List of Foods Bad for Cats

Although cats share some biological similarities to humans, their bodies process food differently than ours. It's as important to keep potentially dangerous food items out of a cat's diet as it is to ensure your cat is eating enough of the right nutrients. Many foods which are safe or even healthy for human consumption are like poison to a cat.

  1. Beverages

    • A cat's liver does not function as well as a human's, the result of which is a lesser ability to deal with toxins such as alcohol. Long term or excessive exposure to alcohol can cause liver damage or even death in your cat.
      Coffee and tea usually contain caffeine, as do some carbonated beverages (soda). Caffeine can cause hyperactivity in cats (just like humans) as well as rapid heart beat, muscle tremors and possibly seizures.
      Cats appear to enjoy milk but do not react well to dairy products because of a lactose intolerance that can cause diarrhea. Pet stores do sell special milk formulas for cats, however.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • Do not feed your cats root vegetables such as onions, garlic or leeks. These vegetables contain a substance known as N-propyl disulphide that can cause anemia when it attacks a cat's red blood cells. Sarah Hartwell explains in her article "Human Foodstuffs Bad For Cats" that no form (cooked, powdered, dried or raw) of these vegetables are safe to give a cat. She also warns that "Onion poisoning can result after a single meal containing a large amount of onion relative to body size."
      Plants in the Solanaceae family, such as tomatoes and raw potatoes, can cause violent gastrointestinal reactions in your cat. Cooking these vegetables destroys the toxins in them but all green (underdeveloped) potatoes remain unsafe for cats.
      Grapes and grape products such as raisins can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even kidney failure in a cat. The ASPCA Poison Control Department advises against feeding grapes to your cat.

    Other Foods

    • Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine that can be dangerous to cats (and dogs). Hartwell explains that chocolate will initially cause "hyperactivity and thirst. After several hours it may cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can lead to a fatal heart attack within 24 hours of eating the chocolate." Avoid feeding your cat any form of chocolate (such as candy, baking chocolate and cocoa powder).
      Excessive consumption of tuna can expose your cat to mercury and a high amount of unsaturated fatty acids. The fats can cause a condition known as steatitis, which is characterized by the inflammation of adipose (fat) tissue and the deposition of wax pigment between those layers of tissue as well as a vitamin E deficiency.
      Other types of raw fish can cause thiamin (Vitamin B1) deficiency in cats. Symptoms of thiamin deficiency include loss of appetite, seizures and even death in some cases. Cooking fish destroys the enzyme that causes this deficiency.
      Raw eggs cause another vitamin deficiency biotin (B vitamin) in cats. This results in poor hair and skin health and can stunt growth.
      Nuts such as walnuts, which contain high amounts of phosphorus, can be dangerous to your cats.

    Non-Human Foods

    • Cats may attempt to eat some non-human food such as dog food. However, manufacturers cater the nutrients in dog food to best suit a dog's dietary needs and this can create a metabolic imbalance in cats.
      Bones are also unsafe for cats to eat. They can cause your cat to choke or splinter within her body and damage organs. Never give your cat any meat that is still on the bone.