Cats can be pretty picky when it comes to what they like to eat. While finding something new for your kitty to enjoy, be sure to avoid anything that may not be safe for them to snack on! Check out this list of unsafe feline foods that might surprise you:
Tuna
A cat fed a steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can become malnourished because the tuna doesn’t provide all the nutrients a cat needs. Additionally, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning.
Dairy Products
Most cats are lactose intolerant and cannot process dairy foods. Give your cat too much milk, and she may have an upset stomach and diarrhea.
Grapes
Both grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats, which will sometimes reveal itself early on in the forms of vomiting and hyperactivity.
Onions, Garlic, Chives
Onions, garlic, and chives can all cause stomach upset in cats. And, regardless of the form of onion (powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated), it can break down your cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Alcohol
Alcohol has the same effect on a cat’s liver and brain that it has on humans. Just three teaspoons of whiskey could kill a 5-pound cat.
Caffeine
In large enough quantities, caffeine can be fatal for a cat, and there is no antidote. You’ll notice restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors if your cat has been poisoned by caffeine.
Chocolate
All kinds of chocolate, but especially dark, contain theobromine, which is toxic to cats.
Candy
The artificial sweetener xylitol can be found in candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods. In cats, it can cause a decrease in blood sugar and liver failure.
Raw Meat
Raw meats, including fish, can contain dangerous bacteria that can cause food poisoning in cats (and can also be dangerous for the humans in the house).
Call our office if you have questions about what you should feed your cat.