Cats are curious creatures, often sniffing around for new experiences, including tasting different foods. While their curiosity is charming, it can sometimes lead them into dangerous territory.
Many common human foods can be bad for cats, posing severe health risks. As a responsible cat owner, knowing which foods are harmful is crucial. Here’s a comprehensive list of 13 foods you should never let your cat consume.
1. Onions & Garlic: Deadly Duo
Both onions and garlic are staples in many kitchens, adding flavor to various dishes. However, for cats, they can be lethal. Onions and garlic, whether raw, cooked, or powdered, contain compounds that can damage a cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. (ref)
Even small amounts can cause significant harm. Symptoms of onion or garlic poisoning include lethargy, weakness, and reduced appetite. In severe cases, it can lead to a condition known as hemolytic anemia, which can be fatal if not treated promptly.
2. Chocolate: Sweet but Fatal
Chocolate is a well-known danger to dogs, but it is equally hazardous to cats. It contains theobromine and caffeine, stimulants that cats cannot metabolize effectively. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are especially dangerous due to their higher concentrations of these substances.
Ingesting chocolate can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. In severe cases, it can lead to death. It’s crucial to keep all forms of chocolate out of your cat’s reach.
3. Alcohol: No Booze for Cats
While it might seem obvious, alcohol is extremely toxic to cats. Even small amounts can cause severe health issues. Alcohol affects cats’ central nervous system and can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors, and even coma.
Consumption of alcohol can also result in a dangerous drop in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Immediate veterinary attention is necessary if your cat ingests any alcohol.
4. Grapes & Raisins: Tiny Terrors
Grapes and raisins, though healthy for humans, can cause acute kidney failure in cats. The exact substance that causes this reaction is still unknown, but even small amounts can be highly toxic.
Symptoms of grape or raisin poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and abdominal pain. If left untreated, it can lead to reduced urine output and kidney failure, which can be fatal.
5. Caffeine: Perk Up to Danger
Caffeine is another substance that cats are highly sensitive to. Found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and certain medications, caffeine can cause serious health issues in cats.
Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, and seizures. High doses can be fatal. Ensure that all caffeinated products are stored safely out of your cat’s reach.
6. Raw Eggs: Not a Good Breakfast
Raw eggs pose a dual threat to cats. They can contain bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli, which can cause food poisoning. Additionally, raw egg whites contain avidin, a protein that can interfere with the absorption of biotin, a B vitamin essential for healthy skin and coat.
Symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. A deficiency in biotin can lead to skin problems and poor coat health. It’s best to avoid feeding your cat raw eggs altogether.
7. Raw Fish: No Sushi for Kitty
Feeding your cat raw fish might seem like a treat, but it can lead to health issues. Raw fish can contain bacteria and parasites harmful to cats. Additionally, some raw fish contains an enzyme called thiaminase, which destroys thiamine (vitamin B1). (ref)
Thiamine deficiency can cause neurological problems, including seizures and coma. Symptoms of bacterial infection include vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Always ensure fish is properly cooked before giving it to your cat.
8. Dairy Products: Milk Myth
Many people associate cats with milk, but dairy products can be problematic. Most cats are lactose intolerant, meaning they lack the enzyme lactase needed to digest lactose in milk and other dairy products.
Consuming dairy can lead to digestive upset, including diarrhea and stomach pain. To prevent discomfort, it’s best to provide your cat with lactose-free alternatives or avoid dairy altogether.
9. Xylitol: Sweet & Deadly
Xylitol is a common sugar substitute found in sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods, and some peanut butter brands. While it’s safe for humans, xylitol is highly toxic to cats, leading to rapid insulin release and severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Symptoms include vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and liver failure. If you suspect your cat has ingested xylitol, seek veterinary help immediately, as it can be life-threatening.
10. Bones: Hazardous Chews
Cooked bones can splinter and cause severe damage to a cat’s digestive tract. They can become lodged in the throat, causing choking or puncturing the stomach or intestines, leading to serious infections.
While raw bones are less likely to splinter, they can still pose risks, such as dental fractures or intestinal blockages. It’s safer to avoid giving your cat bones and opt for specially designed dental treats instead.
11. Fat Trimmings: Too Rich to Handle
Fat trimmings from meat, whether cooked or raw, can cause pancreatitis in cats. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can lead to severe abdominal pain and digestive issues.
Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Avoid giving your cat fatty scraps from your plate, and opt for leaner, healthier treats instead.
12. Dog Food: Not for Felines
While an occasional bite of dog food won’t harm your cat, it’s not suitable for regular consumption. Dog food lacks the essential nutrients cats need, such as taurine, an amino acid vital for heart and eye health. (ref)
Long-term feeding of dog food can lead to nutritional deficiencies, affecting your cat’s overall health. Always ensure your cat has a balanced diet specifically formulated for feline needs.
13. Raw Dough: Rising Danger
Raw dough containing yeast can expand and produce gas in a cat’s stomach, causing bloating and potentially life-threatening gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat.
Additionally, the fermentation process can produce alcohol, leading to alcohol poisoning. Symptoms of ingestion include vomiting, abdominal pain, and lethargy. Keep raw dough out of your cat’s reach to prevent these serious health issues.
By removing these foods from your cat’s diet, you can help ensure its health and well-being. If you suspect your cat has ingested any toxic foods, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Read Next:
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.