Human Foods that are Toxic to Cats

Cats require a nutrient-rich, balanced diet. It is best to feed your cat a premium cat food that contains all the nutrients necessary to keep them healthy. But what’s the harm in feeding your cat a little bit of “human food” every once in a while? Unfortunately, any food that is not specifically made for cats can cause adverse effects when ingested. The symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, seizures, and in some extreme cases death. Research any food before giving into to those begging meows!

Caffeine

Caffeine can be extremely dangerous when consumed by cats. Keep caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, soda, or energy drinks away from your furry friends. The effects of caffeine include rapid breathing, restlessness, hyperthermia, seizures and heart palpitations. Just a sip of a caffeinated drink should not contain enough caffeine to cause these dangerous effects, but a higher concentration can result in death.

Alcohol

It doesn’t take much alcohol to cause severe, sometimes irreversible damage to cats. As little as a tablespoon can put an adult cat in a coma. Consuming more than that can be fatal. Make sure you keep your glass of wine away from any curious kitties! Fortunately, there are a variety of safe nonalcoholic catnip infused cat wines. So after a long, stressful day, you can unwind with a glass of wine while your cat sips on some catnip wine. *Spoiler Alert* Sign up for the Cat Pack by February 5th, 2018  and enjoy a bottle Petwinery Cat Wine along with a variety of other treats and goodies! Use coupon code CATWINE to get your first month for just $5!

Chocolate

All types of chocolate contain theobromine and caffeine which are both toxic to cats. Ingesting theobromine can cause diarrhea, vomiting, severe changes in blood pressure, fever, unusual heart rate, seizures, muscle tremors, lethargy, comas, or even cardiac failure. Theobromine can actually stay in a cat’s system for an entire day. Their inability to digest it can cause these symptoms to become much more severe. All kinds of chocolate are toxic to cats, but the darker the chocolate is the more harmful it is.

Onions & Garlic

Garlic and onions both damage red blood cells in cats which can cause anemia. Some of the most common symptoms of anemia are lethargy, loss of appetite, and changes in breathing. Mild cases can be treated by your vet fairly easily. Severe cases can be fatal so it’s important to contact your vet as soon as you notice any of these changes in your cat’s behavior. Onion or garlic poisoning can also be identified by pale gums. If your cat tries just a taste of something with garlic or onions, you shouldn’t have to worry about much more than some digestive issues. But eating large amounts or eating small amounts consistently can cause serious health concerns.

Grapes & Raisins

While grapes are a great snack for humans, they can cause serious health problems in cats including sudden kidney failure. Researchers are unsure of what exactly causes grapes and raisins to be poisonous to cats, dogs, and ferrets. Not all cats are affected by the toxicity of grapes and raisins, but be aware of the potential threat that they pose.

If you notice any concerning changes in your cat’s behavior, contact your vet immediately. Emergencies can happen at any time, so make sure you know the phone number, hours, and location of your local animal hospital.