Can Cats Eat Cottage Cheese?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Cottage cheese is an occasional treat at most, and only a spoonful of the plain, low-fat kind for an adult cat that handles dairy well. It is one of the few dairy foods WSAVA includes in its table of treat calories for cats, at 25 calories per ounce for 2% cottage cheese. It is still a milk product, though, and the ASPCA notes that pets lack significant amounts of lactase, so dairy can cause diarrhea.
What Cottage Cheese Offers a Cat
Cottage cheese is fresh curd from milk. It brings milk protein, some milk fat, and the salt added during production, along with a little lactose. Cats are obligate carnivores, and the Cornell Feline Health Center explains that they rely on nutrients from animal products. A complete cat food already supplies those, so cottage cheese adds variety, not missing nutrition.
WSAVA's treat guide also lists dairy products among foods to avoid for cats that are lactose intolerant. Some cats handle a spoonful of cottage cheese without any change in the litter box, and others react to the smallest amount.
How Much Cottage Cheese Can a Cat Have?
WSAVA advises keeping treats under 10% of daily calories, about 22 to 25 calories a day for a 10-pound adult cat. One tablespoon of 2% cottage cheese weighs roughly half an ounce and comes to about 11 calories. That estimate rests on WSAVA's figure and the USDA value of 92 calories per 4 ounces. That fits the allowance with room to spare. Treat it as a swap for a small part of that day's food, not an addition.
Offer a teaspoon the first time and check for soft stool over the next day. Kittens, seniors, and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, pancreatitis, urinary stones, or food allergies should only have cottage cheese with their veterinarian's approval.
How to Serve It
Pick plain cottage cheese, low-fat or 2%, with no added fruit, herbs, or flavorings. Versions with chives or onion are out, because the ASPCA lists those plants as able to damage red blood cells. Check the label for salt and choose a lower-sodium tub if your store carries one, since the ASPCA warns that too much salt can cause increased thirst and urination. Spoon it onto a small plate, or mix it into a little of your cat's regular food. Put any leftovers back in the fridge rather than leaving them out.
If your cat has a medical condition or eats a special diet, ask your veterinarian before offering cottage cheese.
Common Questions
Is cottage cheese good for cats with diarrhea?
No, cottage cheese is not a remedy for diarrhea in cats. It still contains lactose, and the ASPCA says pets lack significant amounts of the enzyme needed to digest it, so dairy can make loose stool worse. A bland diet for a cat with an upset stomach should come from your veterinarian. Call your vet if diarrhea lasts more than a day or comes with vomiting.
Can kittens eat cottage cheese?
Cottage cheese is best skipped for kittens unless your veterinarian suggests it. Kittens need complete kitten food to grow, and a small stomach leaves little room for extras. Many cats are lactose intolerant, as the Cornell Feline Health Center notes, and diarrhea is harder on a small kitten than on an adult. Wait until your cat is grown, then try a teaspoon if you want to.
Can cats eat cottage cheese every day?
A daily spoonful is possible for some cats, but it is not something they need. A tablespoon of 2% cottage cheese is about 11 calories, which fits inside WSAVA's limit of about 22 to 25 treat calories a day for a 10-pound cat. Each serving still brings lactose and salt. Most cats do better with cottage cheese as an occasional treat.
How many calories are in cottage cheese for a cat?
WSAVA lists 2% cottage cheese at 25 calories per ounce, and the USDA puts low-fat 2% cottage cheese at 92 calories per 4 ounces. A tablespoon, roughly half an ounce, works out to about 11 calories. That is close to half of the 22 to 25 treat calories WSAVA allows each day for a 10-pound adult cat, so a tablespoon is a sensible top limit.
Is cottage cheese better for cats than other cheese?
Plain low-fat cottage cheese is lower in calories than hard cheese, which makes portions easier to manage. WSAVA lists 2% cottage cheese at 25 calories per ounce compared with 120 for cheddar. It is still dairy, though, and WSAVA advises avoiding dairy for cats that are lactose intolerant. If your cat gets soft stool from any cheese, cottage cheese is not the answer either.