---
title: "Can dogs and cats eat cheese?"
description: "Cheese and pets: fine in small amounts. What it does, whether the dose matters, and how dogs, cats, rabbits and birds differ."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cheese/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Can pets eat cheese?

**Cheese: Fine in small amounts**

Dogs: In moderation · Cats: In moderation

## By animal

| Animal | Verdict | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dogs | In moderation | A useful training treat. Watch the fat and salt, and avoid blue cheese specifically. |
| Cats | In moderation | Not toxic, and lactose applies as it does to milk. |

## What it actually does

Hard cheese is low enough in lactose that most dogs tolerate it, and it is one of the most effective high-value training rewards there is. Two caveats: the fat content can trigger pancreatitis in a predisposed dog, and blue cheese is a separate case — the Penicillium roqueforti used to make it can produce roquefortine C, a tremorgenic compound, which is why blue cheese and mouldy dairy are on the avoid list while cheddar is not.

No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.

> Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.

## Dairy

| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Milk and cream | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Yoghurt | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |

## Common questions

### Can dogs eat cheese?

Fine in small amounts. A useful training treat. Watch the fat and salt, and avoid blue cheese specifically.

### Can cats eat cheese?

Fine in small amounts. Not toxic, and lactose applies as it does to milk.

### What does cheese actually do?

Hard cheese is low enough in lactose that most dogs tolerate it, and it is one of the most effective high-value training rewards there is. Two caveats: the fat content can trigger pancreatitis in a predisposed dog, and blue cheese is a separate case — the Penicillium roqueforti used to make it can produce roquefortine C, a tremorgenic compound, which is why blue cheese and mouldy dairy are on the avoid list while cheddar is not.

## Related pages

- [Can pets eat milk and cream?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/milk/)
- [Can pets eat yoghurt?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/yoghurt/)
- [Can pets eat chocolate?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/chocolate/)
- [Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/grapes/)
- [Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/onion-garlic/)
- [Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/xylitol/)
- [Everything, for dogs](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/dog/)
- [Everything, for cats](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cat/)

## Sources

- Animal Poison Control Center — toxic and non-toxic lists — ASPCA (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control)