Pet owners often want to share their meals with their cats, but this can be risky. Many human foods are harmful to cats and their digestive systems, causing problems like vomiting, diarrhoea, kidney failure, and other serious conditions. It’s crucial to know which foods are safe for cats and to feed them a diet specifically designed for them.
The list of hazardous human foods for cats includes but is not limited to:
- Avocado
- Fat trimmings, raw eggs, raw meat, and raw fish
- Onions and garlic
- Grapes and their dried forms such as raisins, sultanas, and currants
- Lilies (though not a food, their toxic properties warrant caution)
- Alcohol
- Dairy products like cheese and milk
- Caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, and energy drinks
- Chocolate
- Sweeteners like Xylitol
Always prioritize your cat’s health by offering them specially designed feline diets and keeping unsafe foods away. Learn which ones to avoid in our concise list of foods that are toxic to cats.
1. Avocado
Toxic Substance: Persin
Why It’s Poisonous: Avocado contains a fungicidal toxin called persin, which can cause serious health problems in many animals, including cats. While the amount of persin varies depending on the type of avocado, all parts of the fruit, including the flesh, pit, and leaves, can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats.
2. Fat Trimmings, Raw Eggs, Raw Meat, and Raw Fish
Toxic Substance: Bacteria, Enzymes
Why They’re Poisonous:
- Fat trimmings: Cooked or raw fat can cause intestinal upset and can lead to pancreatitis.
- Raw eggs: There’s a risk of food poisoning from bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. Additionally, a protein in raw egg whites, called avidin, inhibits the absorption of the B vitamin biotin, which can lead to skin and coat problems.
- Raw meat and fish: Similar to raw eggs, these can carry bacteria that cause food poisoning. Certain fish like tuna when fed regularly can lead to a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, leading to appetite loss, seizures, and even death.
3. Onions and Garlic
Toxic Substance: Thiosulfate
Why They’re Poisonous: Cats lack the ability to properly digest the thiosulfates present in onions and garlic can lead to oxidative damage to red blood cells, causing anemia. This is true for raw, cooked, or powdered forms.
4. Grapes and Their Dried Forms: Raisins, Sultanas, and Currants
Toxic Substance: Unknown
Why They’re Poisonous: The exact substance that makes grapes and their dried forms toxic to cats remains unknown. However, ingestion can lead to kidney failure. Even small amounts can make a cat ill.
5. Lilies
Toxic Substance: Various parts of the lily plant
Why They’re Poisonous: Lilies are extremely toxic to cats. Even small ingestions of any part of the plant can cause severe kidney damage.
6. Alcohol
Toxic Substance: Ethanol
Why It’s Poisonous: Alcohol has the same effect on a cat’s liver and brain that it does on humans, but it takes far less to do its damage. Even a small amount can cause liver failure and brain damage.
7. Cheese and Milk
Toxic Substance: Lactose
Why They’re Poisonous: Most adult cats are lactose intolerant. Their digestive system cannot process dairy foods, and the result can be digestive upset with diarrhea.
8. Tea, Coffee, and Energy Drinks
Toxic Substance: Caffeine
Why They’re Poisonous: Caffeine is extremely toxic to cats and can lead to nervous system stimulation, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors.
9. Chocolate
Toxic Substance: Theobromine
Why It’s Poisonous: Chocolate contains substances known as methylxanthines (specifically theobromine and caffeine), which are toxic to cats. Even a small amount of chocolate can cause severe symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, and heart problems.
10. Xylitol
Toxic Substance: Xylitol
Why It’s Poisonous: Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in many types of gum, candies, and other sugar-free products. In cats, it can lead to an increase in insulin circulating through the body, which can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in hypoglycemia. This drop in blood sugar can lead to vomiting, lethargy, loss of coordination, seizures, and even liver failure.
What Should I do When my Cat Eaten Poisonous Food?
If your cat has ingested poisonous food, it’s crucial to act swiftly to minimize the risk of serious health problems. Here’s what you should do:
- Identify the Poison: If possible, figure out what your cat has eaten. This information will be vital for veterinarians to provide appropriate treatment.
- Contact Your Veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline: Immediate consultation with your veterinarian or a dedicated pet poison control hotline is essential. They can give you specific instructions based on the toxin involved.
- Follow Professional Advice: You might be instructed to bring your cat to the clinic immediately or to perform a specific first aid measure at home. Do not induce vomiting unless expressly advised by a professional, as it can sometimes cause more harm than good.
- Prevent Further Exposure: Ensure that the source of poison is out of reach to prevent your cat or other pets from ingesting it.
- Bring a Sample: If you head to the vet, take a sample of the poison ingested if possible, or any packaging, plant, or material your cat might have consumed. This can help with the diagnosis and treatment.
- Observation: After treatment, observe your cat closely for any changes in behavior or health, and report these to your vet.
Remember, the type of toxin your cat has ingested affects the sort of treatment they’ll need. Some cases might require hospitalization for treatments like activated charcoal administration, IV fluids, or more specific antidotes. Immediate action can be the difference in preventing more severe health issues or even saving your cat’s life.
How to Prevent Cats from Eating Harmful Foods?
Preventing cats from ingesting harmful foods is a vital part of ensuring their overall health and wellbeing. Here are some effective methods:
- Keep Harmful Foods Out of Reach: Cats are famously curious, and some are attracted to the smell or taste of human food. Storing dangerous foods in secure locations that your cat can’t access can prevent unintended ingestion.
- Feeding Routine: Regular feeding times can help cats resist the temptation to go hunting for other foods. If you have more than one cat, feeding them separately can prevent food stealing and help manage their individual diets.
- Provide a Balanced Diet: Providing a balanced and nutritious diet specifically designed for cats can fulfill their dietary needs, reducing the likelihood they’ll search for other foods.
- Training: Although it can be challenging, training your cat to avoid certain foods is possible. Start by discouraging your cat from jumping on kitchen counters or tables and promptly removing uneaten food.
- Use Closed Containers or Cat-Proof Bins: Ensure that any food waste is stored in a closed container or a cat-proof bin so that your cat is unable to gain access to discarded, potentially harmful food items.
Always remember, what works best may depend on your cat’s nature and habits. It’s important to observe and adapt these strategies accordingly to ensure optimal results.