What Not to Feed Cats
Sharing a snack with your cat seems harmless, but many common foods can make cats seriously ill. Some of what we think of as cat favourites (milk, for instance) can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, or worse. Here are seven foods to keep away from your feline friend.
1. Milk and dairy
Most cats are lactose intolerant. After weaning, they lose the ability to digest milk properly. Cow’s milk and dairy products can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. If you want to treat your cat, use lactose-free cat milk from a pet store.
2. Raw meat, raw eggs, raw bones
Raw meat and eggs can carry bacteria that cause food poisoning. Raw eggs contain avidin, an enzyme that interferes with vitamin B absorption and can lead to skin and coat problems. Raw bones can splinter and damage the digestive tract or break teeth. Cook meat before feeding it.
3. Onions and garlic
Onions and garlic, raw, cooked, or powdered, damage red blood cells in cats, leading to anaemia. Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, and breathlessness. Even small amounts in concentrated forms like onion soup mix or garlic powder are dangerous.
4. Chocolate and caffeine
Chocolate and caffeinated drinks contain methylxanthines. In cats, these cause vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rhythm, and seizures. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.
5. Grapes and raisins
Even a small amount of grapes or raisins can cause rapid kidney failure in cats. Early signs include repeated vomiting and hyperactivity. If you suspect your cat has eaten any, contact a vet immediately.
6. Alcohol
Alcohol affects cats far more severely than humans. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, disorientation, breathing difficulty, and coma.
7. Dog food
Dog food is not toxic to cats, but cats need different nutrients. Regularly feeding dog food instead of cat food leads to nutritional deficiencies, vision problems, and heart disease.
Signs of toxicity
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Lethargy or weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Tremors or seizures
- Abnormal behaviour or distress
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