Being a cat owner is a combination of love, affection, attention, and knowing when your cat is secretly plotting its revenge while you sleep. However, many cat owners ask themselves the same question: what food does my cat enjoy eating?
Being a cat owner is a combination of love, affection, attention, and knowing when your cat is secretly plotting its revenge while you sleep. However, many cat owners ask themselves the same question: what food does my cat enjoy eating?
And while we believe that milk and tuna are all a feline needs to grow big, strong, and sassy, it couldn't be further from the truth. If you're on the fence about your beloved furball's diet, here are 11 harmful foods that are dangerous or unhealthy for cats to consume.
Did you know that cats, like their human owners, can be lactose intolerant? Cat's stomachs don't have the proper digestive enzymes to pass the milk through their system with ease.
If you've noticed your cat becomes erratic, squirmy, or shows signs of sickness after drinking dairy, remove milk from their diet. While some cats can down milk with no problem, most cats will vomit and experience extreme stomach pain after consumption.
Ah, the age-old myth of cats loving tuna. We won't lie: cats do love the taste and texture of tuna, but it's far from gentle on their digestive tracts. Tuna, specifically products sold in bulk inside of a canned tin, contain large amounts of mercury inside their formula.
A few cans of tuna here and there won't hurt, but in the long run, owners should avoid overfeeding tuna to their pets to diminish unwanted side effects. Moreover, tuna has a low nutritional profile, making it hard for cats to have consistent bowel movements.
As humans, we run on caffeine. From the go-getter who works 12-hour days to the stay-at-home parent who needs a boost to chase their rugrats around the house, coffee is the solution. However, cats should never consume caffeine under any circumstances.
In humans, caffeine acts as a mild stimulant, making it easier to focus, tackle errands and check off tasks from our to-do lists. For cats, the stimulation can throw their heart out of rhythm and severely damage their cardiovascular systems.
You may have heard that chocolate can be fatal for canines, but the rule also applies to cats. While humans have no problem digesting theobromine (a chemical inside chocolate), cats absorb this ingredient so slow that it can lead to cardiac arrhythmia. Generally speaking, this knocks your cat's heart out of regulation and, in some cases, leads to fatal emergencies.
Nothing brings a smile to our collective faces than a homecooked burger with fried onions on top, but the same cannot be said for our beloved feline. Onions are, without a doubt, one of the harmful foods that many owners feed their cats when they're near the table. However, onions can negatively influence the structure of your cat's red blood cells, causing them to develop anemia over time.
We'll give you the benefit of the doubt: we don't think you need to hear this next tip. However, many individuals believe it's "funny" or "cool" to give their cats a sip of alcohol. If you know someone who does this, get them to stop immediately -- alcohol is poisonous to cats.
In the same way that regular alcohol consumption destroys a human's internal organs, the same can be said for our furry buddies. However, it only takes a small amount of alcohol to produce the side effects associated with the drink.
Bones are one of the harmful foods that owners think is beneficial for their pet's health. However, the sharp edges of the bone and its jagged structure can easily lodge themselves into the delicate lining that makes up your feline's throat. Once this happens, very little can be done to prevent them from choking, or worse, needing surgical intervention. So, the next time you want to feed a bone to your cat, think twice!
Whether it's a piece of uncooked fish, a raw egg, or an overly-pink piece of beef, your cat shouldn't have it. Cat's digestive tracts are similar to humans in that problems, such as E. coli and food poisoning, can easily overwhelm their systems. Once this occurs, be prepared to deal with vomiting, diarrhea, gagging, lethargy, and salmonella.
Have you ever ventured into the kitchen to bake a delicious treat with your cat following your every move? If so, you know how quickly your beloved animal can sweep up dropped items that make their way onto the kitchen floor.
If, however, you spot a piece of raw dough near your pet's mouth, remove it as soon as you can! The dough expands rapidly inside your pet's stomach, stretching and contorting the sensitive areas of their abdomen. If you decide to bake fresh bread or dough it may be a good idea to place them in a different room while baking.
The war between cats and dogs is less dangerous and more cute, but don't be fooled; dog food can prevent your cat from growing into the strong kitty they're meant to be.
The reason for this is that dogs and cats are fundamentally different: dogs need excess calories and volume, whereas cats need vitamins and plenty of protein to support their muscular systems.
While this food additive is rare, it's lethal for cats. Xylitol is an ingredient in household food items, such as pudding, strawberries, ketchup, candy, barbecue sauce, and various syrups.
Xylitol is relatively harmless for humans, but the science is still out on its long-term effects. Excessive xylitol in a cat's system can lead to illness, multiple organ failure, toxicity, and in some cases, death.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.