Can Cats Eat Sweet Potatoes?

NOTE: Always check with your veterinarian before giving your cat any new foods, especially “people foods.” What might be OK for one cat might not be good for your cat, depending on multiple factors such as their age, health history, health conditions, and diet. Cats on prescription diets should not be fed any food or treats outside the diet unless your veterinarian tells you it’s fine to do so. 

While not every cat will jump onto the counter for a taste of sweet potato, many curious kitties can’t resist sniffing out what’s on your plate. So, can cats eat sweet potatoes safely? 

Yes, cats can eat plain sweet potatoes, but should they eat them? That’s a little more complicated. Here’s everything you need to know about how this root vegetable can fit into your cat’s diet. 

Can Cats Have Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, they can, but while sweet potatoes are not toxic to cats, they’re also not particularly good for them. 

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they have difficulty getting adequate nutrition from food that isn’t meat-based. Cats are also not designed to digest carbohydrates very well, and the potato family in general contains quite a lot of carbs. In fact, some cats who sample sweet potato may go on to experience some abdominal discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea. 

If you do decide to offer your cat sweet potato, make sure it’s plain and fully cooked. Small, cooked cubes or mashed sweet potato are the safest options for a cat treat. 

Avoid raw sweet potatoes, as they are hard to digest, and never give sweet potatoes that are seasoned, fried, or prepared with butter, oil, sugar, or spices. 

You can also give your cat store-bought cat treats or cat food that contains sweet potato. Some highly rated options include: 

Are Sweet Potatoes Good for Cats?

While cats don’t need carbohydrates in their diet, sweet potatoes may offer a few nutritional perks in small amounts, including:

• They contain fiber. A little fiber may help with digestion and mild constipation in some cats. 

• They provide antioxidants. Antioxidants like beta-carotene may support overall health, though cats don’t need large amounts. 

• They offer vitamins and minerals. Sweet potatoes provide vitamins A and C and potassium, but cats typically get these nutrients from a properly balanced meat-based diet. 

Can Sweet Potatoes Be Bad for Cats?

Too many sweet potatoes can do more harm than good. Here are some of the biggest risks of giving them to your cat: 

• They’re high in carbohydrates. Cats are obligate carnivores and don’t need carbs for energy. Excess amounts can contribute to obesity over time. 

• They may cause digestive upset. Some cats may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal discomfort after eating sweet potatoes. 

• They can be dangerous if prepared with additives. Sweet potatoes with butter, sugar, salt, or spices (like garlic, allspice, or cloves, for example) may be harmful or even toxic to cats. 

How Much Sweet Potato Can Cats Eat?

All treats combined, including sweet potatoes, should make up no more than 10% of your cat’s diet. The rest should come from a balanced cat food.

If you’re giving your cat sweet potato for the first time, give them a bite or two to see how they react. If you don’t see any signs of stomach upset, like diarrhea or vomiting, within 48 hours, you can give them up to 1/2 tablespoon of sweet potato once or twice a week. 

How To Safely Feed Sweet Potatoes to Cats

If you’d like to give your cat a taste of sweet potato, it’s important to prepare it safely and in a way that’s easy for them to digest. Here’s how:

• Peel the skin. Remove any tough skin from the sweet potato.
 

• Wash thoroughly. This removes any dirt or pesticide residue.
 

• Cook completely. Boiling, steaming, and baking are all good options. While not toxic, raw sweet potato can be difficult to digest and poses a choking risk. 

• Serve plain. Avoid adding butter, oil, salt, spices, or other seasonings.

Once prepped, there are several ways to serve sweet potatoes to your cat:

• As a standalone treat: If your cat really enjoys sweet potato, you can give them small bites as an occasional treat. 

• Mixed into meals: Stir a small amount into wet or dry cat food for extra flavor and texture.
 

• In treat recipes: You can incorporate cooked sweet potato into homemade cat treats. For these mini muffins, just swap the pumpkin for cooked sweet potato. 

• On enrichment toys: Mash a small amount of sweet potato and spread on a lick mat, like the Catit Cat Mat, or add it to a puzzle feeder, like the Catstages Puzzle Cat Feeder.