What are cats not allowed to drink?

8 common human foods that are poisonous to cats

There are lots of tasty human foods that can make your cat very ill. Any food not specifically designed for cats can affect the digestive system, causing vomiting, diarrhoea, or loss of appetite.

Foods that cats can’t eat include:

• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Tea, coffee and energy drinks
• Cheese and milk
• Fat trimmings
• Raw eggs, raw meat and raw fish
• Grapes and raisins
• Onions and garlic
• Xylitol

Find out more about the dangers these foods pose to cats in our list of foods cats can’t eat below.

My cat’s eaten poisonous food, what should I do?

If you suspect your cat has eaten human food poisonous to cats try to determine how much she may have eaten and contact your vet for advice. If it’s out of hours, find your nearest emergency vet here.

In some cases, small quantities may not cause a problem but larger quantities may require urgent treatment.

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1. Alcohol

As little as a tablespoon of alcohol can lead to problems for your cat. It can cause severe liver and brain damage.

2. Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine. While this bitter-tasting stimulant is found in all forms, it’s most concentrated in dark and unsweetened chocolate. Ingestion can cause heart problems, muscle tremors, or seizures. Chocolate also contains caffeine.

3. Coffee, tea and energy drinks

These contain caffeine – it can cause your cat to become restless, suffer from rapid breathing, heart palpitations and muscle tremors.

4. Cheese and milk

Perhaps surprisingly, dairy products are high on the list of what can cats not eat. This is because some cats are lactose intolerant so if they eat dairy products it can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

5. Fat trimmings, raw meat, raw eggs and raw fish

Can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or a painful condition called pancreatitis (from excessive fat) and there is also a risk of Salmonella or E. coli associated with these foods.

6. Grapes and raisins

Dogs can suffer acute kidney failure from eating grapes or raisins – and although toxicity in cats is only anecdotal we would strongly advise that you keep these foods out of reach of your cat.

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7. Onions and garlic

All members of the onion family can cause problems if eaten in sufficient quantity. A little bit of onion or garlic in some sauce is not likely to cause any problems. However, eating a clove of garlic or a green onion may cause digestive upset. Eating some type of onion on a regular basis could cause anemia.

8. Xylitol

This is a sweetener used in a lot of sugar-free foods, especially chewing gum. There are no records of cats becoming ill from this product, but in dogs it can cause a severe drop in blood sugar – which can cause seizures and convulsions or even death – followed by liver failure. It’s better to be safe and not let your cat eat foods that contain this ingredient.

How to prevent cats eating harmful foods?

The best prevention is simply to keep your food out of reach of your cat. If you choose to give your cat human food, follow these guidelines:

• The food should only be considered a treat and only given on the odd occasion to prevent gastrointestinal upset and nutritional imbalances
• If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t feed it to your cat.
• If you wouldn’t eat the food raw, then your cat shouldn’t either

Treatment for cats that have eaten toxic food

If your cat has eaten food that can cause them harm, treatment is generally supportive until the symptoms resolve. This may involve hospitalisation, intravenous fluids (a drip) and blood tests to monitor organ function.

About the Author

Orlaith O’Mahony

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Foods that are Dangerous or Toxic to Cats

When it comes to your cat, you want to make sure she has the best kind of cat food for her nutritional needs. From time to time, you may be tempted to give her table scraps and special treats, but bear in mind that certain foods can be poisonous to her. Here’s a look at some of the most toxic foods for cats.

Onions and Garlic

Onions, garlic, shallots, and scallions can cause damage to your cat’s red blood cells and lead to anemia. These foods are typically poisonous when eaten in large quantities, but exposure to concentrated forms of onion or garlic, such as onion soup mix or garlic powder, can also be toxic. Cats with symptoms of lethargy, weakness, reduced appetite, pale gums, and orange to dark red urine should be taken to the vet immediately.

Raw Eggs, Raw Meat & Bones

Just like humans, consumption of raw eggs or raw meat can lead to salmonella or E. coli poisoning in cats. Symptoms of the illness vary but can include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Salmonella and E. coli can also be transmitted to humans, so be careful to properly wash your hands after cooking and keep your cat away from these raw foods. Raw eggs also contain an enzyme that can lead to skin and coat problems. Keep your cat from eating raw bones as well—she could choke on them, injure her digestive tract, or damage her teeth.

Chocolate and Caffeinated Drinks

We’ve all heard that chocolate can be fatal to dogs, but it’s just as poisonous for cats as well. Chocolate contains substances called methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, high body temperature, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rhythm, abdominal discomfort, increased thirst, and seizures. Methylxanthines are also found in caffeinated beverages and should be avoided. See your vet if your cat experiences any of these symptoms. As a general rule of thumb, darker chocolates are more dangerous than milk and white chocolate.

Alcohol and Raw Dough

Alcoholic beverages and foods that contain alcohol can be dangerous for your cat. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, disorientation, trouble breathing, coma, and even death. It’s also important to keep your cat away from raw dough. Raw dough causes expansion in the stomach, or creates alcohol in the stomach. If you think your cat has ingested even a small amount of alcohol, take her to the vet immediately.

Milk and Dairy Products

Even though your cat may enjoy drinking milk, it isn’t necessarily good for her. Cats have trouble digesting the lactose in milk, which can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. Most cats are only exposed to lactose from their mother’s milk when they are kittens. Because kittens only drink from their mother’s milk for a few weeks, their digestive systems are often not equipped to handle a reintroduction to lactose. So, while some cats have no trouble tolerating milk, they are not recommended to drink anything but their mother’s milk while kittens, due to the possibility of digestive issues.

Grapes and Raisins

Even a small amount of grapes and raisins can cause your cat to become ill — they can even lead to rapid development of kidney failure. Within 12 hours of ingestion, vomiting sometimes occurs. Other signs that can show up within 24 hours include lethargy, diarrhea, reduced appetite, abdominal pain, decreased urination and abdominal pain.

Although it isn’t clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats, and even a small amount can make a cat ill. Repeated vomiting and hyperactivity are early signs. Although some cats show no ill effects, it’s best not to give your cat any grapes and to keep grapes and raisins off countertops and other places accessible to your cat.

Dog Food

Though dog food is not toxic to cats, your cat needs a very different set of nutrients than a dog. Cat food should contain plenty of vitamin A, taurine, arachidonic acid and protein, and dog food has much lower levels of these nutrients. Dogs can survive with lower levels of vitamin A and protein, while cats cannot. Dogs are also able to produce taurine and arachidonic acid, but cats must have these acids in their food. Without a sufficient amount of taurine, cats can develop heart disease, vision and dental issues.

Preventing Cats from Eating Dangerous Foods

Your cat’s life and well-being depend on the type of food she eats. By keeping poisonous and hazardous foods out of her reach, as well as making sure she consumes a balanced food, you are helping her stay healthy.

Here are some easy tips for preventing your cat from eating dangerous and toxic foods:

• Store foods out of your cat’s reach. Installing cat-proof locks on cabinets may be necessary for a curious kitty.
• Do not let your cat on the counter while you’re cooking or eating.
• Do not feed her table scraps.
• It is especially important to be more mindful during the holidays. There is likely more enticing people food around, much of which can upset your cat’s tummy or even harm her.

If you notice or suspect that your cat has eaten one of these foods, take her to your veterinarian immediately. While some of these foods may only cause your cat slight discomfort, others can be far more hazardous to her health. If in doubt, ask your vet for guidance.