It is understandable wanting to share a snac with your cat but a cat's digestive system is very different from ours, and many of foods that people consume on a daily basis can wreak havoc on a cat's body.
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 13 human foods that are toxic to cats.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a delicious treat for humans, but it is toxic to cats because it contains a substance called theobromine.
Humans break down and metabolize theobromine easily, but cats don't.
Milk, Cheese, and Dairy Products
Although some adult cats may still produce some lactase enzyme, most felines are lactose intolerant, meaning that cow milk and dairy products such as like cheese or cream can upset their stomachs.
They may experience anything from mild to severe gastrointestinal discomfort – diarrhea, loose stools, vomiting, stomach pain, or gas.
Salt
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, excessive thirst, and tremors.
In severe cases, it may even cause death.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits contain essential oils and citric acid that can cause problems in cats.
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 problem to cats.
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 harmful to pets.
Cooking to a safe temperature kills off those harmful bacteria as well as any possible viruses.
Bones
Cooked bones are a serious danger to felines because they can splinter and get stuck in a cat's throat or stomach.
Avocados
Avocados contain a toxic substance called persin, which is perfectly safe for human, but can cause serious health problems — even death — in many animals.
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.
Hotdogs
Your feline friend would probably love to chow down on a hotdog.
But is that a good idea? Many hotdogs contain ingredients that are not good for cats, such as sugars, artificial sweeteners, and unhealthy saturated fats that they cannot process.
Hotdogs also contain seasonings, such as onion powder and garlic, which are toxic to cats. And the biggest problem with hotdogs 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
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.
Caffeine
Any beverage that contains a hint of caffeine is a big no-no for your cat.
Caffeine over-stimulates a cat’s nervous system. It causes their heart rate to increase to a dangerous level, and their blood pressure skyrocket.
Alcohol
Alcohol exists in many products we wouldn’t realize, such as mouth wash, perfume, cleaning products, and hand sanitizers. Make sure to keep them out of reach.
Even the smallest amount of alcohol, such as found in cough syrups, medications, and raw bread dough, are poisonous to cats.
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 is 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.
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