6 Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Cats
by Mike Stiven
What you consume may be unsafe for your feline companion. As Clinical Nutrition Service stated, “Cats have specific nutrient requirements that their diet must meet.” Thus, it’s essential to be mindful and cautious with the food you’re feeding your cats, especially if you are a novice cat owner.
There are a variety of foods that you may be feeding your cats with, and some of those may pose a risk to their health. The danger of table scraps may not be obvious until your cat starts to vomit or experience diarrhea.
That’s why you should be aware of the contents in the meal that you’re giving your cats with or even in your meal because even though the aroma of your cooking enthralls your curious cat, some of the contents can be poisonous to them, which can lead to digestive issues, vitamin deficits, or worse, lethal diseases.
Should Haves
Many people mistakenly feed their cats with foods that they believe to be healthy and delightful, but in fact may cause the cat’s digestive system to swirl, putting them at risk. Although naturally, you would want to treat them with delicious food. However, bear in mind that foods offer substantial health dangers.
As a pet owner, you would want to provide your feline companion with the most excellent quality of food that will sustain your cat’s nutritional necessities. VitaPet for Cats provides various beneficial products, from your cat treats to healthcare, formulated with sufficient nutrients and vitamins that will indeed sustain your cat’s diet needs.
Shouldn’t Haves
Typically, cats are picky eaters due to their high expectations of what food they should consume. However, your cat’s curiosity can sometimes tend to get the best of them. Whether it’d be leftovers or sweet goodies – there are several foods that your cats must avoid, as it poses a greater risk of health issues. Listed below are the following:
Raw Fish
Raw fish may carry Salmonella and Escherichia coli, which can lead to foodborne illnesses. Enzymes present in raw fish degrade thiamine, resulting in a deficiency of thiamine. This can cause massive brain damage if not immediately addressed.
In order to safeguard your cat the fish should be properly prepared without additives, flavorings, or seasonings.
Dairy Products
Lactose intolerance is a natural characteristic of most cats, which means that their digestive system cannot adequately handle dairy products. Feeding them dairy products can result in an upset stomach and lead to diarrhea or vomiting.
Pet nutritionist, Cailin Heinze, noted that the symptoms of lactose intolerance could go unnoticed by pet owners. This may be the case if your cat spends more time outdoors where they cannot be adequately supervised.
Onion, Garlic & Chives
It does not matter if they are cooked, uncooked, powdered, or dehydrated. You should avoid feeding any food that contains onion, garlic or chives. They break down your cat’s erythrocyte or red blood cells, leading to difficulty in breathing and anemia.
Alcohol
Any beverages or food products that contain alcoholic content under no circumstances should be given to your cats. Cats’ brains and liver are affected by alcohol, the same way it affects people. However, the damage it inflicts to cats is significantly less. Drinking even a tiny amount of alcohol can result in a range of various symptoms such as:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Coma
- Death
Tuna
The aroma of an open can of tuna is enough to attract the interest of any cat. However, cats need nutrients in their diets that tuna alone does not have. Moreover, tuna contains a high concentration of mercury, which can result in mercury poisoning.
Chocolate
Dogs aren’t the only ones with a sweet tooth. Cats can be poisoned by chocolate, which can cause diarrhea, a decrease in blood circulation, vomiting, breathing difficulties, and even heart problems. It is advisable to keep chocolate out of the reach of your cats. Particularly dark chocolates since it has a higher percentage of cocoa.
Takeaway
You may be feeding your cats foods that could pose a risk resulting in health complications. It is crucial to know which foods to avoid feeding your cats. Listed above are only some of the few things to consider. As a responsible pet owner, conduct thorough research and keep an eye out for your cats’ nutritional needs.