Cats can have cheese, but how much of this yummy food can they eat? And are there benefits?

“Cats are often drawn to cheese, and it can be an acceptable low-carb snack,” says Dr. Bayazit. “It’s high in calcium and protein, and cats really love protein.

Keep servings to a little sprinkle atop the main course; or, offer the tiniest of bites, she notes.

The benefits of feeding cats cheese include:

• Cheese is a low carb treat, which is a good thing, because your furry friend has no requirement for carbohydrates in their diet.
• Cheese is high in calcium and protein. The protein helps entice your cat.
• Just a bite of cheese helps the medicine go down. It’s a useful way to hide pills and to make them more palatable.
• If your cat’s health is good, a teeny cube of cheese (about the size of a die) makes for a fine, fun snack. Just remember: No matter how much they enjoy it, only 10 percent or less of your purr baby’s daily diet should come from treats. Talk to your vet about your kitty’s daily calorie needs, and try this handy calorie calculator from the Pet Nutrition Alliance.
• Lastly, what’s not to like? Many cats are super fond of the taste. “Cheese has a high fat content and plenty of protein, both of which cats naturally relish,” says Dr. Bayazit.

Bottom line: Cheese is typically safe for cats and provides a few advantages, too.

While cats can consume cheese, that doesn’t mean you should let them go hog-wild on the stuff. For cats with health problems—a heart condition, an allergy to dairy, or obesity—cheese is a no-no, Dr. Bayazit says.

“Large amounts of cheese is not good for cats,” she says. “Not only can it be high in fat and salt, but it contains lactose, a component many cats can’t tolerate.”

The downsides of feeding cats cheese include:

• Cats don’t digest dairy well, according to Dr. Bayazit. “It may not agree with them, and if they’re lactose intolerant, it can make them sick,” she says. And that popular image of the sweet kitten lapping up a warm bowl of milk? Thumbs (or rather, paws) down.
• Cat tummies are delicate, and cheese can wreak havoc on their digestive system, causing vomiting, gas, abdominal pains, even diarrhea.
• Cats are obligate carnivores (read: meat eaters); so, cheese, along with other dairy products, is not a natural food for them.
• The nutrients offered in cheese (protein and calcium) are more accessible in a good caliber cat food or even in cat delicacies made just for them.
• Tubby cats should steer clear of cheese. It typically has a high fat content (which can cause weight gain) and lots of calories.

Cats usually go head over heels for this human food, as they are attracted by the fat and protein cheese contains. So, getting your cat to eat it should be easy-peasy.

“If your cat doesn’t get ill from eating a new food like cheese, a bit of cheese as a treat or sprinkled over their meal is perfectly OK,” says Dr. Bayazit.

Here are some tips for serving cheese to cats:

• Once you’ve tried cheese, monitored your cat, and found that it doesn’t upset their tummy, a small amount of cheese as a treat is reasonable. Again, a serving about the size of a die is perfectly safe for cats to eat every now and again, Dr. Bayazit says. Keep it to a small piece of cheese they can easily bite and chew.
• For fussy, finicky felines, sprinkling some on their dinner can encourage them to eat. “Keep in mind that cheese is meant as a treat, and shouldn’t be a significant addition or supplement to their diet,” says Dr. Bayazit.
• While it’s OK for treats to take up 10 percent of a cat’s daily calorie intake, “since it’s high in fat and sodium, you might want to go even lower — 5 percent of their daily calories—for cheese,” says Dr. Bayazit.
• Try limiting the times your feline has cheese to periods when you need to hide medication.
• Your cat may desire a creamy Camembert, but stand your ground and tell them, “Hard cheese only, dude”—because the type of cheese matters. Hard, aged cheeses, like Swiss or Cheddar, have less lactose (so are not likely to cause problems) compared to soft varieties, like mozzarella or Brie. Certain ingredients can make cheese bad for cats. Avoid those with spices (garlic, onion, and the like) and cheeses with mold, like blue cheese, which contain Penicillium, and can be toxic to pets.
• You can also try a cheese-flavored treat like this grain-free, delightful puree from Inaba.

Of course, before handing over that small cube of cheese, consult with your veterinarian before feeding it to your cat. The vet can determine the right portion for your pet and weigh in on health issues that might preclude them having cheese.