Starting your pet with a healthy diet early in life is key to preventing illness later in life. Having a picky eater doesn’t make it easy, we know! Cats can be picky eaters, so it’s best to find the right food that they actually enjoy eating! Some cat owners resort to feeding their pets “human” food when they’re being picky with their food, but it’s best to steer clear of the foods listed below.

If you have any questions about your pet’s diet, please be sure to contact us to chat about it! Dr. Hollo and the staff are very knowledgeable about pet nutrition.

Tuna

A cat fed a steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can become malnourished, because the tuna doesn’t provide all the nutrients a cat needs. Additionally, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning.

Dairy Products

Most cats are lactose intolerant and cannot process dairy foods. Give your cat too much milk, and she may have an upset stomach and diarrhea.

Grapes

Both grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats, which will sometimes reveal itself early on in the forms of vomiting and hyperactivity.

Onions, Garlic, Chives

Onions, garlic, and chives can all cause stomach upset in cats. And, regardless of the form of onion (powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated), it can break down your cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Alcohol

Alcohol has the same effect on a cat’s liver and brain that it has on humans. Just three teaspoons of whiskey could kill a 5-pound cat.

Caffeine

In large enough quantities, caffeine can be fatal for a cat, and there is no antidote. You’ll notice restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors if your cat has been poisoned by caffeine.

Chocolate

All kinds of chocolate, but especially dark, contain theobromine, which is toxic to cats.

Candy

The artificial sweetener xylitol can be found in candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods. In cats, it can cause a decrease in blood sugar and liver failure.

Raw Meat

Raw meats, including fish, can contain dangerous bacteria that can cause food poisoning in cats (and can also be dangerous for the humans in the house).

Call our office if you have questions about what you should feed your cat.