9 Foods Your Cat Should Avoid This Holiday Season

1 min

Want to feed your cat human food? While cooked meat, fish and vegetables, as well as cheese is okay to give them, some foods can be toxic – and even deadly – to felines. If you don’t have a companion cat of your own, pass this information along to those who do!

1. Alcohol: Even a small amount can do damage to a cat’s liver and brain, and may even lead to coma and death. Don’t give your cat beer, liquor, wine, or any foods containing alcohol.
2. Xylitol: Found in candy, gum, and toothpaste, Xylitol can cause a spike in insulin and can lead to liver failure.
3. Bones: They can be a choking hazard for cats, and pose a risk of causing an obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
4. Grapes and raisins: A small amount can make cats vomit, and larger amounts can lead to kidney failure in cats.
5. Caffeine: In large enough quantities, caffeine can be fatal for a cat. Make sure your cat has no access to tea and coffee (including beans and grounds); cocoa and chocolate; or beverages such as colas and energy drinks.
6. Liver: Too much can lead to vitamin A toxicity, which can affect a cat’s bones and even lead to death.
7. Raw eggs, meat and fish: All carry the risk of food poisoning from bacteria such as Salmonella or  coli.
8. Onions: Powdered, raw, cooked or dehydrated – no matter the form, don’t feed onions to your cat as they can break down a cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia.
9. Garlic and chives: Both can cause gastrointestinal upset.

If your cat does find its way into any of the foods listed above, or other unhealthy items such as your medications, call your vet or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for instruction on what to do.

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