The diet of a cat is one of the keys to cats' health and happiness, but not all foods are suitable for them. Some foods are toxic to cats and can even cause serious health problems. Therefore, it is very important to understand which foods are taboos for cats. Here are the top ten taboo foods for cats, let’s learn about them together.
1, Chocolate and Coffee
The cocoamin and caffeine contained in these foods can negatively affect the cat's heart and nervous system, and may even lead to poisoning. Cocoaminine and caffeine are particularly dangerous ingredients for cats. They can cause symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, muscle tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., and in severe cases, even life-threatening. Therefore, cats must not be exposed to chocolate and coffee, including chocolate products, coffee beans, coffee grounds, etc., to avoid accidents. If the cat accidentally lets these foods be consumed, please contact the veterinarian immediately for treatment.
2, onions, garlic, sulfides contained in vegetables such as onions and garlic can destroy cat red blood cells, cause anemia, and may even cause acute kidney damage. The ingredients in these foods can cause damage to red blood cells, block oxygen transport and ultimately lead to anemia. Moreover, onions and garlic may also cause inflammation of the cat's digestive tract tissues such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestine, leading to digestive tract problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, for the sake of the health of your cat, be sure to avoid exposing them to onions and garlic.
3, Grapes and Raisins
Studies have shown that certain components in grapes and raisins may cause acute kidney damage in cats, manifested as symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and reduced urine volume. In some cases, this kidney injury can progress rapidly and even endanger the life of the cat. Therefore, although grapes and raisins are healthy foods for humans, they are taboo foods for cats and must not be allowed to eat them.
4. Dairy products
Although dairy products are inexplicably attractive to cats, they cannot digest lactose, and excessive intake can cause diarrhea. Lactose is a sugar in dairy products. It is broken down into glucose and galactose by lactase in the body of cats. However, most adult cats lack lactase and cannot effectively decompose lactose, causing lactose to ferment in the intestines to produce gases and acidic substances, causing diarrhea and other indigestion symptoms. Therefore, although cats may show a strong interest in dairy products, it is best not to feed cats dairy products containing lactose to avoid digestive problems.
5. Alcohol
Even a small amount of alcohol can cause poisoning in cats, causing vomiting, diarrhea, out of control and central nervous system depression. Cats have very low metabolic capacity to alcohol and cannot effectively metabolize alcohol into harmless substances, so even small amounts of alcohol can cause serious harm to their health. The toxic substances in alcohol will be quickly absorbed into the cat's blood circulation, affecting the normal function of its nervous system and digestive system, resulting in a series of adverse reactions. Therefore, to protect the health of your cats, you should ensure that they are away from any alcohol-containing substances, including alcoholic beverages, medications and detergents.
6. Raw meat and raw fish
Raw meat and raw fish may contain parasites and bacteria, which pose a threat to the health of cats. Parasites and bacteria in raw meat, such as toxoplasma gondii, salmonella, etc., may cause cat infection, cause digestive system problems, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms, and in severe cases, even life-threatening. Therefore, to protect the health of cats, raw meat and raw fish should be avoided as their food. For raw meat and raw fish, it is best to fully heat treatment to ensure that the parasites and bacteria are killed to reduce the harm to the cat.
7. Excessive salt in salty foods can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in cats, causing discomfort and even poisoning. The cat's kidneys cannot effectively process large amounts of salt. Excessive salt will increase the burden on the kidneys and lead to impaired renal function. In addition, high-salt foods can also cause cats to have thirst, leading to excessive drinking of water, and thus increasing kidney burden. Therefore, in order to protect the health of cats, they should avoid giving them high-salt foods, such as bacon, pickled products, etc., to maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
8. Human drugs
include ibuprofen, acetaminophen and other drugs, which are toxic to cats. The toxicity of human drugs to cats can lead to serious health problems and even fatality. Therefore, cats should seek medical treatment in time when they are sick and use drugs specifically for cats as recommended by the veterinarian. Do not use human drugs at will.
9. Bones
Bones can easily cause throat or intestinal obstruction and cause serious digestive problems. Especially small bones such as chicken bones and fish bones are more likely to get stuck in the cat's throat or intestines, causing serious consequences such as suffocation or intestinal scratches. Therefore, it is not recommended to give cats any type of bone to ensure their health and safety.
10. Tobacco
The nicotine toxins in tobacco are extremely dangerous to cats and may even lead to poisoning and death. Cats inhaling smoke or contacting tobacco ash, cigarette butts, etc. may lead to nicotine poisoning, manifested as symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, excessive excitement, rapid heartbeat, and even difficulty breathing. Therefore, for the sake of the health of the cat, it is best not to smoke at home, or at least smoke in places where the cat cannot reach, and keep the tobacco products away from the cat's environment.
In general, cats need careful care to avoid giving them unsuitable food. These foods can have serious effects on the health of your cat and may even be toxic. Therefore, as owners of cats, we need to always pay attention to their diet and ensure that they are given safe and healthy food to maintain their health and happiness.