What Not To Feed Your Cat

Sometimes my cat will go digging around looking for scraps. She is always interested in what I am eating and wants to have a taste. However, cats have special dietary requirements and they should not be consuming people’s food.

So for every cat lover out there, here is a list of foods that could be harmful to your cat:

• Chocolate contains the chemical therobromine. This chemical will cause a toxic chemical reaction in pets.  Don’t share cakes or sweets with your moggy. They do not need them.

• Onions and Garlic contain chemicals that cause anemia in dogs and cats. Cats are more highly susceptible to this disease than dogs. It is best to keep away any foods that contain these ingredients. Garlic is not as toxic as onion, but it is a real problem for cats, causing busted blood cells and serious health issues.

• Avocado. The toxic ingredient in avocado is called persin. This will affect your cat’s ability to breathe and can cause fluid around the lungs. Your cat could suffocate if it consumes an avocado.

• Grapes can cause irreversible kidney damage. Kidney disease has no cure and could prove fatal depending upon the progression of the disease.

• Pits and seeds that are contained in apples, plums, peaches and related fruits can cause cyanide poisoning if eaten by cats. These foods hinder the cat’s ability to release oxygen into the bloodstream and can be fatal.

• Tomatoes and potatoes have toxic chemicals that cause violent intestine problems. Cats are not generally attracted to these foods but they could be attracted to a meal containing tomatoes or potatoes in it. Generally these foods are ok once cooked, but consult your veterinarian before feeding it to your cat.

• Liver in large amounts can cause Vitamin A toxicity. This affects muscles and bones and can cause abnormal bone growth, and can be noticed in the spine and neck areas.

• Milk.  Although there is a tradition in giving milk to cats, it can be bad for their health, particularly for adult cats. The lactose in cow’s milk can be hard for cats to digest, and thereby cause digestive problems. There are special milk products made for cats. If you can’t find these, it’s better they do not have any milk products at all.

• Tuna can be given to cats on occasion as a welcomed treat. However, cats cannot eat too much tuna that is packaged for human consumption. (Tuna in cat food is processed to not contain things harmful for the cat).  Too much of tuna can cause Yellow Fat Disease(YFD) in cats. Tuna when digested depletes the vitamin D causing YFD in cats and although tuna contains a small amount of this chemical it should only be a rare treat for your pet.

• Alcohol, tobacco, drugs. I know no cat lover would give their cat these on purpose. But just make sure that kitty cannot get anywhere medicines or these things are kept. Childproof locks work wonders for the curious cat.

With all of these foods in our daily lives, it is a good idea to kitty- or cat-proof your home.

Don’t let your cat dig in the rubbish bins and keep bins in a place the kitty cannot get to. Cabinet locks work wonders for cabinets and pantries where curious cats could find themselves in heaps of trouble.

What cats do need in a diet is high protein. Cat food is the safest bet when choosing what to feed your kitty. Your veterinarian can develop a diet that is right for your cat, one that will keep them happy and healthy.

If you think your cat could be experiencing symptoms from eating any of these foods, take them to the veterinarian straight away. Waiting could result in a severe illness for your cat.