I have often wondered about the effects of people-food on cats. Do they like it? Is it safe? Should we feed it to them?

To test this, I designed a series of scientific studies using my own two cats.

I placed Cat A and Cat B on the coffee table in front of the couch (Note - the actual cat names have been witheld to protect their privacy). Over a period spanning 3 minutes, I placed samples of human food before each cat - Cat A to the left, and Cat B to the right. Each recieved an equal sample of: hot-dog, popcorn, cheese, salami, licorice, and french-fry.

The Results:

Cat A showed little intest in eating the people-food. However, she did bat some of it around a bit, like it was a toy, until it fell off of the coffee table, and then she jumped off the coffee table and went outside.

Cat B ate each peice of people-food, then licked her wrist and rubbed it on her face.

Conclusion:

Obviously, cats like people-food when you feed it to them from your right hand. However, they do not like it when you feed it to them from your left hand.

Copyright © Stephen Capps
February 20, 1999