoons comes to about 3 to 6 calories. That fits the allowance and should replace a small part of that day's food, not be added on top.
Start with a few soft pieces and watch for loose stool. Kittens, seniors, and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis, or food allergies should have treats chosen with their veterinarian.
How to Serve It
Steam or boil carrots until they are soft enough to mash easily, let them cool, and chop them finely or mash them. Raw carrot is hard, and a round slice or a baby carrot is the right size to get stuck in a cat's throat, so do not offer raw rounds or sticks. Shredding a little raw carrot very finely is an option, but cooked is easier to chew.
Serve carrots plain. Glazed carrots with butter, brown sugar, or honey are out, and so are carrot cake and carrot muffins, which bring sugar and fat. Carrots from soups and roasts are often cooked alongside onion and garlic, which the ASPCA lists as able to damage a cat's red blood cells, so skip leftovers and cook a few plain pieces instead. Canned carrots are fine if they say no salt added and are rinsed.
If your cat has a medical condition or eats a special diet, ask your veterinarian before offering carrots.
Common Questions
Can cats eat raw carrots?
Raw carrots are not the best choice for cats because they are hard and can be a choking risk in rounds or sticks. Tufts Petfoodology lists both raw baby carrots and steamed carrots as low-calorie treats, but cooked carrot is softer and easier for a cat to chew. If you offer raw carrot, shred it very finely. Otherwise, steam it until soft and mash it.
Are carrots good for cats' eyes?
Carrots are not a useful source of vitamin A for cats. Tufts Petfoodology explains that the enzyme that turns plant carotenoids into vitamin A is not very active in cats, which is why cat foods must contain pre-made vitamin A from animal sources. A complete cat food already provides what a cat's eyes need. A bit of cooked carrot is just a low-calorie snack.
Can kittens eat carrots?
Kittens can try a tiny amount of soft, mashed cooked carrot, but they do not need it. Their small stomachs should be filled with complete kitten food. Never give a kitten raw carrot pieces, which can be a choking hazard. If you want to offer some, keep it to a pea-sized bit of well-cooked carrot and watch for loose stool.
Can cats eat carrot cake?
No, carrot cake is not a treat for cats. The carrot is the least of it: carrot cake is mostly flour, sugar, oil, and a sweet cream cheese frosting, and some recipes add raisins or nuts. WSAVA lists grapes and raisins among ingredients toxic to cats. If your cat ate carrot cake with raisins, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
Can cats eat cooked carrots from soup or stew?
It is better not to share carrots from soups, stews, or roasts. They are usually cooked with salt, onion, garlic, or broth that contains onion powder. The ASPCA lists onions and garlic as able to damage a cat's red blood cells, while it names carrots among garden vegetables pets can have as snacks in moderation. Cook a few carrot pieces separately in plain water if you want to offer some.