Being a fur parent to a household feline means you want to provide them all the care and comfort you can give them. But growing as a child, we were often exposed to T.V shows, movies, and skits where we see cats eating or drinking. That’s why we’ve always assumed that cats love milk and fish, basically because that is how T.V shows represent our feline friends. So, out of hunch, if you have a cat, you would feed them with fish and milk for most of the time. However, if you really want to take care of your cat, we need to know what foods or drinks are not suitable for them.
Human Foods Not Suitable for Cats
As much as we want to spoil our cats, we must always be careful what we give or feed them. Sometimes, the regular food we consume, let alone any human food, could already be toxic for them. But there is some human food that you can moderately give them; however, there are some that you need to avoid straight feeding to your cat as much as possible.
- Milk & Dairy Products: This could come as a surprise for some people since we virtually grew up knowing cats equates to drinking milk. Unfortunately, most cats are naturally lactose intolerant. Meaning, if you feed them any dairy products or milk, they could end up vomiting and having diarrhea. The same goes with your kittens; though you can’t feed them any solid foods yet, you can go for milk formulated for kittens instead.
- Chocolate: Like their canine counterpart, chocolates are also a big no-no for cats. Chocolates contain two primary ingredients that can be toxic; caffeine and theobromine. Consuming chocolates could give them seizures, faster heart rate, and increased body temperature. High amounts of chocolates could be fatal since it could lead to a coma then heart failure.
- Anything Raw (Meat, Fish, etc.): Though cats are natural-born hunters, being a relative to tigers gives cats the same traits. However, it’s not wise to let them eat raw food, especially meats, since they could contain E.Coli or salmonella that can be fatal if left untreated. Make sure to cook or boil the meat before you feed them to your cat, so we can make sure that it’s bacteria-free.
- Dog Food: If you’re a fur parent of both cats and dogs, then there could’ve been a time your cat tasted your dog’s food, and that’s okay. However, feeding your cat solely dog food is where the danger sits. Though small amounts wouldn’t do harm, using dog food as their main diet can prevent them from getting the proper nutrition a cat needs. Without the appropriate nutrition, cats can contract different diseases that can be fatal for them.
- Tuna: Don’t get us wrong, you can give tuna as a treat to your loved feline baby; however, avoid feeding it as their main diet. Like dog food, tuna also lacks the proper nutritional value that cats need; that’s why if you let your cat eat this as their main course, it could lead to unwanted illness.
- Garlic and Onion: Same with dogs, garlic and onion are considered toxic for cats. It doesn’t matter if it’s cooked or raw; it serves as poisonous food for them. Your cat will slowly become anemic if you continually feed them with garlic or onion. Plus, the damaging properties it causes to cats can lead to abdominal issues and diarrhea.
- Alcohol: Consumption of alcohol can be fatal for your cat, let alone to any animal. The truth is, alcohol is even considered toxic to us humans, so why even give it to your cat? Alcohol is so bad for your cats that a small amount of whisky can already damage their brains and insides. So, please, don’t do it, heck, don’t even think about it.
Be Responsible
As fur parents, we should be fully responsible for your cat’s health and well-being, meaning we should be well aware of how we take care of them. And appropriately feeding them plays a vital role in their growth and overall life. Remember, spoiling them from time to time is good, but don’t go beyond with what they shouldn’t be eating because you might end up doing more harm than good.