𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐀𝐓

𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐀𝐓

Cats are curious creatures by nature and are often intrigued by the smell of human food simmering on the stove. For that reason, you might be tempted to share a little of your dinner with your cat as a special treat.

Just because cats are begging for something, however, it doesn’t mean that the food they want is necessarily healthy for them. Humans and cats both need diets that include water and protein, but that is usually where the similarities end. Cats have starkly different nutritional needs, and many human foods can be poisonous, causing digestive issues, vitamin deficiencies, anemia, and other life-threatening conditions. Here is a look at some of the foods that can be poisonous to cats:

𝟏. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬

Chocolate can be fatal to cats. The cacao beans used to make chocolate contain methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, high body temperature, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rhythm, abdominal discomfort, increased thirst, and seizures in cats. As a rule of thumb, dark chocolate is more dangerous to cats (and dogs) than milk and white chocolate. Methylxanthines are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants, also in coffee beans, so cats should not have access to caffeinated drinks, either.

𝟐. 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬

Many cats enjoy drinking milk or eating yogurt, but it isn’t always good for them. Cats become lactose intolerant as they mature, which means they have trouble digesting dairy products. Most cats are only exposed to lactose from their mother's milk when they are kittens. Because kittens only drink their mother's milk for a few weeks, their digestive systems are not equipped to handle a reintroduction to lactose later in life. Consuming high or frequent amounts of dairy products containing lactose can lead to gastrointestinal pain and diarrhea. 

𝟑. 𝐎𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐜, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬

Onions, garlic, chives, shallots, and scallions can break down a cat’s red blood cells, which can cause weakness, shortness of breath, and potentially life-threatening anemia. Humans use these foods raw, dehydrated, and as powder or soup mix, but cats should not be exposed to them in any form or quantity. 

𝟒. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐬

Grapes and raisins contain an unknown toxic substance that can cause kidney failure in cats (and dogs). Even a small amount can cause your pet to become ill. Within 12 hours of ingestion, vomiting sometimes occurs. Other signs that can show up within 24 hours include lethargy, diarrhea, reduced appetite, abdominal pain, and decreased urination. Due to their round shape, many cats are intrigued by grapes, and given the chance, they are likely to play with them. So, keep grapes and raisins off countertops and other places accessible to your cat.

𝟓. 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡

Wine, beer, liquor, and food that contains alcohol can be dangerous for your cat.

Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, disorientation, trouble breathing, coma, and even death. Similarly, raw yeast dough can cause expansion, or create alcohol build-up in a cat’s stomach. Such bloating is very painful for cats and can potentially cause their stomach to twist, which would be a life-threatening emergency.

𝟔. 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝

Dog food contains many of the same ingredients as cat food and an occasional bite here and there is not necessarily harmful to cats. However, dog food should never be used as a substitute for cat food. Cats have other nutritional needs than dogs. For instance, a cat’s food should always contain plenty of vitamin A, taurine, arachidonic acid, and protein. Dog food often has much lower levels of these nutrients. Dogs can produce taurine and arachidonic acid themselves, while cats must have it in their food. Without enough taurine, cats can develop heart disease, vision, and dental issues. Vitamins and acids in pet food are examples of micronutrients, and they are just as important to animal well-being as the main protein ingredients.

𝟕. 𝐑𝐚𝐰 𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬

Consumption of raw eggs or raw meat can lead to salmonella or E. coli poisoning in cats. Symptoms of salmonella and E. coli poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. It can be transmitted from human to cat, so be careful to wash your hands after cooking. Raw eggs also contain an enzyme that can lead to skin and coat problems. Too much liver can cause vitamin A toxicity, a serious condition that can affect a cat’s bones and, in severe cases, lead to death. Similarly, feeding your cat a steady diet of canned tuna can cause malnutrition. Canned tuna made for humans doesn’t contain the necessary nutrients for a cat. 

If you have reason to suspect poisoning or serious digestive issues, please don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet. Stomach upsets can be symptoms of other illnesses, too

In recent years, it has become more common for cat owners to feed their felines a raw diet, often referred to as the BARF diet, and some even cook the food themselves, perhaps because they distrust the ingredients in commercial cat food. A raw, homecooked diet can ensure that cats are fed a high-quality protein, and their health can only benefit from that. However, good, well-cooked meat isn’t enough to keep your feline friend healthy. Any cat diet must include the micronutrients mentioned above, so if you are considering cooking your cat’s meals yourself, you must first learn how to add these in the right amounts. This is not as easy as it sounds, and for that reason, you might be better off feeding your cat a prepared cat food made with human-grade meat. Pet foods designed to be fed on a regular basis are required by law to provide all the vitamins and minerals cats need. 

I will talk more about cat food labels and what to look for in a later blogpost. 😸

Blogpost by Gunhild Jensen, Cat Behaviorist and Founder of Smiling Kitty.