Food that is good for us is not always appropriate for our pets. Cats that are choosy with foods and at times foods that we think are good for them may endanger their health. In fact, you may be surprised at some of the common foods that should not be given to your cat.
Milk and dairy products. Although cats love drinking milk, it is not always good for them. Milk are not the nutrients that cats need and most cats cannot withstand the lactose that exists in milk. During kittens stage, are they introduced to lactose through feeding on their mother’s milk and that is only for several weeks. Their digestive system is often not made to regulate lactose. Lactose, which is a sugar that cannot be digested, will draw water into the cat’s intestines. Therefore, it can cause various diarrhea-related health problems.
Onions of all kinds. Garlic, red, powdered, raw, cooked, or leaves can break a cat’s red blood cells and cause anemia. Why? Because garlic contain sulphide and disulfide. Small quantities are not a problem but if they are consumed in large quantities, it can cause serious toxicity, damaging to health such as fatigue, significant weight loss and gastrointestinal problems.
Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, alcoholic beverages are not good for your cat. All drinks that affect humans, have the same effect on the cat’s heart and brain. Alcohol is highly toxic to cats because it can be absorbed into the body rapidly. The only difference between humans is that this drink destroys the cat’s system twice as fast as humans. Only two tablespoons of whiskey can cause serious harm to a cat weighing 2.2kg, and additional one teaspoon will probably kill the cat. You should not hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you suspect your cat may have been poisoned by alcohol.
Dog food. Share your dog food occasionally if there is no danger to your cat. Both cat and dog food have similar ingredients. However, cat food is a special food processed to meet the nutrients and vitamins a cat needs. Therefore, a dog food diet is not a helthy diet for your cat.
Wine and Raisins. Grapes and raisins are often used as rewards or treats for pets. But this practice is not a good idea. Although experts are still unclear why grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats or a small amount can make your cats sick, it is important to monitor these signs. Repeated vomiting and hyperactivity are the first signs.
Dough yeast. Before it bakes, the bread dough rise in expansinon and this condition will occur in your cat’s stomach if the cat eats it. The dough will expand in the cat’s stomach. It can swell in the stomach and cause severe pain. In addition, when yeast makes the dough rise, it produces alcohol that can lead to alcohol poisoning.
Caffeine. The caffeine contained in tea, coffee can be very dangerous for your cat. In addition to tea and coffee, caffeine can be found in peanuts, stimulant drinks and children’s favorite foods, chocolate. Remember, there is no cure for this condition. A small amount of caffeine can cause anxiety, shortness of breath and fast heart rate pulses. However consuming too much is fatal.
Chocolate. The toxin that is in chocolate is theobromine and it is present in every kind of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous types are dark chocolate and chocolate for baking. Eating chocolate can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures including death. It is also found in some cough and painkillers medicine. Can the theobromine content be removed from chocolate? The answer is no. A little chocolate will not kill a cat. Eating too much especially dark chocolate can continue to be a medical emergency. Baking chocolate for cake making is considered the worst and has very high theobromine content, followed by milk chocolate and white chocolate.
Fats and bone intake. Leftovers from the table often contains fats cut off from the flesh and bones. Both fats and bone may be harmful to cats. Fat, whether cooked or uncooked, can irritate the gut, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Cats can choke on big bones or sharpen after being bitten, such as chicken feet. A bone splinters will become a hindrance or a blow to your cat’s intestines and digestive system.
Raw egg. There are two problems with giving your cat raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria such as salmonela or E coli. Raw eggs pose a risk of contamination. If your cat eats raw eggs that are contaminated by bacteria or the like, they can become very ill through food poisoning. The second is a rare problem where the protein in the raw egg white, avidin, can interfere with the absorption of biotin B vitamins. This can continue to cause skin problems as well as your cat’s fur.
Cats are carnivorous species that need meat as their basic food and keeping your cat healthy is the responsibility of every pet owner. Be sure to check the contents of each meal.