Sharing food with pets is common in many households. Sometimes it is a bite from the table, sometimes it is leftovers, and sometimes it is a home-cooked meal made with good intentions.
But good intentions do not always guarantee good nutrition. So, is human food actually safe for dogs and cats?
The Ancient History of Human Cuisine in Pet Diets
Man’s best friend and man's best boss, you know who is who. Both animals have long histories, predating modern commercial pet food, so what did humans feed them? During this period, these animals were often fed table scraps or leftovers from human meals.
In agricultural societies:
- Dogs often consumed bones, grains, and discarded meat
- Cats frequently supplemented their diet through hunting
This practice was done solely out of convenience, and less driven by nutritional science.
Food resources were not bountiful, the knowledge on pet nutrition was nigh non-existent and dedicated pet diets were limited.
Thousands of years later, during the late 19th and 20th centuries, scientific understanding of animal nutrition advanced, leading to the first ever commercially prepared pet food in 1860.
Why do we still feed human food today?
Ok, as the title of the previous section suggests, feeding human food is like ancient history. But why do we still feed our pets our food today? Here are the most common rationales as to why people feed human food to their companions:
- Convenience as it is more practical than purchasing pet feed.
- Affection/Bonding, it is quite hard to resist their pleas. . .
- Reduce food waste this way no food is wasted and the pet is fed.
- Fresh is better, giving more control on ingredients, making it “healthier”.
These form the main rationales as to why people still feed their food but there are still risks to be cautious of.
Known risks to consider
Certain common ingredients in human cuisine are not suitable for pets. These ingredients vary in severity from ill advised in pet diets, to poisonous in case of pet consumption.
Pet owners when feeding human food to pets should consider these risks:
- Portion control. Human food is often richer in calories, fat, sodium, and seasoning than pets need. When fed too often or in the wrong portions, it can contribute to weight gain and digestive issues.
- Problematic ingredients. These include salt, oil, spices and seasonings. While not necessarily toxic here are the issue with each of them:
- Salt; Pets have much lower tolerance for heavily salted foods than humans do. Excess amounts lead to dehydration, increased thirst and urination and in extreme cases, sodium imbalance.
- Oil; Many human foods are high in fat or cooking oils, which may upset digestion and, over time, contribute to unhealthy weight gain and in some cases, pancreatic stress (especially in dogs).
- Spices; Seasonings and spices are another concern. Even when not directly toxic, they may irritate the digestive system and make food harder for pets to tolerate. Ingredients such as onion and garlic — including powders — should be strictly avoided.
- Toxic ingredients. These should NEVER EVER EVER be fed to your pets and should be kept out of reach from these animals at all cost:
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Garlic and Onions
Dogs are the most commonly affected species when it comes to food-related toxicity, accounting for approximately 70–80% of reported poisoning cases (Gupta 2007), while cats represent a smaller proportion. In the United States alone, there are over 451,000 reported pet poisoning incidents each year (ASPCA 2025), many of which involve common household foods such as chocolate, grapes, and onions making up 16.1% of exposures (ASPCA 2025). 90% are accidental and often happen at home (Kovalkovičová N. et al. 2009), highlighting the importance of careful food handling and feeding practices.
When can human food be appropriate?
The key question is not whether a food is “human” or “pet” food — it is whether it is safe, appropriate, and nutritionally balanced for your pet. Small amounts of certain human food can sometimes be included responsibly, plain, unseasoned ingredients such as cooked chicken, rice, or certain vegetables may be suitable in moderation. But they should never replace a complete diet.
For everyday feeding, consistency, safety, and balanced nutrition matter most.
That is why KEOS focuses on complete formulas, clear ingredient transparency, and simply good kibbles pet owners can feel confident about.
Citations:
ASPCA (2025), ‘ASPCA Sees Increase in Number of Calls to Poison Control Center in 2024, Including Rise in Cases Related to Hallucinogenic Mushroom Consumption’, ASPCA website
Gupta (2007), VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY, Academic Press
https://booksite.elsevier.com/samplechapters/9780123704672/9780123704672.pdf
Kovalkovičová, N., Sutiaková, I., Pistl, J., & Sutiak, V. (2009), Some food toxic for pets. Interdisciplinary toxicology, 2(3), 169–176.
https://doi.org/10.2478/v10102-009-0012-4
