Owning a feline is a big responsibility. There are many precautions to take to give your cat a happy and healthy, but this article will focus mostly on what cats can actually eat, and what sustenances are actually poisonous for cats.
Cat Poisons
You should never feed your cat anything that could harm it under any circumstances. Many toxins can produce diarrhea, vomiting, liver failure, kidney failure, and other possible outcomes. Of course you may delight your cat with a little human food here and there, but you must know what to feed your cat. Carelessly giving out food to your cat (or any pet for that matter) can be very dangerous, as the amounts of food and the food itself can be unhealthy.
The most common cat poisons you should never let your cat consume or inhale are listed below. Some of these are worse than others, so make sure you keep in mind that even the smallest trace of a poison can have some sort of effect on your cat.
- Cooked bones (not a poison, but can give splinters)
- Raw eggs
- Raw meat
- Grapes (and raisins)
- Chocolate
- Caffein
- Dairy products
- Raw Dough
- Dog food
- Liver
- Garlics, onions, chives, shallots, etc….
- Raw fish
- Rat poison (and others)
- Soap
- Essential oils
- Air fresheners
- Medications specifically for dogs
- Lilies
- Avocados
Poisoning Symptoms
You may notice symptoms of your cat being sick, but you can’t recall giving them anything harmful. It could be a possibility that they could have ingested something from outside (mouse, rat, bird, etc….) that already had some type of disease or sickness. Either way, if you notice that your cat is feeling ill, contact your vet.
Symptoms of poisoning in a cat may include diarrhea, vomiting, sluggishness, excessive drooling, seizures, heavy breathing, and other characteristics that aren’t normal in your cat’s behavior. If your cat shows symptoms, call your vet immediately to avoid any harm going towards your cat.
Human food can be an issue for cats, but so can other things such as plants, cleaning items, medication, chemicals, and more. Therefore, it is important to monitor what exactly your cat is doing. To lower the risk of your feline being poisoned, keep dangerous products away and out of reach, preferably in a closed cabinet of sorts. It is also important you test your pets for any allergies they may have, as they may be consuming things they shouldn’t be.
What can I feed my cat?
So, what can cats actually eat? There are cat foods you can buy, such as dry food and wet food, but what about the things we eat?Can cats eat at least some of those? Well, the answer is yes. While a lot of human foods can be dangerous for animals, not all of them are harmful. In fact, they may even boost your cats diet in a good way. Not all foods we eat are cat poisons. While cats usually have a diet consisting mostly of dry and wet cat food, they can also receive small portions of other cuisine as a treat or snack, as long as it’s safe to eat, of course.
Here is a list of items cats can actually consume:
- Cooked eggs
- Broccoli
- Fish
- Other meats (not raw nor rotten) | (skinless and boneless)
- Plain cooked rice
- Carrots
- Melons
- Cheese
- Asparagus
- Cucumbers
- Peas
Wet Cat Food
The average cat eats 4-5 ounces of canned food per day, if they only eat wet food.
Wet food pros: Good for cats who are overweight, have constipation, and/or are prone to lower urinary tract disease.
Wet food cons: More expensive and less easy to use than dry food.
Click on the images to learn more:
Dry Cat Food
The average cat should eat 1/3-1/2 cups of dry food each day, when only eating dry food the whole day.
Dry food pros: Nutrient-dense and easy to store and serve.
Dry food cons: Less protein and higher in carbohydrates.
Click on the images to learn more:
Thank you for reading and taking care of your cat.
Want to learn about poisons for dogs, as well? Click here!
You can also click here to learn about cat behaviors.
