People Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat!

Today I want to tell you about some specific "people foods" your cat should never eat. As you know, some cats will beg you for food while you're trying to eat. It becomes very tempting to give our feline friends some of our human food. We have good intentions. We want our cats to taste what we're eating. We want our cats to be happy.

Sometimes, not very often, I will give my cats a tidbit of chicken or turkey from my plate. But, it's a practice I don't encourage doing on a regular basis. Why? Because cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good premium cat foods. Any "extras" that they consume will take away their appetites for their regular meals. A sliver of turkey or chicken from your dinner plate certainly won't kill your cat, but you're helping him or her develop bad habits.

Catnip Plants

The main reason I discourage feeding cats "people food" is that there are a number of foods that are toxic, or poisonous to cats. In other words, there are foods that can cause your cat serious injury or death. So be very careful when feeding your cat human food and table scraps. For example, the gravy or stuffing that you poured over your Thanksgiving turkey may have onions in it, among other things. For humans, that gravy or stuffing might taste great and it's harmless. But, did you know that 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 called N-propyl disulphide which destroys red blood cells in the cat. This causes a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia. Onions and onion products are not recommended for consumption by cats. Garlic contains a similar substance in a lesser amount.

Green Tomatoes, Green/Raw Potatoes

These foods are members of the Solanaceae family of plants. It's pronounced So·la·na·ce·ae. The Solanaceae family of plants is used by humans as an important source of food. These include the potato, the tomato, eggplant and chili peppers to name a few. Some of these plants are also used for spices and medicine. But, some of these plants are poisonous. In particular, the leaves and stems of the plant. So be careful!

Chocolate

This is one you probably already knew about. It's becoming more widely known than ever that chocolate is very toxic to both cats and dogs. What makes chocolate poisonous??? Chocolate is made from the fruit, or beans of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic compound in chocolate. Theobromine is poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses among others because they are unable to metabolize the chemical effectively.

Grapes and Raisins

No one is 100% sure why grapes and raisins can be harmful to cats and dogs. But, the ASPCA (American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals) says: "As there are still many unknowns with the toxic potential of grapes and raisins, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center advises not giving grapes or raisins to pets in any amount." That's good enough for me.

Milk

I bet you're surprised by this one. Although milk is not toxic to cats, it may have harmful side-effects. Did you know that adult cats that are fed a nutritious diet don't need milk? It's true...and many cats are lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products can cause stomach upset, cramps and gassiness. If your cat really loves milk, a small amount of cream may be okay two or three times a week. The more fat in the milk, the less lactose.

Another solution is CatSip. Catsip is a product made from skim milk, with an enzyme added that helps the digestion of lactose. Catsip is available in supermarkets such as Safeway, Albertson's and A&P. It's also available at big pet-products stores, such as PetSmart and Petco.

These are the most common "people foods" that can be potentially harmful to cats. The bottom line is to feed your cat nutritious food developed with his or her needs in mind. Also, choose treats designed for cats instead of table scraps. If you think your cat has been poisoned contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. A fee may be billed to your credit card.

People Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat!