Quantity

• Most commercial cat foods, both dry and canned, are formulated to provide your cat with the vitamins and minerals it needs, including taurine, an amino acid in meat organs which is vital to your cat's health. Since cats eat only when they are hungry, loading up your kitty on table scraps will prevent her from eating her specially-formulated food, and she could develop vitamin deficiencies.
  
  

Allergies

• Like humans, cats can develop food allergies, so watch for possible adverse reactions to the food you provide. Also, despite the cherished image of cats lapping up bowls of milk, many felines are actually lactose intolerant.
  
  

Meat

• Many pet owners believe that cats should eat raw meat because it approximates what the animals eat in the wild. But beware: cats can catch e. coli and salmonella as easily as humans. For this reason, the raw meat diet is controversial. Cooked meat is fine, and your cat will love it.
  
  

Toxic Foods

• Certain foods that are safely enjoyed by humans are absolutely poisonous, and possibly fatal, to cats: chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes (including raisins), caffeine, alcohol and xylitol (a sweetener commonly found in chewing gum). Also, you can feed the following to your cat only if it is cooked, not raw: potatoes, tomatoes, paprika, chili pepper, eggplant. These are all in the potato family, and are dangerous to cats in their raw forms.
  
  

Other Foods

• Cats need to eat mostly meat, though some fruit, vegetables and whole grains are good for them too, for the extra fiber and nutrients. For the healthiest diet, avoid feeding your cat foods containing corn, soy or artificial colors.