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Q. Which foods could be dangerous to my pet?

A. Some foods which are edible for humans, and even
dogs, can pose hazards for cats because of their different metabolism. Some
may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe
illness, and even death. The following common food items should not be fed
(intentionally or unintentionally) to cats. This list is, of course,
incomplete because we can not possibly list everything your cat should not
eat.

Items to avoid Reasons to avoid

Alcoholic beverages Can cause intoxication,
coma, and death.
Baby food Can contain onion powder, which can
be toxic to cats. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional
deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.
Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat
sources Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
Canned tuna (for human consumption) Large
amounts can cause malnutrition, since it lacks proper levels of vitamins and
minerals.
Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine
Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and
affect the heart and nervous system.

Citrus oil extracts Can cause vomiting.
Dog food If accidental ingestion, will not
cause a problem; if fed repeatedly, may result in malnutrition and diseases
affecting the heart.
Fat trimmings Can cause pancreatitis.
Grapes and raisins Contain an unknown toxin,
which can damage the kidneys.
Human vitamin supplements containing iron Can
damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs
including the liver and kidneys.
Large amounts of liver Can cause Vitamin A
toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.
Macadamia nuts Contain an unknown toxin, which
can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
Marijuana Can depress the nervous system,
cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
Milk and other dairy products Some adult cats
and dogs do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks
down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk
products are available for cats.
Moldy or spoiled food, garbage Can contain
multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other
organs.
Mushrooms Can contain toxins, which may affect
multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.

Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder)
Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and
cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than
onions.
Persimmons Seeds can cause intestinal
obstruction and enteritis.
Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and
tomato stems Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and
urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.
Raw eggs Contain an enzyme called avidin,
which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to
skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
Raw fish Can result in a thiamine (a B
vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe
cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.
Salt If eaten in large quantities it may lead
to electrolyte imbalances.
String Can become trapped in the digestive
system; called a "string foreign body."
Sugary foods Can lead to obesity, dental
problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.
Table scraps (in large amounts) Table scraps
are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the
diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.
Tobacco Contains nicotine, which affects the
digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse,
coma, and death.
Yeast dough Can expand and produce gas in the
digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or
intestines.


Mosey