As a pet owner, you should be familiar with the list of things your cat shouldn’t eat. Even though some of these foods are on the “do not eat” list for humans, they’re deadly to cats.
When you have a cat, it can be hard to know what’s safe for her to eat. And the list of things she shouldn’t eat is long. Here are some foods that are potentially dangerous to your cat.
- Chocolate
- Avocado
- Onions, garlic, or chives (even in small quantities)
- Milk products other than dairy (including eggs)
- Caffeine (found in coffee and tea)
- Grapes and raisins (even if they have been cooked first)
Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic to cats. Chocolate contains theobromine, a toxic chemical that can be harmful to your cat’s health. If your cat ingests chocolate, you should contact your veterinarian immediately because of the following potential effects:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hyperactivity
Chocolate can also be poisonous to dogs and other animals.
Avocado
Avocado contains persin, a toxin that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even death in cats. This is why it’s best to keep avocados out of your cat’s reach.
Many people feed their cats avocado because it’s a common ingredient in many foods and treats for humans. However, avocado isn’t safe for cats because avocados contain persin, which can be harmful or deadly to them (but not humans). If you’re concerned about your cat eating too much avocado fruit without knowing any better, you should speak with your vet about this situation as soon as possible.
Onions, garlic, or chives
If your cat has been eating onions, garlic, or chives, you may have noticed some alarming symptoms: anemic gums, gastrointestinal irritation, and/or vomiting. Why do these foods affect cats so negatively? The answer is in their sulfur compounds (sulfoxides). Cats are sensitive to the sulfoxides in onions, garlic, and chives. Sulfoxides can cause anemia in cats due to hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells), as well as gastrointestinal irritation. They also can cause vomiting and diarrhea if eaten in large quantities.
Milk products other than dairy
- Milk products other than dairy. Milk is a food that not only cats are lactose intolerant, but many people are too. If you’re looking for a tasty treat for the cat, don’t give him milk because it has lactose in it.
- Ice cream. Just like humans, cats cannot eat ice cream without getting sick (and possibly even throwing up). In fact, most cats shouldn’t eat any dairy besides milk itself.
- Yogurt and sour cream can also cause stomach problems due to their high levels of bacteria cultures or bacteria themselves if they’re not pasteurized well enough before going onto shelves at supermarkets or stores where people buy them from their refrigerators after buying them from supermarket managers who work at retail stores that sell food products like yogurt and sour cream; so keep these items away from your cat as well.
Caffeine
Caffeine can be a stimulant, causing heart palpitations and insomnia. It also acts as a diuretic, which means that it causes your cat to urinate more often. In addition, caffeine can cause anxiety (in both cats and humans), hyperactivity, and seizures in animals who are sensitive to it.
Grapes and raisins
Raisins and grapes are known to be toxic to both dogs and cats. They contain a substance called “ureaplasmin,” which can cause acute kidney failure in cats. This condition is equally harmful to humans, but it’s far more common in felines than in their canine counterparts. If your cat consumes raisins or grapes, you should take them to the veterinarian immediately for treatment.
Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts are quite toxic to cats. They contain a compound called alpha-terthienyl, which can be fatal. Even the shells and unroasted nuts should be avoided, because they may contain traces of the toxin.
Uncooked meats, eggs, and bones
Uncooked meats, eggs, and bones should not be fed to your cat.
Raw meats can contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Raw eggs are not only hard for cats to digest, but they may also contain harmful salmonella bacteria. Bones from any animal can splinter and cause internal damage if swallowed by a cat. Cooked bones have been known to splinter as well and cause internal damage when eaten by a cat or dog. Cooked meat products such as hot dogs can also cause pancreatitis in cats because of their high-fat content and additives like salt which is toxic to cats and nitrates found in processed meats like bacon and sausage links (these may also trigger salmonella poisoning).