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antipodi
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Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:42 pm
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 Cats ..Some Foods you should avoid
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Cats ..Some Foods you should avoid
Some foods which are edible for humans, and even dogs, can pose hazards for cats because of their different metabolism. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death. The following common food items should not be fed (intentionally or unintentionally) to cats.
Items to avoid
Alcoholic beverages
Reason: Can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
Baby food
Reason: Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to cats. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.
Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources
Reason: Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
Canned tuna (for human consumption)
Reason:Large amounts can cause malnutrition, since it lacks proper levels of vitamins and minerals.
Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine
Reason: Contains caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous system.
Citrus oil extracts
Reason: Can cause vomiting.
Dog food
Reason: If accidental ingestion, will not cause a problem; if fed repeatedly, may result in malnutrition and diseases affecting the heart.
Fat trimmings
Reason: Can cause pancreatitis.
Grapes and raisins
Reason: Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.
Human vitamin supplements containing iron
Reason: Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
Large amounts of liver
Reason: Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.
Macadamia nuts
Reason: Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
Marijuana
Reason: Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
Milk and other dairy products
Reason: Some adult cats and dogs do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for cats.
Moldy or spoiled food, garbage
Reason: Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs.
Mushrooms
Reason: Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.
Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder)
Reason: Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.
Persimmons
Reason: Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.
Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems
Reason: Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.
Raw eggs
REason: Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
Raw fish
Reason: Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.
Salt
Reason: If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.
String
Reason: Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body."
Sugary foods
Reason: Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.
Table scraps (in large amounts)
Reason: Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.
Tobacco
Reason: Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.
Yeast dough
Reason: Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines
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