Veterinarian Warns Pet Parents About Common Human Foods That Are Poisonous to Cats
Cats might live in our houses, but they definitely can't eat eat human food. Sadly it's true. No matter how cute your kitty is, most human food that should be avoided. Even if they seem harmless. Veterinarian Amir Anwary is sharing some lesser known foods that can be poisonous to cats. And all cat owners should probably heed his warning.
While many of the foods on Anwary's list are treats for humans, for cats it's a whole different story.
Cats have different stomachs than we do. They're obligate carnivores, meaning they're animals whose diet consists of 70 percent meat. Humans are omnivores, meaning we eat a mixture of plant-based food and meat. Therefore cats don't really get the same nutrients that we get from human food. And in some rare cases human food can really make pets sick.
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As Anwary shared online, most of these foods are commonly found in American homes. But for your pets own good, make sure you never feed them grapes, garlic, onions, caffeine, or chocolate, he warned.
Other Foods That Are Toxic to Pets
Those foods are just the tip of the iceberg. There are other foods that are major no-nos for animals. If you're obsessed with your avocado toast in the morning, make sure you keep it far away from your pets. Avocados are also poisonous to birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses.
Citrus should also be avoided. Everything from the stems to the peel contain citric acid, which are essential oils that can cause irritation and even central nervous system depression if an animal eats them in significant amounts.
Raw or uncooked meat, eggs, and bones, might seem like something you could feed an animal. After all, we did say that animals like cats are mostly carnivores and you might figure that some of these animals have lived in the wild in the past. However, domesticated animals are a whole other story. All of these foods could contain Salmonella and E. coli, which can lead to a whole host of problems. And while it might seem okay to give your pup a spare chicken bone to gnaw on, you should refrain. You don't want them to choke or get the bone lodged in their throat.
Salty snack foods might fix a craving in humans, but for most animals it's a straight up no-go. Large amounts of salt can lead to dehydration and excessive thirst and urination. Worse, it can lead to sodium ion poisoning in some pets. So while you might like to sit on the couch and munch on some popcorn, you should probably refrain from feeding it to Rover.
In the end, you should probably stick to pet food and veterinarian approved pet treats. Your animal's stomach will thank you later for it.
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