Food your cat can’t eat

A lot of foods are toxic to cats ánd dogs. For example, chocolate, nuts and sweeteners can have the same negative effects on a cat's health as a dog's. Here’s a short overview of those toxic foods:

• Chocolate & caffeinated drinks

• Grapes and raisins

• Garlic

• Nuts

• Sweeteners

In addition to these, there are more things your cat shouldn’t eat.

1. Onion

Onions can damage a cat's red blood cells and therefore cause anemia. This will only occur in extreme cases. A small helping of onion, leek or chives won't have terrible consequences. However, eating a clove of garlic or a green onion may lead to vomiting or diarrhea.

2. Raw meat or fish

You can give your cat fresh meat or fish, but make sure they are cooked enough. Raw meat or fish sometimes contains dangerous bacteria, like Salmonella or E.Coli which can cause food poisoning. This could lead to vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It’s better to prevent than to cure!

3. Dog food

If you have a dog and a cat, it can be tempting to give them the same food. However, because cats and dogs have some different nutritional needs, this isn't healthy in the long term. For example, cats need more protein, fats and taurine, a vital nutrient that is not sufficiently present in dog food. If you feed your cat with dog food for a long time, your furry friend could become malnourished.

4. Dairy Products

It may surprise you, but not all cats can have milk products. In fact, many cats are lactose intolerant, which means drinking milk could make them sick. Luckily, you can buy special cat milk so your feline friend can still enjoy a glass of milk with their breakfast.

5. Alcohol

Alcohol can cause permanent damage to your cat's liver and brains. We strongly recommend never leaving a glass of alcohol on the table. Even if there’s almost nothing left, the smallest amount of alcohol can have consequences. All the more reason to finish off that beer. 😉

Help! My cat ate something poisonous …

Bear in mind that some food poisoning doesn't immediately cause symptoms. It can take some time. Which, in some cases, can make it difficult to find out what caused the problem.

Do you think your cat ate or drank something bad for them? Contact your vet and follow their advice. Never ignore vomiting or other symptoms. Always get medical advice!