How many times were you eating something, and your cat wanted to eat it too? Well, with their adorable eyes and face, you may end up feeding them something that could affect them adversely.
Hence, before you feed anything to your furry friend, it becomes imperative to know whether it’s safe or not. In this guide, we will precisely be discussing the things you should avoid feeding your cat. Read on.
1. Dairy Products
Cats love milk, but unfortunately, their bodies don’t due to lactose intolerance. If your cat consumes dairy products, then it can affect their digestive system. Consequently, they may face symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and restlessness.
In addition to cats, dairy products are harmful to kittens too. Hence, if you have brought a kitty home, it’s best to feed them kitten-based milk products. They can provide adequate nutrients without harming your little pet’s stomach.
2. Dog Food
Today, several pet owners have both cats and dogs, even though it might be an unusual combination. If you’re one of them, then avoid giving dog food to your cat or vice versa.
Remember that cats have different nutrient requirements from dogs. For instance, a cat needs Vitamin-A, arachidonic acid, and taurine to stay healthy. Dog food doesn’t offer these nutrients and may cause malnutrition and health problems in your cat.
However, note that if your cat has accidentally eaten a kibble, you needn’t worry. Dog food isn’t harmful to cats unless your cat eats that daily. So, always try to find the nutrient-rich and the best cat food.
3. Onions and Garlic
Although it is unlikely that your cat would ever ask for onions or garlic, it’s best to keep them away too. The Allium family members (like leeks, garlic, onions, or chives) can lead to anemia in cats.
These vegetables may disrupt your cat’s blood cells and lead to complicated symptoms, like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain.
4. Tuna
Just like dairy products, cats love tuna. It may get hard to keep your cat away from the kitchen if you’ve got a few tuna pieces. Yet, you must do so.
If your cat eats tuna occasionally, there’s nothing to worry about. But, if they eat it in large amounts, then it can cause mercury poisoning. In addition to that, tuna fish doesn’t contain enough nutrients on which your cat can sustain.
5. Chocolate
It may come as a huge surprise, but chocolate is one of the most dangerous foods for both cats and dogs.
Chocolate consists of a chemical compound, theobromine, responsible for toxicity. Theobromine causes two things. First, it increases your cat’s heart rate. Additionally, it can cause the loss of essential body fluids.
If your cat has accidentally eaten chocolate, you may notice symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, irregular heartbeats, seizures, and excessive urination.
Note that different chocolate types contain varying levels of theobromine. For example, chocolate powder has the most, whereas white chocolate has the least.
6. Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are yet another food that can make your cat extremely sick. Keep in mind that citrus fruits consist of oranges, clementines, lemons, and limes. Hence, you may already know that they contain citric acid, along with essential oils as well.
Both citric acid and essential oils are harmful to cats. Although consuming them in lesser quantities will cause an upset stomach, larger amounts can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and brain problems.
7. Raw Meat, Fish, Or Eggs
Cats love hunting, due to which you may think that there’s nothing wrong in feeding your cat raw stuff. However, anything raw always possesses the risk of pathogens.
Raw food items may contain bacteria like E.Coli or Salmonella. If your cat gets infected with these bacteria, they may face symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea too. They may also end up in a dire situation if the infection spreads.
Additionally, raw eggs are yet another food item to never feed your cat due to the presence of avidin protein. Avidin binds itself to Vitamin B7 and consequently doesn’t allow the cat’s body to absorb it. As a result, it could lead to a deficiency which further causes skin and fur-related issues.
8. Nuts
Nuts aren’t a cat’s best friend. Now, there is no known reason why nuts, like macadamia nuts, cause toxicity. Yet, if your cat consumes them, there is a high risk of hyperthermia and tremors.
Moreover, some nuts like almonds and walnuts are rich in oil and fat. So, they can get heavy for your cat’s tummy and cause digestive upset.
9. Xylitol
Xylitol isn’t a very well-known food item. However, it is necessary to include Xylitol in the list as it is a common sweetener found in sweets and candies.
This sweetener is one of the most toxic things your cat could eat. It can stimulate insulin release and reduce blood sugar levels in cats. In the worst-case scenario, it may lead to liver failure too.
Final Thoughts
Cats have an extremely sensitive stomach. So, if you feed them anything from the above list, their bodies may react immediately. Thus, you must keep the forbidden foods away from your cat’s reach. For instance, you can keep them in a high-rise or locked cabinets.
Hopefully, this article sums up all the required information on the foods you shouldn’t feed your cat.
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