It may be tempting to share your food scraps with your pet, but it’s important to know what foods to avoid. Many human foods can be toxic for cats. Avoid feeding your cat the following foods.
Chocolate
If consumed, chocolate may cause panting, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heartbeat, seizures, or even death. Baking and dark chocolate are the most dangerous for cats, but all chocolate should be avoided.
Dog Food
Dog food may have similar ingredients to cat food, but is not made for cats. A small amount of dog food won’t hurt your cat, but it should not be used as a long-term replacement. Feeding your cat dog food for long periods of time can cause serious nutritional deficiencies in your cat.
Grapes & Raisins
Grapes and raisins are highly toxic for cats. They may cause kidney failure, which can result in death. Other symptoms of grape or raisin consumption include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, and decreased appetite.
Milk & Dairy
Avoid giving your cat large amounts of milk or dairy products. Dairy is high in fat and sugar. Some cats may develop diarrhea or vomiting if they consume dairy products. Additionally, lactose intolerance—an inability to digest milk—is common in cats.
Onions
Onions should not be fed to your cat because they can break down the red blood cells in cats. This may lead to anemia. All types of onions should be avoided: cooked, dehydrated, raw, or powdered.
Raw Eggs
The consumption of raw eggs may lead to salmonella or E. coli poisoning for your cat. Feeding raw eggs can also lead to vitamin deficiencies in your cat.
While there are a number of foods for your cats to avoid, there are some human foods that are good for them. It’s always best to consult with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet.