Cat lovers consider their pets as members of the family. But cats can not eat the same food as the human members of one’s family.
Not all human food are good for cats, says Jessica Remitz in her article Dangerous Food for Cats.
PetMD, in an article, also stresses that “Any food not specifically formulated for cats can affect the digestive system, causing vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite.”
Here are the food you can not give your cats from both articles:
1. Raw Eggs
Raw eggs may cause salmonella in cats. The symptoms of this infection are vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
Animals can also transmit salmonella to humans, thus it is more important to keep your cat away from eggs. Wash your hands well after baking or cooking anything that has raw eggs, Remitz says.
2. Onions/Garlic
Onions and garlic can destroy red blood cells in cats and thus lead to severe anemia.
PetMD says,”All members of the onion family can cause problems if eaten in sufficient quantity. A little bit of onion or garlic in some sauce is not likely to cause any problems. However, eating a clove of garlic or a green onion may cause digestive upset.”
Some baby food made from meat often have onion or garlic so please read the label carefully if you give these to your cat.
The level of poisoning depends on the amount of onions or garlic your cat ate. Please call your veterinarian if your cat is vomiting or has become lethargic.
3. Raw Fish
Raw meat and fish can also cause food poisoning in cats.
Raw fish also contains a compound that breaks down thiamine, an important B1 vitamin for cats. Lack of this B1 vitamin in cats can cause serious neurological problems.
4. Alcohol
Any amount of alcohol can kill your cat.
Alcohol can be ingested through drinks or can be produced in the stomach after eating food with milk or cream such as a dessert like cake, and yeast dough used in making bread, rolls and pizza, Remitz says.
Cats also get drunk like humans, and alcohol can easily cause severe liver and brain damage. A tablespoon of alcohol can put an adult cat in a coma. More than that can kill your cat.
Please call your vet as soon as you find out your cat has eaten these food or drank anything with alcohol. Do not wait for symptoms such as seizures.
5. Tuna
This may sound weird but a diet rich in tuna can cause mercury poisoning in your cat (just like people) and make them malnourished because tuna does not contain all the important vitamins and minerals your cat needs.
While a bite now and then will not hurt your cat, it is best not to make tuna your cat’s main source of nutrition.
“Tuna when made into cat food is perfectly fine for cats. On the other hand, tuna sold for human consumption may cause digestive upset when given as an occasional treat in small amounts. It can even cause a painful condition called steatitis, or inflammation of the body's fat, when fed to cats on a regular basis,” PetMD says.
6. Chocolate
A major concern is the compound in chocolate called theobromine which can cause heart arrhythmias, muscle tremors, or seizures.
7. Coffee, Tea, Energy Drinks
Drinks and food with caffeine can cause restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors.
8. Dairy Products
These can cause vomiting and diarrhea in adult cats.
9. Fat trimmings
These can also cause pancreatitis in cats.
Seek Medical Help
If you suspect your cat ate any of these food, try to determine how much she may have eaten. Then call your vet and ask for help.
PetMD says: “..in many cases small quantities are not likely to be a problem but larger quantities may require you to induce vomiting in your cat or to take her to your veterinarian.
“Treatment involves supportive care until symptoms resolve. This may involve hospitalization, intravenous fluids, monitoring of organ function via repeated blood testing, and other measures as indicated by the specific circumstances,” it adds.
Prevention
Never give these food to your cat.
Aside from keeping your cat safe, you will also prevent begging behavior in your cat. .
Here are some guidelines for giving human food to cats:
1. It should be given only as a treat and only if your vet allowed you to give it to your cat to prevent gastrointestinal upset and nutritional imbalances.
2. Remember, if you will not eat the food, do not give it to your cat.