9 No Go Foods for Cats

This post first appeared on ProtectaPet here.

As we all know, cats are true members of the family, and it can feel natural to want to give them whatever you’re eating, or to let them try something that you may think is harmless.

However, there are certain foods that can be very damaging to our feline friends which should be avoided at all costs. It is our duty as a pet owner to be responsible that our cat doesn’t eat anything it shouldn’t be eating and that they only consume the correct foods.

Feeling a bit stingy on your kitty? Take a look at this daily Paws Blog post for 9 human food that your cat CAN eat!

GRAPES

There is still some mystery as to why grapes make some cats very ill, but there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that they can in fact be very toxic for some felines. Be sure not to leave any grapes lying around for your cat to eat because it can lead to a wide variety of different side effects from abdominal pain, vomiting and loss of appetite.

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Giving your cat a bowl of milk to enjoy was definitely not an uncommon thing to see, but in fact, cats are lactose intolerant. Their bodies don’t have the enzymes that they need to digest dairy products properly. This is why excessive consumption of dairy can lead to nasty digestion issues and vomiting.

ALCOHOL

Even a small amount of alcohol can be extremely harmful for your cat, being able to cause horrendous side effects such as seizures, comas and even death in some cases. Please ensure that you have no open alcohol lying around where your cat is able to access it.

TUNA

In small amounts, giving your cat some tuna most likely won’t present any issues, but cats do not get the nutrition they need from tuna so including it in their everyday diet would not be a responsible thing to do. Mercury poisoning is a threat if there is too much Tuna consumed in a cat’s diet and overall excess of Tuna in the diet can lead to malnutrition.

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RAW EGGS

Whilst cooked eggs are fine, raw eggs can contain E. Coli and Salmonella which can cause massive digestive issues for our feline friends. This can lead to poisoning which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.

CHOCOLATE

Chocolate is just as bad for cats as it is for dogs, and even a small amount can do some damage. Chocolate contains theobromine, which our bodies can handle, but the same cannot be said for cats. Their bodies aren’t able to and can lead to a nasty build up of the toxic substance theobromine which can cause liver failure, increased heart rate, seizures, vomiting and diarrhea.

MEDICINE

Cats being poisoned by consuming human medication is more common than you think. For example if there is a packet of paracetamol lying around which your cat manages to get into, this can lead to severe health issues. Neurological issues, digestive and respiratory problems are all possible even if just a small amount of a basic human over the counter medication can have horrendous side effects.

ONIONS AND GARLIC

Garlic and Onion are a part of the Allium family which also includes chives, shallots and leeks. These are all toxic to your cats and should be avoided as they can damage your cats’ red blood cells and can lead to anemia. Other symptoms of poisoning include red/brown urine, fast heart rate, drooling and poor appetite.

NUTS

Nuts aren’t meant to have a place in a cat’s diet, because they contain high amounts of fat which can cause pancreatitis in our feline friends which can be very serious. They can also be a nuisance if they aren’t chewed or swallowed properly and can be an obstruction in certain parts of the cat’s body such as the intestines and stomach. It’s much better for your cat to get protein and fat from meat, and not nuts.