8 Foods Your Cat Should Avoid

Having owned a cat, it is equally important to know all about feline nutrition and the foods that they should avoid. Most cats are carnivorous animals; most food items on the kitchen shelves are harmful to cats calling for closing of the cupboards and pantry to avoid food related illness.

8 foods your cats should avoid:

1. Onions, garlic and chives are harmful for cats. They could break down the red blood cells of the cat and cause anemia; Heinz body anemia. Baby food ingested with onion should not be given to pet cats; taken in large quantities, the onion family could cause gastrointestinal upset.

2. Grapes and raisins are toxic for pet cats and could cause acute kidney failure. Cats could get sick with a small amount with symptoms like repeated vomiting and hyperactivity. Though some cats do not show any symptoms it is best to avoid keeping grapes in places that is easily accessible to your cat.  

3. Though quite popular, milk that is given to cats can prove harmful; once cats are weaned from milk they lose their capacity to digest lactose. Most cats are lactose intolerant and giving them milk could lead to digestive upset and diarrhea.

4. Raw eggs are best avoided for cats. Firstly there could be food poisoning from bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. Secondly avidin, a protein found in the raw egg whites could interfere with the absorption of the B vitamin biotin and cause problems in the cat’s skin and coat.

5. Raw meat and fish is to be avoided; they contain bacteria in addition to an enzyme in raw fish that destroys the most essential B vitamin thiamine in the cat leading to serious neurological problems including coma and convulsions.   

6. Tuna, the food that most cats get addicted to is to be avoided in large qualities; tuna addiction could lead to your cat refusing to eat other foods. Also tuna in large quantities is contra-indicated for cats as it could lead to mercury poisoning, with oil packed tuna leading to a painful condition called steatitis or yellow fat fever. Be careful to not leave an open can of tuna near the sink, as the cat would suppose it is a dinner invitation. 

7. Chocolates can prove lethal to your pet cat; the theobromine in it could cause heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.  Most cats do not have a sweet tooth, but cats may eat chocolates when hungry or bored, with chocolates like dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate proving dangerous. Chocolates could also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

8. Lastly dog’s food is not for cats as it does not contain all the  protein as well vitamins and fatty acids needed by cats; dog food lacks in the amino acid taurine, that is usually manufactured on their own by dogs, while cats need it in their diet.  

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