What is Harmful to Cats?
Though you might not think they are great, or I might not like them, ‘good’ manufactured cat foods are specifically designed to offer the nutrition a cat needs to survive. From there, the quality of cat food you purchase for your little one can depend on what research you devote to the topic, and your budget.
You probably want to treat your kitty! I love it when my human, Jeff, throws me some of that yummy tuna or human food he made that night. But there is a reason pet owners need to avoid over-feeding their cats. Meals that humans might consider fine for us kitties can often contain dangerous ingredients.
Can Cats Eat Eggs?
We cats love to eat our eggs! Even though I know eggs should be considered an occasional treat, I wish Jeff would offer them more often, especially considering how amazing of a pet I am. :-p
Eggs are a great source of protein! Cats are carnivorous, meaning we thrive on animal protein, and eggs count as that. The protein in eggs will help contribute essential amino acids a cat needs. Eggs certainly shouldn’t be the sole source of protein in my diet (I would get sick), but they are a wonderfully tasty way to supplement my diet.
Cooked Eggs for Cats – Yes!
Cats can definitely have scrambled or boiled eggs with our meals, as long as there is no salt or seasonings. Too much fat isn’t healthy for me, so this means too many eggs too often can be a bad thing. Sticking to egg whites can help eliminate all of those extra fats and keep me in tip-top shape!
Raw Eggs for Cats – No!
Raw eggs can be one of those dangerous human foods for cats an can contain harmful bacteria, like salmonella, which can cause dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea. In most cases, your cat would be fine, but there is always a chance for harm that no pet owner wants to take.
Please cook my eggs for me! It really doesn’t take much time or effort at all, and kills all of that nasty bacteria!
Avoid Adding Salt or Sodium
We already get enough sodium in our diets. Too much sodium (salt), which is common when offering human foods, can dehydrate us pretty badly and can lead to salt toxicity or sometimes even death.
Can Cats Eat Bread?
In general, my fellow cats can eat bread. But there are catches! First of all, most bread contains virtually no nutritional benefits at all for us. You are just giving us useless calories and fattening us up. We need to watch our figures!
What Can Cats Eat from the Fridge?
Believe it or not, I can eat most of the things in your human fridge that you can! On the other hand, there are several things I shouldn’t, and it can be difficult to tell the difference. Will you help me out?
Cats Can Eat:
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Chicken, turkey, beef, steak, and liver, hearts, and other meat
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Apples, bananas, cantaloupe, blueberries
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Sweet potato, cooked carrots, asparagus, zucchini
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Eggs, fish filets, sardines, salmon
Dangerous Foods for Cats:
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Bones
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Chocolate
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Grapes
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Avocado
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Dairy
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Onions or garlic
This is a basic list of foods cats can eat from the fridge, but many still require cooking! For example, raw meats can contain harmful parasites or bacteria and need to be cut into very small pieces so I don’t choke. Eggs should be cooked, and you’ll have to make sure any fish doesn’t contain tiny bones I could choke on!
I can get by with certain fruits, but fruits with seeds could be extraordinarily dangerous for me.
Food Cats Can’t Eat
Some are fine for us cats, but many below are dangerous foods for cats. Avoid these at all costs and contact a veterinarian if your cat gets into any of these foods!
Alcohol
Alcohol is toxic, especially to such a small animal. Ethanol poisoning can depress the central nervous system, which can lead to death in an animal that size.
Chocolate
Unlike those silly dogs, most cats won’t bother with chocolate. On the other hand, owners who don’t know better might convince us to eat this tasty new chocolate treat! Depending on the levels of theobromine in the type of chocolate consumed, it may not take much to spell the end.
Caffeine
In a large enough amount, caffeine can be lethal and the risk of ingesting this dangerous food for cats simply isn’t worth it!
Dairy Products
Do you remember watching the other cat drinking milk from a bowl on television? To tell you the honest truth, dairy products aren’t good for cats. Most of my fellow kitties are lactose intolerant, meaning anything made from a cow’s milk can upset our delicate stomachs.
Onions & Garlic
These are extremely dangerous! Onions of any kind, in any form, can cause my red blood cells (carry oxygen, vital for survival) to become damaged and break down, leading to anemia (or worse).
Induce Vomiting in Cats (Read the Following 2 Segments)
If your cat happens to get into dangerous foods like diced onions or cocoa powder (for example) you absolutely want to get those out of his stomach before they are digested. You can ‘force-feed’ (after one taste, your cat won’t take this voluntarily) 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution per every 5-10 lbs of body weight.
It’s still very important to call your veterinarian for advice. If your cat is going to vomit, this will happen within 15 minutes. Some chemicals are corrosive, will cause more damage coming up, and can only be treated by a veterinarian.
Should You Try This?
Many cats would make this seem impossible. We can be pretty stubborn! The ASPCA actually recommends against trying this at home. The best thing you can do is get your cat veterinary care after calling either poison control (number below) or said veterinarian. But what if you can’t do this?
In certain situations, it might be your only available option after you call and be sure it is the right course of action.