As a cat parent, providing proper nutrition involves awareness of food and drinks that can cause health complications to your cat. The following are some foods and drinks that you should not feed your furry friend.
Caffeine
Products that contain caffeine include tea, coffee, soda, energy drinks and some supplements (for example, workout and weight loss supplements). Cats are sensitive to caffeine in nature.
One or two licks of these products that contain caffeine are unlikely to cause serious health issues to the cat. However, ingesting tea bags, supplements or ground coffee could pose hazardous health issues to the cat.
Signs of toxicity include vomiting, restlessness, hypersensitivity, increased temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. Fatal cases include seizure, collapse and eventually death.
Products containing caffeine should be stored out of reach of cats to avoid the incidence of possible poisoning.
Dairy
Surprisingly, dairy products and cats’ digestion do not go well. Most adult cats are lactose-intolerant. This is because they do not have enough enzymes responsible for the breakdown of lactose in dairy foods.
However, kittens can digest their mother’s milk and this is the only time when milk will be of nutritional value to the cat. Small amounts of these foods may not cause harm. Diarrhoea and vomiting are the likely signs to occur when cats ingest large amounts of milk.
Raw Meat
Feeding cats with raw meat comes with some health risks. Cats are natural predators and they flourish through a carnivorous feeding pattern. Even after domestication, they have maintained their killing instincts and you will find them occasionally hunting insects, mice and small birds.
With that said, one might assume that feeding cats raw meat would not harm them, but it possesses potential risks to the health of the cat. Raw food contains pathogens such as; salmonella, listeria and E. coli that might be detrimental to your cat’s health.
Common signs of exposure to these pathogens include; vomiting, diarrhoea, appetite loss, fever, muscle stiffness, severe dehydration and lethargy. If you want to serve your cat a proper diet that has no risk to your cat’s health, it is recommended to pre-cook the food to kill the pathogens that might be present or use commercial cat food.
Citrus Fruits
Cats are curious in nature and they snoop about everything except citrus fruits. Even the smell sends the cat scurrying in the opposite direction a defence mechanism to protect itself from the effects of the citrus on its health.
If the cat ingests a citrus fruit, it may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, drooling, weakness and diarrhoea. If the cat’s skin comes in contact with the citric juice, it may develop allergic dermatitis, which is a type of skin irritation.
Severe cases may occur if the citrus is consumed in excessive amounts. Fortunately, most cats will naturally dodge the citrus on their own.
Alcohol
Alcohol potentially poses a negative effect on your fluffy friend at home. Alcohol contains ethanol, a poison to cats which can occur from beverages, and alcohol-infused products such as mouthwash, cleaning supplies, mouth wash and other products.
Indication of alcohol poisoning resembles those of humans. This all depends on how much alcohol the cat ingested, how long ago it ate and its overall metabolism. A behavioural shift is the most common response to alcohol. It might either become drowsy or unusually excited.
Small amounts of alcohol may result in some stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and stumbling. In severe cases, kidney failure, liver failure, cardiac arrest and death can occur.
What should I do when my cat ingests alcohol? On the brighter side, cats are naturally drawn back to the smell of alcohol. This means chances of alcohol poisoning are minimal. However, if you notice your cat has sneaked in a quick lick, the effects on the kitty could be unlikely.
Just make sure you have removed the alcohol from its presence.
If a considerable amount is ingested by your cat, monitor it closely for any of the symptoms and call the veterinary if they become adverse.
Dog Food
Cats and dogs have different dietary requirements. Dog food does not have the essential nutrients that a cat requires for it to live a long healthy life.
Cats are obligate carnivores and they need a diet rich in meat-based proteins, taurine, and other minerals and vitamins to support their health. Occasional brands and types of dog food do not feature high levels of protein in them that that cat requires to keep it healthy.
Taurine, another crucial component that cats require to keep them healthy is also absent in dogs’ food as they can produce that in their bodies. However, cats are unable to, so they must get this essential element from their diet. Some of the symptoms of taurine deficiency include; loss of vision, decreased heart rate due to a weakened heart and gastro problems.
Vitamins play a vital role in the normal functioning of every animal that exists. Some animals can synthesize some vitamins and others are unable. Cats are unable to synthesize vitamin A in their system and thus they have to acquire it through supplements.
Dog food does not contain enough vitamin A for optimal cat nutrition. Symptoms of vitamin deficiency include; deterioration, poor quality coat and possible night blindness.
Although a small amount of dog food cannot have any toxicity or long-lasting effects. Eating dog food might be catastrophic if your cat has an allergy, a sensitive stomach or other health issues. Contact your veterinary if you notice your cat has been eating significant amounts of dog food regularly.
Salt
Salt is a component that every animal including humans requires for normal body processes. Its chemical name is Sodium Chloride. Sodium is a component that is important in the blood and other tissues. It is maintained at a narrow range and a change of this can result in disruption of the hydration status of cells and a change of water in and out of the cells.
If a cat ingests a large amount of salt, it may be hazardous as sodium levels in the blood would increase a condition called hypernatremia. This occurs when the kidneys are unable to get rid of excess salt quickly enough. The severity depends on how the concentration of sodium in the blood is increased above the normal range and for what period.
The effect of salt poisoning in cats includes; vomiting, seizure, diarrhoea, coma, behaviour change, rapid heartbeat and even death in some cases. If the excess consumption of salt occurs, a veterinary may induce vomiting to prevent further absorption of the salt in the blood. If it does not happen, stomach pumping (gastric lavage) may be performed.
Too Many Treats
Cats are said to show affection to the owner when it is feeding time. Offering treats to your furry friend is a way of strengthening the bond between you two. Sometimes it is used during training (basic commands) although they are more independent and less to impress compared to dogs.
Giving treats in bulk is not recommended as it does not have the same nutritional balance as the main food the cat is being fed, therefore, it should not get more than 10% of their daily calories from treats.
Human food can also be used as a treat as long as you keep the portions in check. However, chocolate, raisins, garlic, onions or grapes should never be served to your furry pet as it may result in possible poisoning.
Keep in mind that treats should be viewed as a complement and not as a substitute as giving your cat too many treats can interfere with his appetite making him a picky eater when offering him regular foods. Overweight and obesity are likely to occur when treats are given in bulk which could lead to health complications.
Nuts
Most nuts are not toxic but one should know which type may be harmful and in what proportion. Nuts contain fibre, proteins and other nutritive components that are ideal for humans but not for cats.
Cats are obligate carnivores and require lean meat to extract the necessary components for healthy living. The high fats in nuts can result in overweight and obesity when fed regularly increasing the risk of diabetes and pancreatitis in cats.