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Being a cat parent is a huge responsibility. One of the biggest responsibilities is making sure that your cat is safe. With that said, an important way to keep your cat safe is to not feed them toxic foods. While this may sound like common sense, many cat owners are surprised to learn which foods can cause illness, or even death, in cats. Believe it or not, some of these foods are even mistakenly thought to be healthy for cats. Yikes! In order to raise awareness about this topic, we compiled a list of household foods that are toxic or dangerous to cats.
1. Milk and Other Dairy
A lot of cat owners think that milk is healthy and safe to give a cat. Surprisingly, this common belief is a myth. The truth is that most cats are lactose intolerant, meaning they have trouble digesting the lactose in milk. This trouble can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. With that said, their bodies are simply not equipped to handle dairy, which is why it is very important to give a cat a lactose-free diet. The only exception to this “no dairy” rule is goat milk. Since raw goat milk is unpasteurized, it’s very rich in lactase, which means that cats can digest it. Some healthy cat treats are even made with goat milk.
2. Raw Eggs, Raw Meat, and Raw Fish
In theory, raw eggs, meats, and fish sound harmless for a cat. After all, their wild ancestors ate raw. However, just like humans, these raw foods can lead to salmonella or E. coli poisoning in cats. In raw egg whites specifically, there’s an enzyme that can interfere with a cat’s absorption of the vitamin biotin. Although rare, this is still a possibility that can cause skin and coat problems in cats. In raw fish specifically, there’s an enzyme that destroys thiamine, which is an essential B vitamin for cats. A deficiency in thiamine can cause serious neurological problems.
3. Fat and Bones
Many pet owners are guilty of treating their furry friends to table scraps without realizing the dangers. However, table scraps are often fat that is trimmed off bones. This is alarming because both fat and bones are dangerous to cats. Fat, whether it’s raw or cooked, can cause vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, swallowing a bone can cause a cat to choke. A bone can also cause a deadly obstruction in a cat’s digestive system. Yikes!
4. Garlic, Onions, Chives, etc.
Garlic and onions are common ingredients in many human meals. However, garlic, onions, chives, and other members of the onion family are toxic to cats. While a very small amount of these foods isn’t deadly, large amounts can mess with your cat’s digestive system. Plus, eating these ingredients for a long period of time could also damage a cat’s red blood cells which can lead to anemia.
5. Caffeine
Caffeine can be fatal to cats. The stimulants in caffeinated drinks can cause rapid breathing, shaking, restlessness, muscle tremors, increased body temperature, heart palpitations, vomiting, and diarrhea. What’s even scarier? If a cat is poisoned with caffeine, there is no antidote. Also, remember that caffeine is in more than just coffee. Caffeine can also be found in tea, energy drinks, stimulant drinks, and chocolate.
6. Chocolate
Speaking of chocolate, it’s almost common knowledge that chocolate is poisonous to dogs. But chocolate is just as toxic to cats. Aside from caffeine, another dangerous ingredient is theobromine, another stimulant that is bad for a cat’s heart, muscles, and nervous system. If a cat eats chocolate, it can cause abdominal discomfort, heart palpitations, tremors, seizures, and death. As a general rule of thumb, darker chocolates are more lethal than milk and white chocolates. Nonetheless, all chocolate should still be kept far away from cats.
7. Alcohol and Raw Dough
It should be no surprise that alcohol is toxic to cats. After all, alcohol is even dangerous for a human if a large enough amount is consumed. However, unlike humans, even the tiniest amount of alcohol is dangerous for cats. If a cat drinks alcohol, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, disorientation, trouble breathing, liver and neurological damage, coma, and even death. However, the dangers aren’t limited to liquor or wines. Any foods containing alcohol are just as toxic, including raw dough.
8. Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins are often looked at as healthy treats. While this is true for humans, these fruits are actually toxic to cats. However, the reason for this is unknown. What experts do know is that even a small amount of grapes or raisins can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, or kidney failure. Needless to say, it’s best to keep these fruits far away from cats.
DISCLAIMER: This article is made for entertainment purposes only. This is NOT medical advice. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. ALWAYS seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
Resources
https://avodermnatural.com/blog/human-foods-toxic-to-cats/
https://www.feederssupply.com/post/2017/08/22/the-benefits-of-raw-goat-milk
https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/nutrition-feeding/toxic-foods-for-cats
https://pets.webmd.com/cats/ss/slideshow-foods-your-cat-should-never-eat
Disclaimer: The Purring Journal is not in the medical field. This post is made for entertainment purposes only. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. Always seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
