Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat
Cats are curious creatures, and what ends up in their mouths isn’t always what you’d expect. Some of the most dangerous foods for cats are common household staples that seem completely harmless. Here’s what to keep out of reach.
Chocolate Chocolate contains two substances that are toxic to cats: theobromine and caffeine. Even small amounts can cause serious harm. Keep it well away from curious paws.
Onions Onions contain a compound that damages red blood cells and can cause anemia and jaundice in cats. The threshold is lower than most people realize. A couple of slices is enough to cause toxicity in an average-sized cat, so be mindful of any dish that contains onion, even cooked.
Garlic and Chives Like onions, garlic and chives belong to the same plant family and carry similar risks, including anemia and gastrointestinal damage. Small amounts of chives appear in some commercial cat foods, but that’s not an invitation to let your cat graze on a kitchen herb garden. Keep them out of reach.
Raw Potatoes and Tomatoes Both plants belong to the nightshade family and can cause gastrointestinal distress when eaten raw. Cooked versions are generally fine, with one exception: green potatoes, cooked or raw, can cause serious problems including cardiac issues and neurological symptoms. Given how bitter they taste, most cats won’t go near them, but it’s worth knowing.
Milk and Dairy The image of a cat happily lapping up a bowl of milk is deeply ingrained, but the reality is that most adult cats are lactose intolerant. What they can digest as kittens becomes harder to process as they grow, and even a small amount of cow’s milk or cheese can cause stomach pain and diarrhea. If you’d like to offer something similar, lactose-free milk or small amounts of plain live-culture yogurt are safer options.
Grapes and Raisins The exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, but grapes and raisins have been linked to kidney failure, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats. Given the severity of that risk, they’re simply not worth offering under any circumstances.
Caffeine and Alcohol A cat accidentally lapping the last bit of coffee from a mug or getting into a sauce made with wine or liquor may seem unlikely, but it happens. There is no antidote for caffeine or alcohol poisoning in cats, and the amounts required to cause fatal harm are very small. Keep drinks covered and disposed of promptly.
Yeast Dough Raw dough containing yeast is dangerous in two ways: it continues to expand after ingestion, which can cause severe abdominal pain and intestinal rupture, and the fermentation process produces alcohol, adding the risk of alcohol poisoning on top of the physical damage.
Xylitol This artificial sweetener is found in sugar-free gum, candy, certain peanut butters, and even some toothpastes. In cats, xylitol can trigger seizures shortly after ingestion and lead to liver failure within a day or two. Check ingredient labels carefully, and keep any product containing xylitol completely out of reach.
When in doubt, keep human food away from your cat entirely. If you suspect your cat has ingested something toxic, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal poison hotline immediately. If you have questions, we’re always here. Reach out to us anytime.