It's hard to say no to a cat who is begging for food from your dinner plate and certainly, a tidbit of chicken or fish won't kill your cat but you are training him to develop bad habits. In addition, some foods safe for human consumption can, even in small doses, cause severe illness in your cat. The following is an alphabetical list of common foods that should not be given to your cat. Some may only cause mild digestive upsets, but others can result in severe illness and even death.
1. I'd like to hope that no one would even consider giving alcohol to their cat, which can cause intoxication, coma and death.
2. Avocado contains a toxin known as persin which is found in all parts of the avocado and is toxic to most domestic animals. The symptoms include gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea, respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the tissues of the heart and even death.
3. Baby foods can contain onion powder which is very toxic to cats; and if fed in large amounts can result in nutritional deficiencies.
4. Bones from fish, poultry or other meats should not be given because they can splinter and cause laceration of the digestive system and/or become lodged in your pet's throat �they also pose a choking hazard.
5. Caffeine found in coffee, tea and soft drinks cause vomiting and diarrhoea and can be toxic to the heart and nervous systems.
6. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that acts as a diuretic, causing the body to lose fluids. It is a cardiac stimulant � causing the heart to race; and is also a central nervous system stimulant.
7. Citrus may cause vomiting in cats.
8. Dog food, if fed repeatedly, may result in malnutrition and diseases affecting the heart.
9. While fat is not toxic, it is not healthy to routinely feed your cat a diet high in animal fats as it will lead to obesity. Large amounts of fat can also cause pancreatitis.
10. Fruit pits and seeds such as apricot, cherry, peach pits, almond nuts and apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which will result in cyanide poisoning. This interferes with the ability of the blood to release oxygen into the tissues, so the cat effectively suffocates while its blood is full which can damage the kidneys.
Grapes, raisins and currants contain a toxin of oxygen.
11. Human vitamins, especially those containing iron, can cause damage to the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to some organs including the liver and kidneys.
12. Small amounts of liver are fine to eat, but if fed too often it can result in vitamin A toxicosis
13. Macadamia nuts contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
14. Marijuana can depress the nervous system, causing vomiting and changes in the heart rate.
15. Although milk is not toxic to cats, it may have adverse effects. Adult cats fed a nutritious diet do not need milk; and many cats are lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products produces stomach upset, cramps, and gas. If your cat loves milk and begs for it, a small amount of cream may be okay, two or three times a week. (The more fat in the milk, the less lactose).
16. Mouldy or spoiled foods contain multiple toxins which cause vomiting and diarrhoea and can also affect other organs.
17. Mushrooms contain toxins which may affect multiple systems in the body causing shock and resulting in death.
18. Onions and garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides, and more specifically the toxic ingredient thiosulphate; which can damage red blood cells causing anaemia, laboured breathing and liver damage. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions and cooked onions. Garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness but cats are more susceptible to onion and garlic than dogs.
19. Green potatoes or unripe tomatoes are members of the Solanaceae family of plants and contain a bitter, poisonous alkaloid called Glycoalkaloid Solanine, which can cause violent lower gastrointestinal symptoms.
20. Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems.
21. Raw meat may contain bacteria such as Salmonella and Ecoli, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
22. Salt, baking soda and baking powder in large amounts can cause an electrolyte imbalance–and severe electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle spasm.
23. Sugary foods can lead to congestive heart failure, obesity, dental problems and possibly diabetes mellitus.
24. Tobacco contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems and can result in rapid heartbeat, collapse, coma and death.
25. Tuna is another food which is fine to feed as an occasional treat, but must not be fed regularly, as it can lead to a condition known as Steatitis or Yellow Fat Disease.
26. Yeast dough can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
This list is not exhaustive so remember to ask your veterinarian if you are unsure of a certain food to feed your cat.
The information contained in this document is the copyrighted property of Best Pets Animal Behaviour Service. Please contact Kristel-Marie Ramnath at 689-8113 for more information.