Not everything that the velvet paw wants to lick is also good for them. There are a lot of Poisonous foods for cats in our household. The full range of symptoms is possible, from a slight rumbling stomach or diarrhea with lactose products to life-threatening poisoning from unsuitable foods. The following foods are just an excerpt of common products that are particularly common in cat poisoning. However, it by no means gives a complete overview of possible dangers, which is why it can help you primarily as a guide. If in doubt, please get in touch with your vet if your cat has eaten something or shows poisoning signs.
Most common symptoms
Regardless of possible poisoning, you should pay attention if your cat shows sudden changes in nature or if its activity level suddenly changes significantly. If she is crouching lethargically, reacts little or not at all to your speech, or is unusually sensitive when you touch her, you should observe her closely and, if necessary, introduce her to a vet. Diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting are prevalent symptoms of poisoning, which – is a milder form – also refer to a harmless stomach / intestinal upset, food that is too cold, or perhaps the choking of hairballs are due. Seizures or movement disorders, on the other hand, should prompt you to act immediately.
Other symptoms
Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to assess the health of cats. They are masters at disguising symptoms and making those around them appear to be all right. So it’s not easy for us to tell whether our cat is just having a bad day or whether she is seriously missing something. Be sure to keep an eye out if your cat had diarrhea or a swollen stomach that might have had a piece of chocolate on the table. Or maybe your chocolate cake is suddenly missing a small piece that your cat could have bitten off. Then your ability to combine things is required – and off you go with your cat to the vet because chocolate is very toxic for the mini tiger. The purine alkaloid theobromine contained in cocoa beans is only excreted very slowly by the animals.
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It accumulates in the blood and shows the first signs of intoxication after about four hours. The following applies: the higher the cocoa content – i.e., the more bitter the chocolate – the higher its theobromine content.
Therefore, milk chocolate is less toxic than dark chocolate with 70%, but it is dangerous for our cats. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, increased blood pressure, restless behavior, and cardiovascular problems can also occur. At worst, chocolate can even lead to death in cats.
From sweet to hearty: an overview of Poisonous foods for cats
Various foods in the kitchen can be dangerous for our cats. In addition to the chocolate already mentioned, common poisonous foods for cats are:
Leeks
These include above all
- Onions
- chives
- garlic
For example, they contain sulfur compounds that clog the red blood cells of the velvet paws. There is a risk of anemia (anemia), which you may notice through pale mucous membranes and dark urine. An increased heart rate and diarrhea are other symptoms of this poisoning.
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pork meat
The classification of pork is a bit confusing. It is sometimes even found in ready-made wet food and is harmless to the velvet paw if it is cooked. However, raw it can contain a virus that is deadly to cats. The Aujeszky virus is one of the herpes viruses and destroys nerve tissue in the cat’s brain. Restlessness, frequent meows, drooling, vomiting, aggressive behavior, itching, movement disorders, and paralysis are symptoms of this dangerous poisoning.
Potatoes
Similarly, only in the raw state critical are potatoes or contained therein toxin solanine. In particular, we should remove green areas generously, and the cooking water should definitely be thrown away, as the solanine accumulates in it during the cooking process.
Cabbage and legumes
Cabbage and legumes cause flatulence in small doses, lead to abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and even circulatory collapse due to various toxins such as the phasing in legumes, and should therefore stay away from your cat’s mouth.
Stone fruit
The toxins in stone fruit and grapes can develop into hydrocyanic acid and are just as dangerous as avocados. It has a toxic effect on cats and, in addition to the symptoms described above, causes palpitations. It also causes shortness of breath, coughing, ascites, subcutaneous edema, or heart muscle weakness in avocados.
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Not poisonous, but only in moderation harmless
Certain foods are basically non-toxic for cats but should only be included on the menu in moderation, as “too much” can be dangerous. Tuna is very popular with most cats. However, methylmercury can damage the kidneys, cause fatty liver or heart and eye diseases if consumed regularly or excessively. The vitamin A contained in the liver is just as problematic for the kidneys and eyes. It is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, so it is not excreted via the bladder if consumed excessively. It can lead to bone problems, paralysis, and joint changes and should, therefore, only rarely be on the menu as a delicacy.
Poisonous foods for cats: is there any protection?
Rule number one, of course, is not to give your cat immediate access to dangerous foods.
It is better to store onions, potatoes, etc., in a closed pantry, making most affected foods last. You can protect grapes and stone fruits from the curious, sweet tooth with a cover. It is best to clear leftovers from the table and (locked) organic waste, put used dishes in the dishwasher, or wash them with a steady water jet before putting them in the sink. You can usually keep poisonous foods for cats away with these few little things and thus protect them.
My cat is poisoning – what to do?
Suppose your cat shows the first symptoms of poisoning. There is only one thing to do: take her to the vet – immediately! Refrain from first looking for possible home remedies or assessments from other cat owners on the Internet. You and the patient lose valuable treatment time. Pack your cat straight away in the transport box and check briefly in your apartment to see whether you have eaten food or vomit or fresh diarrhea from the cat. If so, pack it (separately) in a freezer bag with a zip fastener, for example, and take everything with you to the doctor.
What doctor will Do
He can investigate which poison the velvet paw came into contact with and initiate the appropriate countermeasures in a targeted manner.
When poisoned, it comes down to one more than anything else, As short a period of time as possible between contact with the poison and adequate treatment. So don’t hesitate and go to the emergency ambulance with your cat once too often rather than waiting for further, possibly worse, symptoms.
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