Unhealthy Cat Food Ingredients Your Cat Should Not Eat

Sometimes all the talk of making homemade foods for our cats gets confusing. How can table scraps be bad but other people food be good?

The answer is simple; wholesome foods, unseasoned and unspiced, are best for your cat. But there are some foods that are dangerous in particular and should never be fed to your cat.

Experts agree that although some foods are fine for people or even dogs, the very same foods can be very dangerous to your cat’s health. Cats that have eaten these foods can show signs of digestive problems like vomiting or diarrhea, but other foods can be so dangerous as to be deadly.

Some foods and liquids that you should ensure your cat never gets into include: alcohol, which can kill a cat; baby food that has onion powder or onions; fish bones because they can perforate the intestines and cause obstructions; caffeinated products like chocolate, tea, coffee, soda pop because the caffeine can be toxic; dog food because it has not been formulated for cats and is lacking in nutrients for cats; fatty table scraps; fruits with small indigestible seeds that can cause obstruction or bowel inflammation; tobacco, which can speed up the heart; spiced and seasoned meats and gravies because they can contain onions and other ingredients that may upset the digestive tract; the whites of raw eggs, which contains a substance that inhibits the body’s absorption of biotin; raw fish because of parasites and toxins; and salty or sugary people snacks like chips and cookies, which can lead to diabetes, dental problems, obesity or electrolyte imbalance.

Experts disagree on the feeding of several foods including canned tuna not made for cats because it can deplete vitamin E and contains high levels of mercury; many feline specialists feel that a little tuna once in a while is fine, but don’t overfeed it. They also disagree on milk and other dairy products. Holistic proponents often feed organic cheese or 2% milk; whereas other feline experts do not recommend feeding milk or cream because cats do not have the ability to digest the enzyme lactase. However, you can give your cats lactose-free milk or milk products made specifically for cats.

Liver is often included in some homemade recipes, but a large amount of liver can lead to vitamin A overdose. It should be fed in moderation.

Some experts feed chicken bones to their cats because they feel that a cat in the wild would naturally feed them. However, others question the potential for bone shards to perforate the intestines and irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, the recommendation by those who support feeding cats bones is that they should be fed raw because cooking can cause the bones to easily shard.

When offering your cat your own food, just keep in mind the concept of “whole” foods—nutritious natural sources of protein, vitamins and minerals with no additives.

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