Avoid Feeding Your Cat These 5 Foods

It’s important that your cat eats high quality foods. A healthy and nutritious diet leads to a better quality of life with fewer medical issues. Typically, a nutritious diet for a cat has the correct balance of nutrients, proteins, and carbohydrates and plenty of access to fresh water. 

 

Although cats are picky eaters, they may try to  eat foods that are toxic to them or not highly nutritious. You should avoid feeding your cat too much of the following foods:

• Tuna: Cats love tuna, but a steady diet of tuna doesn’t provide your feline with the necessary nutrients to live a healthy life. Additionally, excessive tuna can cause mercury poisoning. It’s especially important to avoid giving your cat albacore tuna, which is known to have up to three times the amount of mercury as regular tuna. Symptoms of mercury poisoning in cats include dizziness and a loss of coordination and balance. 

 

• Onions and Garlic: This class of foods can break down the red blood cells in a cat and lead to anemia. Anemia is a condition that prevents oxygen from getting transported to other parts of the body, and can lead to death. 

• Milk and Dairy Products: What most people don’t realize is that many cats are actually lactose intolerant. Giving your cat milk and other dairy products can lead to diarrhea and other digestive issues. 

• Raw Meat and Eggs: Raw meat and eggs can harbor all sorts of harmful bacteria for both humans and cats. In fact, cats are susceptible to e-coli just like humans, so avoid giving your cat raw meat or eggs. When preparing meat for your cat, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands prior to handling the meat and cook thoroughly so that any harmful bacteria is killed. 

• Chocolate: Chocolate contains chemicals that can lead to a variety of illnesses in cats, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, high body temperatures, and even seizures. Avoid giving your cat any chocolate or leaving chocolate around the house.   

 

Knowing what you can and can’t give your cat is an important part to their overall health. If you have any questions or concerns, it’s best to schedule a veterinary check-up and get guidance from a professional. 

Cat Poisoning? Bring Your Feline to All Community Animal Hospital

If your cat is experiencing any side effects after swallowing toxic food, or you just want a check-up for your cat, bring them over to All Community Animal Hospital in the Porter area. Our facility is outfitted with exceptional equipment and team members to care for your furry loved one. We recently gained our American Animal Hospital Association accreditation, which ensures we practice only the gold standard of veterinary medicine for each and every one of our patients.