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HUMAN FOOD: SAFE VS. TOXIC – A GUIDE TO CATS, PEOPLE FOOD AND ITEMS CATS SHOULD AVOID EATING
Let's face it, some cats are inveterate "bums" and will beg and plead most appealingly while you try to eat. While I will (rarely) give a cat a tidbit of cheese or “veggie-turkey” from my plate, it's a practice I don't encourage as a regular habit for a few reasons. First, because cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good, premium cat foods, and any "extras" that they consume will take away their appetites for their regular meals. A sliver of cheese, turkey or chicken from your dinner plate certainly won't kill a cat, but you're helping him develop bad habits. What happens when a family member comes for dinner and your cat jumps on her lap to scarf up her meal? The main reason I'd discourage feeding cats "people food" is that there are a number of foods that are toxic to cats. You may have forgotten that the gravy slathered over your Thanksgiving turkey used broth that was flavored with onion, among other things. While it is tasty and harmless to humans, onions are very toxic to cats. The following is a list of foods that cats should never eat:
Onions, Garlic, & Related Root Vegetables: Onions contain a substance (N-propyl disulphide) which destroys red blood cells in cats, causing a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia or toxic anemia. Garlic contains a similar substance in a lesser amount and it is not uncommon to see garlic as in ingredient in some pet foods. Bare in mind that the amount of garlic contained in these foods is very minimal. However you should not feed your cat (or dog) any garlic, onions or foods in either the onion or garlic family.
Tomatoes & Raw Potatoes: These foods are members of the Solanaceae family of plants, which includes the Deadly Nightshade, and contain a bitter, poisonous alkaloid called Glycoalkaloid Solanine, which can cause violent lower gastrointestinal symptoms. The Feline Future web site offers a rare description of a cat which was close to death from ingesting just one cherry tomato (See the link on the sidebar).
Chocolate: It's becoming more widely known that chocolate is very toxic to both cats and dogs. Theobromine is the offending substance here. Janet Tobiassen Crosby, D.V.M. has an excellent article on the symptoms, effects, and treatment of chocolate toxicity.
Grapes and Raisins: These foods' toxicity has only recently been discovered, and although the only studies have been with dogs, it is also believed that these fruits may also affect cats adversely. For more information see the ASPCA Poison Control Center article titled, The Grapes of Wrath.
Milk: Although milk is not toxic to cats, it may have adverse effects. Simply put, adult cats fed a nutritious diet don't need milk, and many cats are lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products produces stomach upset, cramps, and gassiness. If your cat loves milk, and begs for it, a small amount of cream may be okay, two or three times a week. (The more fat in the milk, the less lactose.) Another compromise is CatSip, a product made from skim milk with an enzyme added that helps the digestion of lactose. Catsip is available at most supermarkets and pet shops.
Foods to Avoid:
Q. Which foods could be dangerous to my pet?
A. Some foods that 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.
Foods and Items to avoid and Why:
- Alcoholic beverages: can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
- Baby food: can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to cats and dogs. 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 which if not treated,c an cause serious injury, illness or death.
- Canned tuna (for human consumption): large amounts can cause malnutrition, since it lacks proper levels of vitamins and minerals.
- Chocolate, coffee, tea, and any other caffeine containing product: 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, carpeting, tape and a host of other foreign objects: (though not food to humans or cats) can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string (or other item) 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. This 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.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT YOU SHOULD FEED YOUR CAT A NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED CAT FOOD SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR CATS THAT CONTAINS PROTEIN, FIRST AND FOREMOST AS CATS ARE THE TRUEST OF CARNIVORES. THEY REQUIRE VITAMINS AND MINERALS ESSENTIAL TO GOOD FELINE HEALTH THAT CANNOT BE FOUND IN HUMAN FOOD.
If you have any questions regarding any of the information provided here, contact your cat’s veterinarian for nutritional counseling or regarding any health issues your cat may be experiencing.
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