Foods Cats Should Never Eat – Avoid a scary and potentially fatal situation by making sure your feline friend avoids eating these common foods that are toxic to cats.
Most cats are picky eaters, but that doesn’t mean they always avoid foods that are bad for them. Cats can develop the same bad habits as dogs, whether it’s eating food at the table or stealing something tasty from the kitchen counter. And while some “people” foods are safe for pets, other foods are toxic to cats, even in small amounts.
Foods Cats Should Never Eat
“Two important things to remember are that all pet foods are designed to be nutritionally complete foods, which means they don’t need to be supplemented with treats or additional foods,” says Travis Arndt, Animal Medical Center medical director. Central America. “Second, the digestive systems of cats and kittens require a consistent diet of the same food every day.” If you’re wondering what it’s all about, check out these vet-approved cat diets, including the best dry food.
Human Foods Dogs Can & Can’t Eat [infographic]
How can you tell if your cat is sick? Food poisoning can take many forms, from upset stomach and diarrhea to jaundice, seizures and death. Also, two cats fed the same “no” food can have different reactions, so it can be hard to know when to call the vet. “Suppose your cat is experiencing any symptoms associated with eating a toxic food, or you’ve seen him eat the offending food,” says veterinarian Michelle Burch, DVM, who works with Safe Hounds Pet Insurance. “In that case, I recommend an evaluation. with your primary care veterinarian or an emergency hospital.
If you’re not sure if your cat needs medical evaluation, try calling the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Hotline (855-764-7661). You will need to follow these protocols if you have a dog that has eaten toxic food. But back to your feline friend: you need to keep the following foods out of paw reach to avoid a scary situation in the first place.
Some cats reject canned tuna. But a little bite here and there can be more dangerous. “If canned tuna is less than 10 percent of your total dietary intake, that’s fine,” Dr. Birch says. But more than that, he explains, they can actually end up with nutritional deficiencies, because the vitamins and minerals they need, especially calcium, are not found in tuna.
On top of that, tuna meat, especially bluefin tuna, can cause thiamine deficiency, leading to neurological symptoms including mental dullness, insomnia, blindness, head tilt, abnormal eye movements, and seizures. “If the cat is not evaluated and treated immediately, thiamine deficiency can lead to death,” Dr. Birch says.
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Still not convinced? Feeding cats large amounts of tuna can severely increase the risk of pancreatitis, bleeding disorders and lower urinary tract diseases, which can lead to inflammation of the bladder and ureters, spasms and urinary obstruction, says Dr. Symptoms of lower urinary tract disease include blood in the urine, frequent trips to the litter box, straining to urinate, and abdominal pain. If your cat does not eat, food-related illnesses can occur.
Cats love spicy food, but they shouldn’t eat anything cooked with onion and garlic, which appear in some baby foods. These ingredients cause hemolytic anemia, which is why they are high on the list of toxic cat foods to avoid. “Eating onions and garlic causes damage to red blood cells due to oxidative stress, which overwhelms the cells’ antioxidant capabilities,” Dr. Birch explains. “Cats are among the species most sensitive to this damage due to their low catalytic activity and high risk of oxidative injury to red blood cells.”
Symptoms of garlic toxicity usually appear within 24 hours of consumption, but can be delayed up to seven days. “After red blood cell damage becomes significant, cats may display lethargy, reluctance to eat, increased respiratory rate, increased heart rate, weakness, exercise intolerance, jaundiced gums, eyes and skin, and urine red and brown,” says Dr. Burch. You want to make sure you don’t grow onions or garlic on your windowsill or windowsill. The same goes for these other plants that are poisonous to cats.
Grapes and raisins have 100 percent limits, there is no safe minimum. “Until recently, veterinarians weren’t sure of the exact factor that causes the toxicity of grapes and raisins,” Dr. Birch says. But recent studies suggest that tartaric acid may be to blame. Tartaric acid concentrations in grapes can vary depending on their type, how they were grown, and how ripe they are, he says. The varying amounts of tartaric acid in each grape may explain why some animals become severely ill and others remain unaffected, but the toxicity of consuming these foods can lead to rapid kidney failure. “Symptoms can start as early as 24 hours after ingestion,” Dr. Burch says, “Vomiting, increased drinking, poor appetite, less urination, and stomach pain.” Here are more fruits (and vegetables) dogs can’t eat.
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We hope your cat doesn’t crave Starbucks or Red Bull. Caffeine in brewed coffee, ground coffee, or energy drinks can cause vomiting, diarrhea, elevated body temperature, tremors, cardiac arrhythmias, and seizures. “Your cat will need to consume large amounts of these beverages before toxicity occurs,” he explains, “but if your cat exhibits any of these symptoms, I recommend veterinary evaluation.”
Although chocolate has health benefits for humans, it is a known poison for dogs. Turns out cats shouldn’t eat chocolate bones, sorry kitty! Most cats don’t have a sweet tooth, so they don’t reach for chocolate, says Dr. Birch.
“Substances found in chocolate that are toxic to cats and dogs are called methylxanthines,” Dr. Birch explains. “Ingestion of these substances can cause vomiting, diarrhea, increased body temperature, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rhythms, abdominal pain, general malaise, increased alcohol consumption, and seizures: Dark chocolate has a high concentration of methylxanthines.” Baking chocolate is bad, FYI. Even a small square can make your cat seriously ill.
Cats may like to lick milk from a saucer, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for them. Cats are actually lactose intolerant, says Dr. Burch explains that they shouldn’t eat milk, cheese, yogurt, or any other dairy products, even if they ask. “Although cats can enjoy the taste of dairy products, cats lose the ability to digest lactose after they are weaned from their mothers,” says Dr. Undigested lactose causes bacterial overgrowth in the cat’s intestines and diarrhea. Be careful with “cat milk” treats formulated with reduced lactose, says Dr. That’s because they can still upset your stomach, says Birch.
Things That Are Poisonous For Cats
Cats can enjoy a good bite of beef just as much as their canine brethren, but resist the urge to slip one under the table for your kitty. Although not a toxic food for cats, “bones can cause tooth fractures, which can lead to pulp exposure, which is painful and can lead to tooth root infections if not treated promptly.” “, says Dr. Burch warned. Additionally, bone fragments can cause choking, injure the intestinal tract, or obstruct your intestines and require surgical removal. “Symptoms of bone swallowing injuries include choking, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or shortness of breath due to a lack of interest in your usual food,” Dr. Birch says. And don’t think fish is safe for cats. “Feeding fresh fish to cats can also put cats at risk of ingesting small bones and getting them stuck in the throat or gastrointestinal tract,” says Dr. Of course, food isn’t the only danger you need to be aware of. : These household items can be very dangerous for your pet.
Your cat may be the king of the jungle in your home, but she should still not eat raw meat or undercooked eggs due to the high risk of foodborne illness. “If your cat eats these things, he’s at a higher risk of contracting salmonella or E. coli,” Dr. Birch says. “These foodborne illnesses can be passed from your cat to you or to your family members, especially if she has a compromised immune system. Symptoms of foodborne illness include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
Sounds harmless enough, but any raw flour that contains yeast can be very harmful to cats. The flour causes severe distension (bloating) of the stomach, says Dr. And it also creates alcohol, which basically makes the cat drunk, says Birch. (Yes, you read that right.) “After eating raw yeast dough,” Dr. Birch says, “Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, confusion, shortness of breath, and even death.”
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