What foods can cats not eat?

What foods can cats not eat?

One fear inexperienced pet owners have is to feed their pets the wrong substance. We, humans, are weird that way; we enjoy a lot of the things mother nature made to scare other animals away. Caffeine, for example, is considered poisonous for a lot of animals and are found naturally in many plants.

Plants use caffeine to poison plant pests and work well against certain insects, fungi, vertebrates and bacteria. Even for cats, caffeine is highly toxic and can prove fatal if consumed in vast quantities. Then you have us humans, who commonly chug a jug of coffee before breakfast just to kickstart our digestive systems. Therefore, it can be good to familiarise yourself with what you consume that your cat cannot eat.

Caffeine

If a cat gets too much caffeine, it will get poisoned. Symptoms include muscle tremors, rapid breathing, restlessness, vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst and urination, heart palpitations and even death. Symptoms will occur around 1-2 hours after ingestion. A little caffeine will be okay, but the margin is thin, so it is best to avoid it.

Milk, cheese and dairy products

Cats only need milk when they are kittens as their mother produce a lot of the nutrients they need to grow big and strong. However, most cats gradually become lactose-intolerant and therefore cannot handle milk in adult age. Lactose is the main enzyme in milk and will cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

Other Dairy products can be okay, as they don’t contain as much lactose as milk. Cheese and yoghurt are common ingredients in cat treats but should only be consumed in small doses.

What foods can cats not eat | Alcohol

For both cats and dog’s alcohol can prove to be fatal. Ethanol poisoning can ruin your cats liver in a short time, and it is essential to know that it will affect cats of all sizes and ages. Luckily, cats naturally find the taste of alcohol unpleasant, and therefore rarely seeks it out.

Alcohol is found in other products too, such as cleaning supplies, medications, mouthwash, perfumes, alcohol-infused candies, inks, etc.

What foods can cats not eat | Onions – Allium family products

Onions, chives, leeks and garlic are all part of the same family: the Allium. These herbs and vegetables contain organic sulphur compounds that are converted to highly reactive oxidants upon ingestion. We humans love all members of the allium family and commonly use it in our food. However, for both dogs and cats, these compounds can be toxic.

Many symptoms can indicate whether or not your cat has ingested Allium. However, by the time you have noticed, it might be too late. Clinical signs usually appear within a day of consumption.

Symptoms might be diarrhoea, belly aches, weakness, loss of appetite, rapid heartbeats and breath, yellowing of the whites of the eyes. If it is not dealt with in time, it can lead to severe illnesses as a consequence.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which is particularly toxic to cats. We humans love to nibble on a plate of chocolate, melt it and drink it, or have it in desserts, and so on.

However, it does not take much for a cat to become ill by what is possibly our overall favourite treat. If you suspect that your cat has consumed chocolate, then bring it to the veterinarian immediately.

Symptoms can be diarrhoea, cardiac arrest, seizures, vomiting, rapid breathing, weakness, fever, muscle spasms, and even coma.

Lilies

Many houseplants are toxic to pets. Before getting a plant, familiarise yourself with how your cat would react upon consumption.

Antifreeze

Cats love the sweet smell of antifreeze and can be tempted to taste it if accessible. It only takes a tiny amount for a fatal outcome.

Medicines

As a rule of thumb, make sure your medicine cabinet is closed at all times. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are fatal for cats. Many medicines also contain alcohol or caffeine. If your cat has been munching on random pills, bring it to the veterinarian immediately.

Tuna

Many people think tuna is excellent for cats; however, they should only have it now and then. If your cat is on a tuna diet, it will not get the nutrition it needs and become ill due to malnutrition. Tuna also contains a lot of mercury which can poison your cat in the long run.

Fat trimmings and bones

Dinner scraps with a lot of fat and bones can be bad for your cat. The high-fat content might cause vomiting and diarrhoea, while bits of bones can splinter and cut the inside of your cat.