Keeping pets safe at home

What Foods Are Bad For Cats

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: February 26, 2020
What Foods Are Bad For Cats

Cats are wonderful pets: curious, funny and playful that quickly become a member of our family. And to see them grow up happy and healthy, it is very important to take care of all their needs, adequately feed them and keep them safe. In this respect it is very important to know what foods are bad for cats,to avoid your cat ingesting them and risking its life.

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Steps to follow:

1

Onions and garlic, especially onions, are two common ingredients in our homes that are bad for cats. Both contain thiosulphate, a substance that causes the animal to have diarrhea, vomiting, breathing problems, loss of appetite and bloody urine. In more severe cases it can give the animal haemolytic anaemia because it destroys red blood cells.

If you make your cat's food yourself, you should never include these ingredients.

What Foods Are Bad For Cats - Step 1
2

Apple, apricot or nectarine seeds are highly toxic to cats, so the animal should never be given these fruits. Upon consumption the cat may experience breathing difficulties that can lead to suffocation, so you must be particularly vigilant in this respect.

What Foods Are Bad For Cats - Step 2
3

One of our favourite desserts, chocolate, has theobromine which is very bad for your cat. Consumption causes hyperactivity, excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, heart attacks 24 hours after being swallowed. Dark chocolate is especially dangerous as it contains more theobromine, so you should never give your cat this candy or any food that contains it.

What Foods Are Bad For Cats - Step 3
4

We associate cats with milk, but this concept is wrong. After the growing out of the kitten stage, adult cats become lactose intolerant so this food makes them feel terrible. Upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea are the main symptoms cats experience after drinking milk, especially if it is not skimmed. This also applies to derivatives such as cheese and yogurt. So, against all odds, this is a group of foods that are bad for cats too.

If you want to give your cat milk, go with a lactose-free kind.

What Foods Are Bad For Cats - Step 4
5

Potatoes and tomatoes are other foods unsuitable for our cat. The first contains starch that is very difficult to process for the animal, while the second is too acidic for their stomach. Both cause stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting.

What Foods Are Bad For Cats - Step 5
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Foods that contain wheat, caffeine or alcohol are also bad for cats. In the same way avocado is highly harmful to the animal due to its content of Persina, which causes vomiting, stomach upset, diarrhea, respiratory problems and in severe cases even death, so we must pay special attention to this. Fish oil can be helpful when it is in the food, but not if it is given in too large a dose. Fish oil supplements can cause gastrointestinal issues if given too often.

What Foods Are Bad For Cats - Step 6
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The best way to keep feeding our cat safely is to give them commercial food or products designed especially for them. So we guarantee their proper nutrition and especially their safety. Now you know what foods are bad for cats, t is also useful to know what to do if your cat is poisoned to ensure their safety in the case that they have eaten one of the mentioned products.

If you want to read similar articles to What Foods Are Bad For Cats, we recommend you visit our Pets category.

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2 comments
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debbie
I give my cat Garlic granules ( only a peppering every other day) to deter flea's .. was told to do this by a herbalist who specializes in Animals . I am confused now. I don't want to use flea sprays or pipettes to neck, due to the chemicals ...what can I do as an alternative then ? thanks x
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Debbie,

In small amounts the garlic granules will likely not doo much harm. However, they do contain toxins to which cats are susceptible. Prolonged use can cause GI upset and will be bad for them in the long run.
Rating:
Valerie
I'm very confused. Why do you list fish oil as something bad for cats? Do cat food companies take the oils out of fish before they add the fish to the food?
Thanks for you time and attention. Valerie
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Valerie,

The problem is people supplementing too much fish oil. Natural oils in the fish they eat are not a problem, but too much can cause gastrointestinal issues. The article has been clarified, thank you for pointing it out.
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What Foods Are Bad For Cats