7 Foods You must never Feed Your cat
a lot of cats are picky eaters, and as such, less likely to be interested in some human foods than dogs, but because a cat’s digestive system is different from a human’s, some human foods can be highly toxic and even deadly to cats.
The following seven foods must never be given to cats. If your cat accidentally ingests any of these foods, emergency veterinary treatment may be needed and an immediate check out to the veterinarian is essential.
Onions and garlic
All members of the onion family (shallots, onions, garlic, scallions, etc.) consist of a compound that can damage cats’ red blood cells if eaten in sufficient quantities. some of these are a lot more toxic than others, and cooking does not destroy the toxin. While a lot of cats probably wouldn’t eat raw onions or garlic, even products that consist of small traces can be dangerous. A particular caution applies to baby food, which is typically used to lure sick cats to eat: some brands consist of onion powder to add flavoring. read labels very carefully before feeding.
Alcohol
Alcohol can be very hazardous for cats, leading to intoxication, coma and even death. due to their small size, cats are far a lot more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than humans. Cats are typically attracted to mixed drinks consisting of cream or milk, such as eggnog.
Chocolate
Even though cats don’t have a sweet tooth, some cats will eat chocolate as part of nibbling on a cookie, candy or other baked treats. chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine. The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine levels.
Moldy or spoiled food
Some molds can produce multiple toxins that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and neurological symptoms.
Raw fish
Eating raw fish can result in a thiamine deficiency, which can lead to of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
Raw bread dough
Dough made with live yeast can be very hazardous for cats. The stomach supplies an optimal environment for yeast to multiply. This will lead to the dough broadening in the stomach, which can be severe enough to cut off blood flow to the stomach wall and affect breathing. It can also cause the stomach to rupture. As yeast metabolizes the sugar in the dough, alcohol is produced, which can lead to alcohol poisoning.
Cooked bones
Gnawing on Raw bones can be a terrific way for kitty to keep her teeth clean, but never give cooked bones to your cat. cooked bones can splinter and cause intestinal perforations.
This post was previously published on Answers.com and is republished with permission.
Ingrid King
Table of Contents
Onions and garlic
Alcohol
Chocolate
Moldy or spoiled food
Raw fish
Raw bread dough
Cooked bones
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21 comments on 7 Foods You must never Feed Your Cat
mary says:
October 31, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Ingrid, this was SO timely. someone gave me a jar of gefilte fish. The last ingredient was onion. mostly fish though, so I was inclined to give it. Your column gave me pause. I verified with our vet, Dr. Levy, who confirmed it! even small quantities can be toxic. then we had a big laugh at how unappetizing it can be even for we humans, but if you are going to have it, accompany with something spicy, fyi. So, my Tigger also is banned from sharing my people tuna salad, which I make with chopped onion, but I can make a special cat recipe. thanks Ingrid.
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Ingrid says:
November 1, 2018 at 5:30 am
I’m thankful this was helpful, Mary – and I love that you’re making a special cat-safe version of your tuna salad! ?
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Janine says:
August 13, 2018 at 8:46 am
Last night my stinker of a new baby tried getting in a mixed drink that I was drinking. Of course I didn’t let her have any (I knew better), but it made me and my spouse laugh at how persistent she was.
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Ingrid says:
August 13, 2018 at 1:48 pm
That’s pretty funny, Janine!
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Janine says:
August 13, 2018 at 4:31 pm
We just got her Saturday and she has been making us laugh ever since. She is so sweet and funny. I’m leaving in a few minutes to take her to my vet for a kitten checkup. the rescue said they did a lot of stuff, but I want her to meet my vet too considering that he is who she will be seeing. She needs her spay stitches eliminated too.
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Raine says:
August 13, 2018 at 3:46 am
Always exceptional reminders. I’ve used baby food in the past according to my vet’s instructions. My Blazie is going in for dental work in a few weeks so I will be very alert to any ingredients. I see all of your suggestions on above comments and I’ll be looking into those. thank you again.
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De K says:
October 22, 2017 at 12:13 pm
My 18 year old Clyde has had 3 teeth pulled in thenullnull