This entry was posted on 2014-03-26 by admin.

These foods are among those often accidentally or intentionally ingested by cats, which are potentially life threatening:

1)      Alcohol- Alcohol does exactly what it does to humans, but to cats when they ingest it. As can be imagined, considering their size- the damage is done with far less. A small consumption of alcohol can cause a coma and death in cats.

2)      Tuna- Mercury poisoning and malnutrition are common side-effects of feeding your cat a diet of largely tuna.

3)      Raw eggs- Food poisoning I.e. salmonella poisoning and  the preventing of absorption of Vitamin B

4)      Raw Fish- Food poisoning from bacteria and leads to the killing of an important Vitamin B

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5)      Onions and Garlic: Aside from an upset stomach, onions can cause a break down in the red blood cells of your cat and giving it anaemia. Anaemia can make it difficult for your cat to recover from other “normal” cat illnesses, sometimes making them fatal.

6)      Grapes and Raisins- Although it cannot be proven why, grapes and raisins cause hyperactivity, vomiting and kidney failure

7)      Caffeine- There is no cure for caffeine poisoning and it can cause heart palpitations, rapid breathing, fits and even in large enough quantities- death.

8)      Sweets and Chocolate- The Xylitol used as a sweetener causes a drop in your cat’s blood sugar levels and can cause kidney failure. Theobromine, present in all chocolates, can cause abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and death.

As one can see- there are some on this list that no one would intentionally give to their cats and yet there are others some may see as a treat for your cat however it is best to make sure there is no chance your pet ingests any of the above. Pet foods and pet treats, specifically geared towards the unique needs of pets over humans, are a far superior choice- no matter how much of a treat you think you are giving your pet.