There is a lot of focus on dogs, what they can’t eat, how much exercise they should get, grooming, we could go on.  So let’s turn out attention to cats for a blog or two or many.  We want to give equal or at least try to give equal time to many specifics of pets.  

Did you know that in the US there are 74-76 million pet cats?  All those cats and we have so much to learn.  We could study for years and still have more to learn, they are fascinating creatures.  Let’s start with some simple things about cats and then keep learning.

What not to eat is a good place to start.  Alcohol, even a little, can be dangerous.  It can cause liver damage, brain damage and even put your cat in a coma.  Cats have a slower metabolism therefore any amount of alcohol can be bad. Be careful of hidden sources of alcohol such as cough and cold medicine, hand sanitizer, mouth wash and household cleaners.  Something as simple as using a cleaner to wash the floor and there is a puddle. Your cat could walk through it and lick their paws.  If you think your cat has ingested alcohol, get them to a vet right away.

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine can cause heart problems, seizures and tremors.   It can cause rapid heart beat, irregular heart beat, blood pressure change and heart failure.  The darker the chocolate the higher the toxins.  If you think your cat has ingested chocolate, get them to your vet right away.  

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure.  Like dogs each cat reacts differently to grapes but the risk is very high.  This is something you can take a chance or wait and see what happens.  Getting your cat to the vet will decrease the damage to your cat’s kidneys.

Onions, garlic and chives are highly toxic to cats.  They can cause damage to your  cat’s red blood cells and life-threatening anemia.  If you suspect your cat has ingested any of these please take your cat to the vet.

The jury is still out on Xylitol, also known as Birch Sugar.  This can be found in sugar-free gum, candy, food and drinks.  This is highly toxic to dogs so it would be best to keep it away from your cat and if ingested call your vet or poison control for pets.

Yeast dough can be extremely dangerous and fatal to cats.  It can cause their stomachs to expand which could cause bloat.  It can also cause alcohol poisoning. Get your cat to the vet if you think your cat has ingested raw dough.

If your cat has ingested any of these foods the more information you can give your vet the better it is for your cat.  If you have any packaging bring it with you. Try to remember how much was there before your cat ingested the food.  How long ago did this happen? What signs did you notice?