What Foods Are Harmful or Even Deadly to Cats

2022-06-20


Which food can be fed and which food cannot be fed, this is a compulsory course for every cat owner. Because if a cat accidentally eats something that should not be eaten, the consequences will be disastrous. Occasionally eating a small amount of some food will not cause great harm to the cat, but some food is not allowed to be touched by the cat at all, and even serious life-threatening.

What food is bad for cats?

Many of our daily common foods, and even many of the foods we think are nutritious, are harmful to cats. Let's take a look at them one by one:

cat litter sand

Drinks

1. Milk

The gastrointestinal system of cats is very weak, and many cats are lactose intolerant, so drinking milk can easily cause vomiting and diarrhea. Some cat owners say that my cat is no problem drinking milk! But for the cat's health, don't feed it lightly, as feeding too much will inevitably lead to problems. But you can give your cat goat milk, goat milk doesn't have such a problem. Additive-free yogurt is also a good choice, which can improve the cat's gastrointestinal digestion.

2. Alcoholic beverages

Ethanol is the main ingredient in alcoholic beverages. If ingested in excess, it will cause cat poisoning, damage the cat's brain cells and body cells, and cause vomiting, breathing difficulties, and nervous system abnormalities.

3. Coffee

Coffee contains theobromine and caffeine, which can cause poisoning when eaten.

Fruit

1. Grapes

Some cat owners said that my cat is fine after eating grapes. We want to say here, don’t take chances, no matter whether it is raisins or grape skins, food-related to grapes should not be given to cats, cats will cause acute renal failure if they eat grapes, and it is difficult to rescue them! 

2. Avocado

Avocados contain a chemical toxin called "Persin", which is very harmful to cats. It can cause gastrointestinal problems, breathing difficulties, and high fever in cats, and it can be fatal if taken in large quantities. However, the cat food with avocado ingredients on the market is edible, because it removes harmful substances and only extracts the beneficial ingredients in avocado, so it can be eaten with confidence.

3. Persimmon

Cats can't eat persimmons, persimmons can cause intestinal obstruction or enteritis in cats.

4. Peaches, plums, cherries, apricots

The seeds of these fruits contain cyanide, which can cause vomiting, breathing difficulties, and even intestinal blockage in cats.

cat litter

Food

1. Nuts

All nuts are not recommended for cats because they are rich in cyanide, which can cause poisoning in cats. And some nuts have pits in them. If a cat eats it, it is likely to get stuck in the throat. Once choked, the cat will suffocate and die.

2. Foods containing theobromine such as chocolate

Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine. Eating too much can cause cat convulsions and cause acute poisoning. The average toxic dose of theobromine is 300 mg/kg body weight, so 50 grams of chocolate would be completely lethal for a cat.

3. Onions, leeks, green onions, and other allium vegetables

Allium vegetables contain ingredients that can destroy the red blood cells of cats, which can cause hemolytic anemia in cats, and in serious cases, can cause cats to die. Therefore, any food with allium vegetables not be given to cats!

4. Canned tuna for human

Many people think that cats like to eat fish, so they feed cats canned tuna, but eating a lot of canned tuna can cause malnutrition in cats because it lacks the vitamins and minerals that cats need.

5. Finely chopped bones

Cats should not eat fish bones and other finely minced bones from poultry, as these may cause digestive problems, scratch the cat's esophagus, and block the intestines. If you want to grind your cat's teeth, you can choose a cat's teeth grinding snack, which can not only grind your cat's teeth but also satisfy your cat's appetite.

6. Raw eggs

Raw eggs contain bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli, which can cause bacterial infection in cats, causing vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other problems. 

7. Plenty of chicken livers

Cats are prone to calcium deficiency if they eat chicken liver for a long time. In addition, chicken liver is rich in vitamin A. Excessive intake will lead to abnormal bone development and lead vitamin A poisoning in cats.

8. Leftovers

Cats are carnivores and have a high demand for protein. In the proportion of nutrients required by cats, protein accounts for 35%, fat accounts for 20%, and the remaining 45% are carbohydrates. But in humans, fat accounts for only 14%, protein accounts for 18%, and carbohydrates account for 68%. Cats will be malnourished if they eat human leftovers for a long time.

bentonite cat litter

What foods are good for cats?

1. Fish meat

The taste of fish is fresh and sweet, which is liked by many animals, especially cats. Fish meat is also very rich in minerals, which can effectively supplement nutrition for cats. This is very suitable meat for cats, but If you want to feed fish to cats, it is recommended to pick out the fish bones first to prevent cats from accidentally eating and scratching their gastrointestinal tracts.

2. Beef

Beef is rich in protein, which is very suitable for cats to eat, and cats also love to eat. However, it is recommended to cook it before feeding it to cats, because there may be bacteria or parasites in the raw meat, which will have a bad impact on the cat's health.

3. Cooked egg yolk

Cooked egg yolk is rich in nutrients and has a fresh taste. Cats not only love to eat it but also can make cat hair softer and more beautiful. So the owner can also occasionally feed the cat some cooked egg yolks, which is good for them.

4. Yogurt

We all know that most cats are lactose intolerant and are not suitable for drinking milk, but yogurt is suitable for cats. Yogurt is one of the cats' favorite foods, and yogurt can also help cats absorb and promote digestion.

5. Canned cat food

I believe that no cat can resist the temptation of canned cat food.  They have a variety of flavors, and most cats like to eat them. However, it is not recommended to use canned cat food as their main food. It should only be used as a snack to reward cats when they behave well or do something right.

Cat feeding principles

It is best for cats to use cat food as the main food because cat food has a reasonable proportion of nutrients, which can meet the nutritional needs of cats and ensure their health! Cats can eat cat food three meals a day, kittens eat kitten food, and adult cats eat adult cat food. But occasionally, you need to change the cat's taste, feed it some canned cat food, and let it eat some cat snacks such as dried fish after meals, so that the cat can maintain a good appetite. Cats can also eat cooked egg yolks three or four times a week. The egg yolks have a hair-beautifying effect, which can make the cat's hair grow more supple. Hairball disease is a common disease in cats. The owner also needs to feed some cat grass regularly to help the cat expel the hair out of the body and prevent hairball disease.

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