Dangerous Food for Your Cat

3/15/2018

Cats are part of the family, so it’s only natural to want to share our food with them. Although your cat may not be interested in a lot of the things you eat, she may still help himself to something she shouldn’t eat. Knowing what foods are safe for your cat to consume is an important component of being a responsible pet owner.

Please keep in mind, this list is not all inclusive. Make sure you do your research prior to feeding your cat any human food.

These articles are not meant for self diagnosis. If you are concerned about your pet's health, and believe they have ingested food that is toxic to them, please immediately contact our clinic or an emergency after hours vet clinic for prompt vet care.

Alcohol
Cats can become intoxicated too, but it has worse effects than with dogs. As little as a tablespoon of alcohol can put an adult cat into a coma.
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, disorientation, trouble breathing, coma, & death.
Treatment: Supportive care +/- inducing vomiting, activated charcoal*, & IV fluids

Chocolate
The amount & type of chocolate your cat consumes determines the symptoms and toxicity level he/she will experience. Chocolate has caffeine & theobromine* which cause toxicosis* in cats. Darker chocolate, like baker's chocolate or cocoa powder, have higher concentrations of both substitutes and therefore are more toxic to cats in lower doses.
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rhythms, high body temperature, seizures
Treatment: Supportive care, activated charcoal*, IV fluids, inducing vomiting, EKG monitoring

Raw Meat or Raw Eggs
Just like humans, consumption of raw eggs or raw meat can lead to Salmonella or E. coli poisoning in cats. It also has the risk of causing pancreatitis* which may require hospitalization. The other thing to mention about the risk of raw meat and eggs is that if you cat does contract either Salmonella or E-coli poisoning, it is considering zoonotic*.
Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Raw eggs also contain an enzyme that can lead to skin and coat problems.
Treatment: Varies on severity but can require antibiotics or up to hospilization

Grapes & Raisins
Cats are not likely to eat these, but similar to dogs, small amounts have the potential to cause rapid development of kidney failure. It's best not to give your cat access to any grapes or raisins by keeping them off counter tops and other places accessible to your cat. Simply put, it’s not worth the risk to find out!
Symptoms: Vomiting, increased activity, lethargy*, & diarrhea can occur within 12 hours of ingestion. Untreated, they can lead to dehydration*, decreased appetite, change in urinary habits, kidney disease, kidney failure.
Treatment: Supportive care, IV fluids, inducing vomiting, blood work monitoring, diuretics*

Onion & Garlic
All members of the onion family can cause problems if eaten in sufficient quantity. A little bit of onion or garlic in some sauce is not likely to cause any problems. However, eating a clove of garlic or a green onion may cause digestive upset. Baby food made from meat is often seasoned with onion or garlic, so read the labels carefully if you feed these to your cat. They contain compounds that can cause inflammation of the stomach & intestines, anemia* and serious damage to the red blood cells. Garlic is considered to be five times as potent as onions.
Symptoms: Lethargy*, weakness, & orange-dark red urine.
Treatment: Supportive care, IV fluids, inducing vomiting, use of activated charcoal, blood work monitoring

Please keep in mind, I am NOT covering EVERY substance that is toxic to cats in this article. Please be careful what you choose to feed & expose your furry friend to. Below I have included more toxic substances to avoid.

The safest route is always only feed cat brand food & treats.

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