Your kitty is part of the family, so it’s only natural to want to share your food with them.
 
Although your cat may not be interested in a lot of the things you eat, she may still help himself to something she shouldn’t eat.
 
Any food not specifically formulated for cats can affect the digestive system, causing vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite.
 
Here are some foods of particular concern – some of which may surprise you.
 
Alcohol
Yes, cats too can get drunk, but it can also easily cause severe liver and brain damage. As little as a tablespoon can put an adult cat in a coma; a little more can kill her.
 
Chocolate
The compound in chocolate that is of major concern is theobromine. It is in all forms of chocolate, and most concentrated in dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Consumption can cause heart arrhythmias muscle tremors, or seizures. 
 
Coffee, tea, energy drinks
These and other caffeinated drinks and foods can cause your cat to become restless, have rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors.
 
Dairy products
Cats can become lactose intolerant when they become adults. If ingested by these cats, dairy products can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
 
Fat trimmings, raw meat, eggs, fish
It’s a good idea to consult your vet or a veterinary nutritionist first before adding these foods to your cat’s diet, as there is a risk of vomiting , Salmonella or E. coli associated with these foods for some animals, especially when given improperly.
 
Grapes and raisins
Cats are not likely to eat these, and there are no reports of cats becoming ill from these foods. However, dogs can suffer acute kidney failure from eating grapes or raisins, so it is best to not to risk your cat's health and not let him eat these foods.
 
Onions and garlic
All members of the onion family can cause problems if eaten in sufficient quantity. A little bit of onion or garlic in some sauce is not likely to cause any problems. However, eating a clove of garlic or a green onion may cause digestive upset. Eating some type of onion on a regular basis could cause anaemia. Baby food made from meat is often seasoned with onion or garlic, so read the labels carefully if you feed these to your cat.
 
Tuna
Tuna when made into cat food is perfectly fine for cats. On the other hand, tuna sold for human consumption may cause digestive upset when given as an occasional treat in small amounts. It can even cause a painful condition called steatites, or inflammation of the body's fat, when fed to cats on a regular basis.
 
Sweetener
This is a sweetener used in a lot of sugar-free foods, especially chewing gum. There are no records of cats becoming ill from this product, but in dogs it can cause a severe drop in blood sugar followed by liver failure. Therefore it is better to be safe and not let your cat eat foods that contain this ingredient.
 
Image via Pinterest.

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