Top 10 Human Foods That Are Poisonous to Cats – Protect Your Feline

It may smell good to your kitty, but it may be dangerous for her to eat. Be sure to keep your cat away from these poisonous foods.

Your cat’s body is different from yours, so some of the foods that are perfectly fine for you to eat might actually be poisonous to your pet. Taking precautions to keep your kitty away from these foods is important, and contacting your vet if your cat ingests any of these foods is also recommended to ensure your pet will be okay.

What are some of the human foods that are poisonous to cats? 10 of them are listed below, in no particular order.

1. Chocolate

While you might delight in a chocolate treat, it should be kept away from your cat because it contains methylxanthines. These substances can cause symptoms that include diarrhea and vomiting, as well as abnormal heart rhythm, muscle tremors, increased thirst, high body temperature, seizures, and abdominal discomfort. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it could be. Contact your vet if your cat ingested chocolate and is exhibiting symptoms.

2. Onions and Garlic

Although you might like using garlic, scallions, shallots, and onions in a variety of your homemade meals, be sure to keep foods in the onion family away from your cat, as they can damage red blood cells and contribute to anemia. Contact your vet if your cat eats any of these foods and starts to exhibit symptoms like weakness, pale gums, reduced appetite, lethargy, and urine that’s orange to dark red in color.

3. Raisins and Grapes

Did you know that even small amounts of raisins and grapes could make your kitty sick? Be sure to keep these foods far from your cat, as they can cause kidney failure to develop rapidly. If your cat were to eat grapes or raisins, symptoms like vomiting, hyperactivity, diarrhea, lethargy, reduced appetite, abdominal pain, and decreased urination may occur over the course of 12 to 24 hours.

4. Alcohol

If you enjoy drinking some alcohol to have fun or unwind, just be sure to keep it away from your kitty, especially if your cat is curious about what’s in your glass. Cats who consume alcohol might develop liver damage and brain damage, and small amounts can do a lot of harm. If an adult cat were to drink just 1 tablespoon of alcohol, she could end up in a coma, while a larger amount could be fatal.

5. Caffeinated Drinks

In the same way that you keep your alcoholic beverages away from your pet, you should do the same with any caffeinated beverages that you like to drink. Symptoms that may develop after ingestion include muscle tremors, rapid breathing, restlessness, and heart palpitations.

6. Raw Fish

It’s best to not share your sushi or raw fish ingredients with your kitty. That’s because, according to experts, raw fish might be harboring harmful bacteria that could cause food poisoning and gastrointestinal upset. And raw fish also contains an enzyme that destroys thiamine (an essential B vitamin). So, if you want to give your cat a bit of fish as a treat, just cook it first and serve it plain.

7. Raw Dough

Raw yeast dough is yet another food that can harm a cat if she were to eat it. Basically, the dough could end up rising in your kitty’s belly, stretching her abdomen and causing gas, bloating, and pain. The stomach might even end up twisting, which would put your pet in a life-threatening situation. Plus, as yeast ferments, alcohol is produced, which is also harmful to cats.

8. Salty Foods

Letting your cat snack on your salty treats, such as pretzels, popcorn, and chips, isn’t such a good idea. If your cat eats too much salt, she could experience excessive thirst, excessive urination, and sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms that your cat ate too much salt include diarrhea, tremors, depression, elevated body temperature, vomiting, and seizures. Too much salt can even be life-threatening.

9. Dairy Products

Many cats, after weaning, become lactose intolerant, so even though your cat might like drinking milk or eating cheese, dairy products may result in symptoms like upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.

10. Fat Trimmings

Tempted to give your kitty some table scraps that include the fat that you have trimmed off meat? Not so fast. Uncooked and cooked fat could result in intestinal upset, diarrhea, and vomiting, as well as pancreatitis.