With spring time in full effect and holidays like Easter coming up, there are many opportunities for delicious food to be passed around in the near vicinity of our feline friends. Sometimes at large gatherings, animals like our furry felines get forgotten by the wayside or not paid much attention to when there are all kinds of human relatives around. Make sure to pay attention that your cat doesn’t get ahold of or ingest food that could potentially poison them.
Here are 10 no-no foods for your feline:
1. Alcoholic beverages
2. Chocolate
It’s starting to become more widespread that chocolate is very toxic to both cats and dogs. Theobromine is the offending substance that needs to be avoided.
3. Coffee
4. Grapes and raisins
These foods’ toxicity has mainly been found in dogs. The ASPCA advises: “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.”
5. Moldy or spoiled food
6. Onions, garlic and chives
Onions contain the substance N-propyl disulphide, which destroys red blood cells in the cat, causing a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia. Garlic contains a similar substance, but in a lesser amount.
7. Poultry bones
8. Salt and salty foods
9. Tomato leaves, stems and unripe fruit
These foods are members of the Solanaceae family of plants and contain a bitter, poisonous alkaloid which can cause violent lower gastrointestinal symptoms. The leaves and stems are particularly toxic. (Tomatoes in pet foods are ripe, and should cause no concern because they appear in relatively small amounts)
10. Yeast dough
If you think your cat has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
