Can Cats Eat Carrots? How to Safely Feed This Vegetable To Your Feline Carrots should be served boiled or steamed. By Rhiannon Koehler, DVM, MPH Rhiannon Koehler, DVM, MPH Dr. Koehler is an experienced shelter veterinarian and medical writer. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 12/10/25 Credit: Yelena Shander / Getty Images Key Takeaways Cats can safely eat carrots as occasional treats, but these should not exceed 10% of their daily calories.Carrots provide fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that may support digestion, cognitive function, and skin and eye health.Always wash, cook, and slice carrots properly to make them digestible and reduce choking risks for your cat. Pet parents looking to give their cats the occasional veggie treat may wonder if cats can eat carrots. While carrots are a safe option for your feline family member, you’ll want to know the potential risks and benefits before giving this vegetable to your cat. Learn more about how to safely share carrots with your cat. Can Cats Eat Carrots? Yes, cats can eat carrots. Carrots are a safe vegetable for cats to snack on and are not considered toxic to cats, but they should only be given as occasional treats. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they require animal products in their diet to meet their nutritional needs. Additionally, if your cat is eating a diet approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for their life stage, all their nutritional needs are being met by their normal cat food. Your cat’s balanced diet should make up at least 90% of their daily calories. Any treats, including carrots, should not comprise more than 10% of your cat’s daily caloric intake. Nutritional Value of Carrots for Cats Carrots are a good source of fiber, which can help with your cat’s digestion. Fiber improves stool quality in cats. Cats are also a great source of the following vitamins and minerals: Vitamin CVitamin KVitamin B6IronCalciumPotassiumZinc Carrots also contain the antioxidant beta carotene, which can be helpful with cognitive function, as well as skin and eye health. How to Prepare Carrots for Cats If you’ll be feeding carrots to your cat, make sure you’re cooking and slicing them correctly to make them more digestible and to reduce the risk of choking. Here's how to properly prepare carrots for your cat: Prep: When preparing carrots for your cat, make sure that you wash and peel them first! This will remove any dirt and pesticides.Cook: You can boil, bake, or steam them to make them softer for your cat to chew. Cooking the carrots can also help make them more digestible. Do not add spices, seasonings, or oils to the carrots. Some seasonings, such as garlic or onion powder, are extremely dangerous for cats.Serve: When feeding carrots to your cat, it's best to slice them into small pieces so your cat can more easily chew and digest them. Potential Risks and Considerations Feeding too many carrots can impact the balance of your cat’s diet, so they should only be given as an occasional treat. Other risks include: Choking Gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea) Obesity Diabetes If your cat already has any chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, you should speak with your veterinarian before adding a new food to your cat’s diet. Other Cat-Safe Veggies Not all cats will like carrots, and that’s okay. If your cat turns up their nose at carrots, and you still want to find a vegetable snack for them to enjoy, consider one of these alternatives: CeleryZucchiniBroccoliPeasSpinachGreen bell peppersGreen beans Explore more: Cats Cat Nutrition & Food