Being a typical pet owner, one does feed your furry friends with leftovers after every meal. It is so convenient to do so, but there are a few food items that do not go well with the cat’s digestive system. They can affect their immune system and also their overall health development. Hence, it is important to know the dangers of certain food items that cats should never eat. The foods cats should never eat affect a cat’s digestive system making them exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea as well as loss of appetite. Some of them can cause adverse liver damage as well as brain damage and some can even cause life-threatening diseases. Highlighted herein are 12 foods cats should never eat and should be avoided.

Alcohol

Alcohol tops the list of most dangerous foods cats should never eat. Alcohol can endanger a cat’s life causing adverse effects to the cat’s liver. It may also cause brain damage. One tablespoon of alcohol causes an adult cat to fall into a coma, which may lead to its death as well.

Chocolate, coffee, and caffeine

These products contain methylxanthines found in the cocoa plant. When a cat ingests methylxanthines, it causes vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, panting, excessive thirst, urination, muscle tremors, seizures, and even death.

Onions and Garlic

When eaten in sufficient quantity, onion and garlic cause cats to have gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage which further result in anemia.

Fat trimmings, raw meat, eggs, and fish

Fat trimmings cause the cat’s pancreases to become inflamed. Adding raw meat, eggs, and fish to the cat’s diet exposes them to salmonella or E-coli bacteria that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Tuna

Cats should not feed on tuna made for human consumption. This causes digestive upsets that develop into steatites or inflammation of the body’s fat.

Nuts

Nuts such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts have high quantities of fats and oils that may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis.

Milk and Dairy

Adult cats become lactose intolerant. Feeding them milk and dairy products causes them to have diarrhea or other digestive disorders.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a sweetener found in chewing gum, baked goods, candy, and toothpaste. Xylitol accelerates insulin production causing hypoglycemia that results in vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Long-term use causes seizures, elevated liver enzymes, and liver failure.

Yeast Dough

Yeast dough rises which causes accumulation of gas in the cat’s digestive system making the stomach to bloat and intestines to twist risking the cat’s life.

Corn on the Cob

When cats eat corn on the cob, they ingest pieces of the cob causing extremely dangerous and painful obstruction that may lead to death.

Wild Mushrooms

Some wild mushrooms contain poison that if ingested by both humans and cats can cause death.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts cause stomach upsets and pain as well as fever when ingested by cats.