15 Hazardous Human Foods That Should Never Be Fed to Cats

Should You Feed Cats Human Food?

It is very understandable to want to give your cats a snack, but before you do, you should be aware of which foods are hazardous to cats. Many common human foods are deadly to our feline friends.

Despite your cat's complaints, it's crucial to understand that human-grade treats, and munchies aren't a necessary component of their diet. In order to determine what your cat should consume in order to be healthy; you should do a little research or contain your local vet to ensure the food outside of their regular cat food you give them is not harmful.

Cats have unique nutrient requirements that not everyone knows about. As a result, any vitamins and minerals offered by treats—even those from foods like fruits and vegetables that we humans would consider healthy snacks—would be in excess of what a cat consuming a varied and well-balanced diet requires. Additionally, more isn't always better when it comes to nutrients. It might even be detrimental in some circumstances.

What Types of Human Foods Can Cats Safely Eat?

There are a few human foods that are usually thought to be safe for cats, as long as they don't make up more than 10% of a cat's daily diet, they can eat it as a treat. Cat can consume 250 calories per day, but they need to have a balanced diet. Cats have unique dietary needs, which means that some cats can have certain foods without any problems, while others may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or other negative symptoms. In light of this, it's wise to consult your veterinarian before introducing any new human foods to your pet's diet, even those that are normally regarded as secure.

Which Human Foods are Toxic to Cats?

1. Liquor. Alcoholic beverages and meals can give pets major health issues like vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory problems, comas, and even death.

2. Yeast-containing bread dough. Your cat's digestive system may become bloated as a result of rising yeast bread. This has the potential to be fatal since it can cause stomach bloating and even twisting. In addition, alcohol produced by yeast has its own set of drawbacks (see above). However, baked bread is thought to be safe for healthy cats.

3. Coffee
Coffee has the same potential effects as chocolate because it too includes the methylxanthine caffeine.

4. Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits with citric acid and essential oils, such as lemons, limes, oranges, clementines, and grapefruits, might be problematic for cats. Avoiding all of the stems, leaves, peels, fruit, and seeds is advised. Large doses can result in vomiting, diarrhea, and depression of the central nervous system, whereas modest doses are likely to just result in an upset stomach.

5. Coconut Water and Flesh
Although little amounts are unlikely to cause major harm, fresh coconut milk and flesh can give pets intestinal problems. Coconut oil might be useful for some cat skin conditions, but coconut water is too high in potassium to be suitable for animals. Before using this as a complementary medicine or adding it to your cat's diet, see your veterinarian.

6. Chocolate
Chocolates that contain substances such as theobromine and caffeine are two examples of methylxanthines, which are poisonous to pets and can result in vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, convulsions, and even death. Varied forms of chocolate have different amounts of methylxanthines. White chocolate is less hazardous than cocoa powder which is considered the most dangerous to cats.

7. Dairy
Dairy products can upset your cat's stomach since many cats are lactose intolerant and can't properly digest dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt). The best course of action is to completely avoid them, but you can inquire with your veterinarian about if a lactose-free substitute is a suitable reward.

8. Raisins and Grapes
There is evidence that feeding grapes and raisins to cats (and dogs, too!) can result in renal failure, while the precise cause of their poisonousness to animals is yet unknown.

9. Nuts
Like grapes, macadamia nuts are poisonous to animals, however it is unclear exactly how. Other nut varieties, such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts, are high in oils and fats that may irritate a cat's stomach and even result in pancreatitis.

10. Salt
Salt and salty meals can make pets throw up, have diarrhea, tremors, have seizures, and even die in large doses.

11. A Few Herbs and Vegetables
Cats can eat some veggies, but they shouldn't consume onions, garlic, leeks, scallions, shallots, or chives since they can upset their stomachs and even injure their red blood cells. Additionally, foods like garlic bread that contain these herbs and vegetables have to be avoided.

12. Xylitol 
A typical sweetener found in packaged products like gum and sweets called xylitol can cause vomiting, fatigue, and liver failure in animals.

What Must You Do If Your Cat Consumes a Toxic Item?

Call your veterinarian as soon as you can if you believe your cat may have consumed a food item on the poisonous list. You don't have to wait until your cat exhibits symptoms of a disease before getting care. Any issues or prospective issues should be addressed as soon as possible.

Fortunately, these problems are less common in cats than in dogs, who tend to be more impulsive and indifferent when it comes to what they consume. It also pays to be selective about what you feed them, just like your cat, who is probably more reluctant to try new things. Consult your veterinarian about the items to add to your cat's food before making any drastic changes.