10 Human Foods Are Toxic to Cats - From A to Z

When you realize that a certain food is good for your body, you will add it to your daily eating list, even if it is not your favorite taste. Well, there are lots of foods (and drinks) that may not be good for you but are downright deadly to your cat.

Caffeine

Caffeinated drinks can cause hyperactivity in humans and animals. Coffee contains caffeine, which can cause vomiting, polyuria, and in severe cases, lead to neurological and cardiac abnormalities in cats. The lethal dose of caffeine to cats is 80-159 mg/kg.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. If a cat eats a certain amount of chocolate by mistake, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, nervousness, excitement, tremor, rapid heartbeat, arrhythmia, coma, convulsions, and even sudden death may occur after 4 hours.

Citrus Fruits and Extracted Citrus Oils

Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines and grapefruit contain citric acid and essential oils that can be harmful to your cat's health.

Cats ingest accidentally or contact citrus peels or extract citrus oil for a long time can cause mild symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and gastrointestinal discomfort, large amounts can cause the liver to fail to metabolize in severe cases, leading to liver cell necrosis.

Grapes and Raisins

Even small amounts of grapes or grape products can cause acute renal failure in cats, possibly eventually causing shock or death.

They seem like they would be a harmless treat but are one of the more common poisons, especially when you consider they find their way into juices, trail mixes, breads, and more. Take care not to let one roll off your chopping board.

Onions and Garlic

Garlic, onions, chives, and leeks are vegetables of the allium family — all of which have the potential to be dangerous to cats.

Onions contain N-propyl disulfide that may damage cat red blood cells, causing anemia and hemoglobinuria in cats.

Garlic contains allicin, which is also one of the foods that is poisonous to cats. In large enough doses, though, garlic can cause anemia, so all in moderation. In addition, garlic is an irritating seasoning food, which can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract of cats and cause intestinal upset in cats.

Nuts

Some nuts contain ingredients that are harmful to cats, which may cause symptoms such as listlessness, loss of appetite, salivation, and convulsions in cats.

Macadamia nuts are only toxic to dogs, and can cause pancreatitis, hyperthermia, depression, vomiting, joint stiffness, and lethargy in your pup. In addition to the nuts themselves, the products of digestion are also toxic.

Raw Eggs (Not Sterile Eggs)

It is not recommended to feed raw eggs to cats. Because raw eggs contain protease inhibitors, eating a large amount of raw protein can hinder the absorption of biotin and lead to biotin deficiency, specific symptoms such as hair loss, weight loss, dermatitis, etc.

There are also some bacteria in raw eggs, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, etc. Cats may cause bacterial enteritis after eating them, leading to symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and even blood in the stool.

Stone Fruits and Stone of Drupe

The leaves, stems, and seeds of stone fruits contain cyanide. Common drupes include peaches, cherries, apricots, and dates etc..

Cyanide can interfere with the normal release of oxygen in the blood, causing headaches and nausea in mild cases, and dyspnea, disturbance of consciousness and even convulsions in severe cases. Fruit stones can also sometimes cause intestinal blockage in cats.

Tomatoes in Green

There are two kinds of green tomatoes, one is still green after ripening,  another is immature green tomato. No matter what kind of green tomato, it contains solanine.

Solanine entering the cat's body will interfere with the transmission of nerve signals and stimulate the intestinal mucosa, resulting in severe discomfort in the cat's lower digestive tract and even gastrointestinal bleeding.

Xylitol

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that acts as a substitute for sugar. Studies have found that xylitol, like chocolate, is extremely harmful to cats. Cats may experience severe hypoglycemia in a short period of time due to increased insulin release following consumption of xylitol. Severe hypoglycemia can cause the cat to slip into a coma and die. After such occurrences, some recovering cats go on to develop liver failure despite prompt treatment.

It can be found in everything from gum to soda to some brands of peanut butter. So remember to always shop organic and read the label.

Conclusion

It is important to take into account the unique needs of each cat, as some may tolerate certain foods well while others may exhibit negative symptoms. Therefore, seeking advice from a veterinarian before introducing any new human food to your cat's diet, even those deemed safe, is a wise decision.