10 Human Foods That Are Poisonous to Cats

Huynh NguyenJuly 25, 2022

10 Human Foods That Are Poisonous to Cats

If you’re a cat owner, it’s important to be aware of which human foods are poisonous to cats. Generally, cats are carnivores and have a naturally low carbohydrate diet, so they can’t digest many human foods. Therefore, you should only give them foods created specifically for them, like cat foods. You can buy this in your local store or find cat food online.

Some common human foods poisonous to cats include onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, and caffeine. Once your cat gets a taste of these foods, it may experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and even death. So if you’re a cat owner, keep these foods out of your kitty’s reach!

1. Alcohol

Drinks containing alcohol, as well as foods that are alcoholic, pose a health risk to cats. The use of alcoholic beverages, including wine, beer, and liquor, and foods containing alcohol can lead to significant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Even just one tablespoon of alcohol might cause health problems for your cat.

Alcohols are known to cause significant harm to both the liver and the brain. Meanwhile, whisky can potentially put a cat weighing 5 pounds into a coma, and adding only one more teaspoon could be deadly.

Ingestion of fermenting fruits, hand sanitizer, mouthwash, or bread dough containing yeast might also lead to alcohol exposure.

2. Grapes and Raisins

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, grapes and raisins contain an undiscovered toxin that might induce kidney failure in cats.

Vomiting can occur as soon as 12 hours after ingestion. Lethargy, diarrhea, decreased appetite, stomach discomfort, decreased urination, and abdominal pain is among symptoms that might appear during the first 24 hours. Avoid giving them these two even if other cats don’t display symptoms.

3. Milk and Dairy Products

Even though your cat may like drinking milk, it’s not necessarily beneficial for its health. Lactose intolerance develops in cats as they age, making it difficult to consume dairy products like cow’s milk, cheese, and cream.

Lactose-rich dairy products can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea if consumed in large quantities or regularly.

4. Onions, Garlic, and Chives

Onions can potentially destroy a cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. Additionally, it has the potential to irritate your cat’s digestive tract. Both garlic and chives have been linked to a variety of health issues as well.

These foods are normally harmful to consume in high quantities; nevertheless, prolonged contact with concentrated versions of onion or garlic can also harm your cat’s health.

If your cat shows signs of fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, pale gums, or urine that ranges from orange to dark red, they might’ve eaten these foods. Get them to the doctor right once.

5. Coconut Flesh and Coconut Water

Coconut and coconut-based goods are safe for your pet to consume but only in modest amounts. Cats can’t safely drink coconut water because of its high potassium content.

In fresh coconuts, there are oils in the meat and milk that can induce stomach aches and diarrhea. Before using this as a natural cure or including it in your cat’s diet, consult with your veterinarian.

6. Chocolate

A delicious treat for people but extremely toxic to your pets. It’s common knowledge that you shouldn’t offer chocolates to your dogs, but you should apply the same rule to your cats.

Chocolate contains chemicals known as methylxanthines, which have been linked to a variety of adverse health effects, including but not limited to the following:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased body temperature
Muscle tremors
Abnormal heart rhythm
Abdominal discomfort
Increased thirst
Chocolate-induced convulsions

Various chocolates have different levels of methylxanthines. White chocolate is the safest, while cocoa powder is the most harmful. Regardless, you should avoid giving these to your pets at all costs.

7. Coffee

Caffeine, found in coffee, can give your cat an anxious disposition, make their respiration faster, give them heart palpitations, and cause their muscles to tremble. It just takes a moderate amount of caffeine to harm a cat, but too much can kill them. And currently, there’s no treatment available to counteract it.

It is also present in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and other liquids considered stimulants. Additionally, it is included in several over-the-counter cold remedies and medications.

8. Tuna

Tuna is one of the many fish species considered tasty food for cats. It doesn’t matter if the tuna is packaged for people or specifically for cats; it can still lead to addiction in your feline friends.

However, it would help if you steered clear of diet-rich tuna since it leads to malnutrition and does not include the essential nutrients required for a feline. Consuming an excessive amount of tuna can also potentially result in mercury poisoning

9. Raw Eggs, Fish, and Meat

Raw meat, raw fish, and raw eggs can potentially harbor bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can cause food poisoning. These bacteria have the potential to cause illness in people as well as in immunocompromised dogs.

In addition, thiamine, which is a vital B vitamin for your cat. An enzyme found in raw fish can destroy thiamine. Thiamine deficiency may result in severe neurological issues, including convulsions and coma, if not treated immediately.

What’s more, uncooked eggs contain avidin, an enzyme that prevents cats from effectively absorbing biotin, a vitamin essential for maintaining healthy skin and hair.

10. Xylitol

Xylitol may be found in various items, such as chewing gum, confectionery, baked goods, and even toothpaste. In most species, it can trigger insulin secretion, ultimately resulting in liver failure. Consuming it can also lead to vomiting and lethargy.

If you enjoy chewing gum, remember to throw it away as soon as you’re through it. You don’t want your cats to get sick because they were too curious and ate something they shouldn’t have.

Final Words

As a cat owner, it is reasonable that you want to offer your pet the finest possible care. You should also know what your pet can’t consume for their safety. And even if it is tempting to give your pets what you eat, you must be careful and do your research at all times.