Sep 22 2008
Foods That Are Toxic to Cats
In my last post, I talked about how there are dangers in our own homes for our feline friends. One of these dangers are some types of human food. Specific human foods are actually toxic to cats, and cats should never be allowed to ingest them.
Root Vegetables: Root vegetables include: onions and garlic. According to About Cats, onions contain a substance known as N-propyl disulphide, which destroys red blood cells in cats, which leads to a form of anemia. Garlic contains a lesser amount of a similar substance, and, therefore, cats should never be given anything with garlic in it.
Milk: A lot of cats love milk, but it is not very good for their digestive systems. However milk is not toxic to cats. Milk tends to upset cats’ stomaches and often leads to diarrhea or vomiting.
If your cat insists on having milk, give him or her a drop or two to lick off of your finger. I do this with my cats so they can get a taste of the milk without it upsetting their stomaches.
Green Potatoes and Tomatoes: Green potatoes and tomatoes contain a poisonous alkaloid known as Glycoalkaloid Solanine.
Raisins and Grapes: Grapes and raisins have been found to be toxic to pets in varying amounts, and according to About Cats, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control recommends not giving these foods to pets at all.
Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine, which is toxic to both cats and dogs.
Apricots, Apple Seed, Cherries, Peach Pts, and Almonds: All of these foods contain cyanogenic glycosides, which results in cyanide poisoning if ingested by a cat, according to Cat World. The substance interferes with the release of oxygen from the blood. A cat who ingests these foods will sufficate to death because none of the oxygen from the blood was able to be released.
Bones: You should avoid feeding your cat any bones because they can get caught in his or her digestive tract, which can cause major problems.
Liver: Feeding your cat a little liver may not hurt him or her, but feeding your kitty too much liver can result in Vitamin A toxicosis, according to Cat World.
Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts are known to cause muscle weakness and tremors in dogs, according to Cat World, so it is best to not allow your cat to have macadamia nuts either.
Avocado: Avocade contains a toxic substance known as persin. Symptoms of avocado toxicity include congestion, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal distress, respiratory distress, possible fluid accumulation around the heart, and death.
Please avoid feeding your cats any of the foods above, as most of them are toxic to cats and can cause a lot of pain and distress for your cat. Sometimes, these foods can even kill your cat if he or she ingests them.
If you know or think your cat has ingested a toxic food, please take him or her to a veterinary hospital immediately for treatment.
Sources:
About Cats: Human Foods for Cats?
Cat World: Human Foods Which Are Poisonous to Cats
