Foods Your Cat Should Not Eat - learn more

There is a tremendous quantity of information available online today. Most of which can address a wide array of different topics, including how to take care of your pets without feeding them foods that can be toxic. Since there are foods they cannot eat safely, it would be in your best interest to know the food types and why they are considered dangerous to their health and safety. For instance, if you were to feed your cat any of the harmful foods listed below, they may become deathly sick.

Foods that are toxic to cats

​1. Onions, Garlic, Leeks and Chives ​

Onion and garlic poisoning can result in gastroenteritis, which can cause drooling, vomiting, nausea, oral irritation, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks are part of the Allium family and can be poisonous to cats in specific doses. Alliums relax the heart muscles and dilate blood vessels causing low blood pressure and circulatory problems. It will impede oxygen delivery to vital organs and diminish the blood's ability to clot. 

Eating onions, garlic, chives, and leeks will destroy blood cells. As a result, it will lead to symptoms of anemia, including an increased respiratory rate, an elevated heart rate, lethargy, pale gums, weakness, collapse, exercise intolerance, and even death.
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In small amounts, onion and garlic poisoning may have a delayed onset and not apparent for several days. However, more significant ingestions can be toxic for your cat with immediate reactions. Call an emergency vet clinic or your veterinarian if you question whether your cat has eaten any of these plants.

​2. Alcohol IN FOODS can be toxic to cats 

Some foods in the home may include wine, beer, or other types of liquor. Because of this factor, cat owners should be aware of the severe effects of a small amount of alcohol on their cat's health. For instance, when a cat is exposed to alcohol (just like Uncle Ted), they suffer the following symptoms:  ​
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• Vomiting
• Breathing problems
• Tremors
• Other severe conditions like a coma or a fatality
• Diarrhea

​3. CHOCOLATE and Caffeine can be toxic to cats 

Chocolate and caffeine can be lethal for cats. Although in most cases, you will not find cats getting into your candy stash. They can be coaxed by their owners, who think they are giving their cats a treat. You will discover a toxic agent in chocolate called theobromine. Theobromine absorbs much more slowly in cats than it does in humans. Just a tiny amount of chocolate, as little as 2oz, can be toxic to a small cat.

Here are some symptoms that cats may have if they consume chocolate or caffeine:
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• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Elevated blood pressure
• Loss of muscle control or muscle rigidity
• Tremors or seizures
• Rapid breathing
• Cardiac Arrest
• Coma

​4. Dog Food can be harmful to cats 

​Dog chow is non-toxic and will not cause harm to your cat with just a few nibbles; know that dog food is not developed to meet a cat's nutritional needs. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that cats must eat meat. Therefore, cat food is much higher in meat-based protein than dog food. As long as cat food makes up 90% of their daily calories, it's okay for the occasional snack.

​5. GRAPES & RAISINS are toxic to cats 

​Grapes or raisins can be toxic to cats. The toxicity can be even more dangerous than chocolate. Feeding your cat grapes or raisins can lead to kidney damage or even life-threatening kidney failure. It is unclear how many grapes or raisins it would take to poison a cat. The safest approach is to avoid letting your cat eat any grapes or raisins.

​6. MILK & DAIRY PRODUCTS can be harmful to cats

​Milk and dairy can be harmful to cats because most cats are lactose-intolerant. Most people may say that milk and dairy products are safe to give your cat. Although this may seem ordinary, this is not necessarily true in all cases. For instance, as cats mature, most become lactose intolerant. And once this happens, they will also have trouble digesting milk and other dairy products. If cats consume high and frequent amounts, it can lead to diarrhea and gastrointestinal pain.

​7. RAW MEAT, EGGS & FISH can be harmful to cats

​Eating raw meat, eggs, and fish can be harmful to cats. When you plan for their diet, you should avoid adding raw eggs, raw meats, or raw fish because of bacteria contaminants like Salmonella and E. coli in these foods. Like these bacteria can be harmful to humans, they can be just as damaging to a cat and their immune systems (IE., reduces the absorption of essential vitamins in their body). Also, in raw fish, there is an enzyme that destroys thiamine. Thiamine is a crucial B vitamin for your cat, and a lack of thiamine can cause severe neurological problems.

​8. CANNED TUNA can be harmful to cats

​Yes, too much of a good thing, like canned tuna, can be harmful to cats. You may think that feeding your cat canned tuna all the time is okay since tuna and cats are typically associated together. While this may have been a highly recommended diet for some people, you need to know the facts and the limits. For instance, feeding a cat a diet of canned tuna may cause the cat to suffer from malnourishment. Also, the cat may be at risk of suffering from mercury poisoning if they are fed too much over time. However, in moderation, tuna can be a healthy treat for most cats; many commercial cat foods contain tuna as an ingredient.

​9. Raw Dough is harmful to cats 

As the yeast ferments, the carbohydrates in the dough start producing ethanol and carbon dioxide. Also, the dough needs to rise, precisely what it would do in your cat's stomach. As the dough swells, the cat's stomach can stretch the abdomen and cause severe pain.

​10. Baby Food

​Simple meat-based baby food with no seasonings like garlic or onion can be safe for cats. In some cases, as a temporary meal replacement. However, just because meat-based baby food is safe for cats, it doesn't mean it's a nutritionally complete meal. As obligate carnivores, cats require specific vitamins and amino acids found only in fresh meat. As long as cat food makes up 90% of their daily calories, it's okay for the occasional snack.

summary 

​Foods that are HARMFUL or Toxic to Cats:

1. ONIONS, GARLIC, LEEKS, AND CHIVES
​2. ALCOHOL IN FOODS
​​3. CHOCOLATE AND CAFFEINE
​​4. DOG FOOD (As A Primary Source) 
5. GRAPES & RAISINS
6. MILK & DAIRY PRODUCTS
​7. RAW MEAT, EGGS & FISH
​​8. CANNED TUNA (As A Primary Source) 
​9. RAW DOUGH​
​​10. BABY FOOD (As A Primary Source) 

​Conclusion

​Cats are notoriously picky eaters of food, so it's relatively uncommon to see food-related toxicity in cats. However, a cat will probably have eaten toxic food because humans gave them the food most of the time. Now that you are more informed on what not to feed your cat, good news for you. While some foods are safe in moderation, it's always best to be on the safe side and give your cats approved food. Nowadays, there are more choices than you can shake a stick at; you should have no problem finding something your kitty loves.