- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
You love your cat. And because you love your cat, you might be tempted to spoil them with treats—including food meant for humans.
But before you start feeding your cat directly off your plate, it’s important to understand that while some foods might be healthy and delicious for humans, they might be flat out dangerous for your cat.
Here are five surprisingly dangerous foods to avoid giving to your feline friends.
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Tuna
There’s no denying that cats love tuna. And it’s fine for them to enjoy as a small treat every now and then, but never as a meal replacement or part of your cat’s regular diet.
With the advice of veterinarian Dr. Gary Richter, we explain in our article, Can Cats Eat Tuna?, that “this is because tuna lacks the essential ingredients proper formulated cat food has. Eventually, your cat may experience deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, so it is not recommended to replace full meals with tuna.”
There is also a small risk of choking hazards from bones, mercury poisoning, and even hyperthyroidism, as the artificial flavors sometimes used in processed canned food may be linked to the condition in cats.
In general, you should strive to avoid feeding tuna to your cat, because even if offered as the occasional treat, “the large majority of what cats eat should be a balanced diet,” Dr. Richter says. “In general, treats are not balanced and should not make up a significant portion of their daily intake.”
Dairy
Kittens need their mother’s milk to survive. But once they grow into adult cats, that milk is replaced by solid foods—and not only do they no longer need milk, the enzyme kittens used to digest their mother’s milk “dissipates and kittens lose their ability to digest milk,” we explain in our article, Can Cats Drink Milk?
Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, a small animal and exotic veterinarian in east Texas and a veterinary consultant for doglab.com, tells Rover that small amounts of dairy milk won’t cause too many problems, even though it’s unnecessary. However, in high quantities, milk may cause some not-so-pleasant gastrointestinal side effects like an upset stomach and diarrhea.
In general, it’s best to skip dairy altogether and just keep your cat’s fluid intake limited to a fresh supply of clean, regular H20.
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Alcohol
You might like to unwind with a beer, cocktail, or glass of wine at the end of the day—but it’s imperative that you keep your beverage away from your cat if she seems interested in it.
Though PetMD explains alcohol poisoning in pets is rare “because alcohol tends to be distasteful to most animals,” even small amounts of alcohol can cause brain damage, liver damage, coma, or death in cats, because, PetMD continues, “since most pets are much smaller than humans, a smaller dose of alcohol can prove more dangerous to them than it would be to us.”
Bottom line: if you’re going to enjoy alcohol, enjoy it responsibly—and keep it far, far away from your feline.
Fat Trimmings
In general, it’s not advisable to feed your cat kitchen or table scraps. Fat trimmings, for example, if raw, can lead to a host of digestive issues (like vomiting) or food-borne illnesses (like salmonella). Fat trimmings, in particular, can also lead to pancreatitis—which can be extremely serious for cats and lead to long-term health issues. Ingested fragments of bone can also cause major damage to your cat’s teeth and digestive system, too.
Instead, consider one of many commercially available cat treats to satisfy your cat’s meat cravings and to avoid putting your pet in any danger.
Caffeine
You might need a healthy dose of caffeine to get going in the morning, but that same dose of caffeine can be dangerous for your cat.
According to Petpoisonhelpline.com, “dogs and cats appear to be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people. One or two licks of coffee, tea or soda is unlikely to cause poisoning in most pets. However, ingestion of unused coffee grounds or beans, tea bags, or supplements could cause serious toxicity in dogs or cats.”
So, keep a lid on your coffee, and if your cat needs a dose of energy in the morning, you can give it to them in the form of interactive play, nutritious cat food, and plenty of water.
Tips to keep your cats away from dangerous foods
Clearly, there are plenty of human foods that could be hazardous to your cat, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying them. Here are a few tips for storing and eating food in your home (and protecting your cat at the same time):
- Keep all cabinets shut and locked. If you store food in cabinets, make sure they’re shut, locked, and inaccessible to your cat.
- Make sure to clean up any stray food. After cooking, prepping food, or eating a meal, make sure to check counters, tabletops, and the floor for any stray food—and if you find any, clean it up (before your cat finds it).
- Watch your plate/glass. When you’re eating, keep an eye on your plate—and make sure your cat doesn’t try to steal any food (or drink!) while you’re not looking.
If you suspect your cat might have eaten one of these dangerous foods or anything else that might be hazardous to their health, it’s important to get help immediately. Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, where you can connect with a poison control specialist 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
