Dangerous Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat

It is understandable why you would want to share a snack with your cat, however, it is important to note that a cat’s digestive system is very different from ours and many of the foods that people consume on a daily basis can wreak havoc on a cat’s body, thereby causing severe health problems.

As a loving pet owner, it’s crucial that you give your cat healthy food but it’s even more important to know what human foods you should never feed them in this article we will talk about 15 human foods that are toxic to cats

Why did milk and tuna make it to our list? what’s wrong with grapes and avocados? why are salt and seasonings bad for cats? Find out below.

(15). Chocolate

Chocolate is a delicious treat for humans, but, toxic to cats and that’s because it contains a substance called theobromine, humans break down and metabolize theobromine easily but cats don’t.

Dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate varieties are even more dangerous for cats because they contain a higher concentration of cocoa powder

Although the severity of side effects will depend upon your cat’s size and the amount of chocolate eaten. Experts say only 2 ounces of concentrated chocolate can be dangerous to cats.

Side effects of eating chocolate include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and death.

(14). Milk cheese and dairy products

Many of us grew up with the image of cats drinking milk or dairy products in picture books and cartoons but in reality cats and dairy products don’t mix.

Kittens like other baby mammals have an enzyme called lactase the function of which is to break down the lactose from their mother’s milk after they are weaned, however, their bodies produce less lactase and this is to prepare the animal for its transition to adult food.

Although some adult cats may still produce some lactase enzyme, most felines are lactose intolerant meaning that cow milk and dairy products such as cheese or cream can upset their stomachs and that may cause them to experience anything from mild to severe gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, stools, vomiting, stomach, pain or gas.

Cow’s milk.

Kittens should not be fed cow’s milk, though kittens have lactose in their system there’s just not enough of it to tackle the lactose overload found.

Another reason you shouldn’t give your cat cow’s milk is that it’s fat-filled which is why cats are attracted to milk with so much fat and sugar.

Milk will cause weight gain and diabetes, cats need to consume far fewer calories than the average human what might feel like a small treat to you could contain more than a day’s worth of calories for your pet

For example, a saucer of milk for your cat is like you eating an entire 12-inch pizza which is too much on top of all your usual daily food and meals.

(13). Salt

Do you offer your furry friend the same food as you cook yourself or maybe offer them your table scraps? most human food contains too much salt and salt isn’t recommended for cats.

Eating too much salt can lead to a condition known as salt poisoning it causes water deprivation in pets and leads to symptoms like vomiting, fever, diarrhea, excess thirst, and tremors in severe cases.

It may even cause death and excess sodium over time can lead to high blood pressure just like it can in humans

Clinical findings suggest that salt consumption of more than 41 milligrams a day could become poisonous to cats that less than 1 /16 of a teaspoon of salt and that means that you should keep your cat away from salty food such as fries, pretzels, or popcorn.

Especially if your pet has urinary or kidney problems.

(12) Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits contain essential oils and citric acid that can cause problems in cats.

While small amounts will likely cause only a gastrointestinal upset, large amounts can lead to vomiting, diarrhea tremors, liver damage, and collapse.

The leaves, peel, stem, fruit, and seeds should all be avoided.

Cats can also experience skin irritation if their skin comes into contact with citrus fruits and even simply inhaling citrus

Essential oils or any other essential oil can cause problems for cats, the good thing though is that cats hate citrus and the strong citrus scents will often shoot cats away.

(11). Raw or undercooked meat eggs and fish

Raw fish, raw eggs, and raw meat can contain bacteria like salmonella and E – Coli that can be very harmful to pets cooking at a safe temperature kills off those harmful bacteria as well as any possible viruses.

Feeding raw eggs to a cat can also lead to vitamin b7 deficiency as raw egg whites contain avidin an enzyme that prevents absorption of vitamin b7 in the body. This can lead to skin and coat problems

Raw fish also contains an enzyme that destroys thiamine, another essential b- vitamin. Without thiamine, a cat can develop neurological problems.

(10) Bones

Contrary to what cartoons often show, house cats have no business gnawing on fish skeletons or any cooked bones.

Cooked bones are a serious danger to felines because they can splinter and get stuck in a cat’s throat or stomach

Your cat could even break a tooth, get a tongue or mouth injury or cause an obstruction that could require surgery.

(9) Avocados

Avocados contain a toxic substance called Persin which is perfectly safe for humans but can cause serious health problems or even death in many animals.

Persin is found in avocado fruit, leaves, pits, and the actual plant so all of these parts are potentially poisonous to your cat.

In large amounts, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, and myocardial damage. Keep your cat away from having a bowl of guacamole, you do not want your cat eating any of these snacks.

(8). Grapes and Raisins

Cats should never eat grapes and raisins, these fruits are known to be extremely toxic to cats

Grape toxicity in cats can cause serious kidney damage that can lead to sudden kidney failure which can be fatal.

Products such as grape juice, grape jam, and even baked goods with raisins should also be avoided, and make sure to keep your breakfast cereals away if they contain these two ingredients.

According to clinical reports, many cats sadly have died of kidney failure after eating just a few raisins.

(7) Hot dogs

Your feline friend would probably love to chow down on the hot dog, but, is that a good idea?

Many hot dogs contain ingredients that are not good for cats such as sugars artificial sweeteners and unhealthy saturated fats that they cannot process.

Hot dogs also contain seasonings such as onion powder and garlic which is toxic to cats and the biggest problem with hot dogs is salt.

In fact, all processed meats are unsafe for your feline, these products contain a significant amount of salt, fat chemical preservatives, and added spices which are bad for your cat’s stomach.

(6). Tuna

Most cats love tuna to a fault, tuna is very tasty and perhaps much tastier than your cat’s kibble.

However, cats can become addicted to tuna, and some felines when given tuna on a regular basis will become addicted to tuna.

It is important that you give your cat tuna in moderation; a safe treat for most cats.

Tuna doesn’t have all the nutrients and vitamins a cat needs.

(5). Macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts are very toxic to cats, these nuts are often found in baked goods, cakes, cookies, muffins, and even trail mix; make sure to keep these foods away from your pet even a small amount of the nuts can cause severe symptoms

Eating chocolate with nuts will make symptoms worse maybe even leading to death.

(4) Caffeine

Any beverage that contains a hint of caffeine is a big no-no for your cat. Caffeine overstimulates a cat’s nervous system, it causes its heart rate to increase to a dangerous level and its blood pressure skyrockets.

It can also cause vomiting, seizures, and even death.

Caffeine stimulates a cat much more than a human, as cats are much more sensitive to it.

Make sure to keep your four-legged friend away from coffee, tea, energy drinks, soda, coffee, beans, and coffee grounds.

(3) Alcohol

We all love our feline companions and none of us would ever think about getting them drunk however accidents can happen and alcohol exists in many products; such as mouthwash, perfume, cleaning products, and hand sanitizers.

Make sure to keep them out of reach, even the smallest amount of alcohol, found in cough syrups, medications, and raw bread dough is poisonous to cats.

signs of intoxication include vomiting, disorientation, and poor breathing in severe cases- Alcohol intoxication in cats can cause the failure of the organ, and systems and even death

(2) Raw yeast dough

If you’ve ever made bread from scratch, then you know that dough has to rise. When a cat eats bread dough the yeast in that dough can expand in your cat’s belly and cause a lot of pain and bloating, this can cause a cat’s stomach to twist which can turn into a medical emergency.

There’s also a risk of alcohol poisoning since yeast produces alcohol during the fermenting process make sure raw dough is out of your feline’s reach at all times.

(1) Feeding your cat the same food

If you feed your cat one particular type of food for their entire life they can develop a very strong food preference for that flavor brand.

Preference is no big deal until you need to change your cat’s food, even if you think you won’t change your pet’s diet you can’t predict when a medical diagnosis might require dietary changes.

For example, many cats face kidney problems as they age and this requires a change of diet, keep in mind that this doesn’t mean you need to buy many different cat foods and rotate them around because that can lead to problems as well.

But, if you give them the same food all their life it can be difficult, if not impossible, for them to accept a new food.