These 7 Human Foods Are Toxic To Your Cat

Some of the foods that are toxic to your cats include:

Onions & Garlic

Garlic, onions, scallions, and shallots may damage your cat's red blood cells, eventually leading to anemia. These foods cause damage when the cat ingests them in large quantities or consumes concentrated forms of garlic or onions in things like garlic powder and onion soup mix.

Once your cat ingests any of the above foods, you might see symptoms like pale gums, reduced appetite, orange or dark red urine, weakness, and lethargy. If you notice those symptoms, rush your cat to the vet immediately.

Grapes & Raisins

While there is no clear explanation for why grapes and raisins are toxic to cats, they are some of the most dangerous foods that your cat can eat. Even small amounts of these foods could cause fatal effects to your cat with effects like kidney failure.

Within 12 hours of your cat eating grapes or raisins, they might experience vomiting and hyperactivity. After 24 hours, you will notice other signs like diarrhea, lethargy, reduced appetite, decreased urination, and abdominal pain.

Raw Eggs, Meat, & Fish

Raw eggs and raw meat contain salmonella bacteria. Raw meat also contains E.coli bacteria, both of which could cause poisoning in your cat. Some infection signs that your cat will show include diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.

Raw eggs have the enzyme avidin, which prevents the cat’s body from absorbing biotin, an important vitamin in your cat’s fur and skin health. Raw fish also contains bacteria that could cause food poisoning.

The bacteria in these foods could also be transmitted from your hands, which is why you should always wash your hands after you handle them if you want to feed or cuddle your cat.

Chocolate & Caffeinated Drinks

Most people know that chocolate is fatal for dogs, but it has the same toxicity for cats. Chocolate and caffeinated beverages contain methylxanthines, which are highly toxic to pets.

They cause diarrhea, vomiting, high body temperatures, abdominal discomfort, seizures, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rhythm, increased thirst, and death.

Different types of chocolates have different methylxanthines concentrations, with dark chocolate and cocoa powder having the most and white chocolate having the least.

Alcohol

You should keep beverages and foods that contain alcohol away from your cat. Ingestion could result in diarrhea, vomiting, disorientation, trouble breathing, muscle tremors, coma, and death.

Raw Dough

Rough dough, especially that with yeast, is very dangerous for your cat. After ingestion, the yeast could rise, causing gas build-up in the cat's stomach. This eventually leads to bloating or even stomach twisting, which could be fatal.

Yeast also gives off alcohol as a byproduct, which by itself has other harmful side effects for your cat. Baked products like bread, however, are safe for your cat.

Milk & Dairy Products

Many cats enjoy drinking milk, and you might be shocked that it is on this list. Milk and dairy products like yogurt and cheese are not good for your cat because they could cause digestive problems. Many cats are lactose intolerant, which could cause diarrhea or stomach upsets.

Many cats only get exposed to lactose when they are kittens feeding off their mother’s milk. Since that only happens for a few weeks, the cat’s stomach is not properly equipped to handle lactose digestion.

Therefore, you should avoid feeding your cat milk or dairy products and ask your vet for the best dairy-free alternatives.

Cats are playful and curious animals, which could sometimes lead to them reaching some of these toxic foods off surfaces like tables or countertops.

To prevent that from happening, some of the tips to apply include:

• Never let your cat sit on the counter as you cook or eat.
• Store foods out of your cat's reach or in airtight containers.
• Always shut all the cabinets, and for more effectiveness, install cat-proof locks to prevent your cat from opening the doors.
• Never feed your cat table scraps.

If you realize that your cat has eaten any toxic foods, you should immediately rush them to the vet. While some foods may not have fatal effects, some could result in death if not immediately taken care of.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.