Can cats eat rice?
A little well-cooked, unseasoned rice is harmless and is even used in bland diets for digestive upsets. Nutritionally, cats do not need it.
Why rice for cats?
Rice is not toxic to cats and appears in many commercial foods as a carbohydrate source. Cooked soft and unseasoned, it is easy to digest and is traditionally part of a bland diet alongside chicken for cats recovering from diarrhoea. Nutritionally, however, a carnivore gains little from it — rice fills without nourishing in the feline sense.
How much is okay?
As an occasional addition, a spoonful of cooked rice mixed into the food is fine. In a vet-recommended bland diet, rice can make up a somewhat larger share for a few days. Permanently, rice should stay a minor ingredient at most.
How to feed it?
Cook rice soft in unsalted water — softer than for humans — and serve it plain or mixed with unseasoned chicken. No salt, butter, sauces or spices. Raw rice is off limits.
Risks & caution
Too much rice displaces the animal protein a cat needs and adds unnecessary carbohydrates — a weight-gain risk for indoor cats. Diabetic cats should get rice only after checking with the vet.
Can kittens have rice?
Kittens need concentrated, meat-based nutrition for growth — rice has no place in their ration except within a vet-guided bland diet.
Signs of intolerance
Rice itself rarely causes trouble. If vomiting or diarrhoea follow a rice meal, the cause usually lies elsewhere — reconsider the whole meal and consult the vet if it persists.
Related foods
Frequently asked questions
Is rice good for cats with diarrhoea?
A bland diet of soft-cooked rice and unseasoned chicken is a classic short-term aid for mild digestive upsets. If diarrhoea lasts longer than a day, see the vet.
Can cats eat raw rice?
No. Raw rice is hard to digest and can cause stomach ache. Always cook it soft.
Do cats need carbohydrates?
Not really — cats cover their energy needs from protein and fat. Small carbohydrate shares are tolerated but unnecessary.
Rice or potatoes for the bland diet?
Both work cooked soft and unseasoned; rice is the more established choice. The main component should still be easily digestible protein such as chicken.
Important note
This article never replaces veterinary advice. If you suspect poisoning or symptoms persist, contact your vet or the emergency veterinary service immediately.
Sources: General veterinary recommendations on feline nutrition and bland diets. Last updated: 08/2026.
Want to check another food quickly? Type it into the food checker and see the traffic light instantly. You find an overview of all foods in the food guide.