Knowing When To Get Help

Posted on: 2 November 2015

There is no doubt about it, cats do love to eat. The only problem is, a lot of the foods that you enjoy eating and cooking for your family will look and smell just as appetizing to your kitty as they do to everyone else in the house. While some foods can be fine to share in moderation with your furry feline friend, there are some things that you should keep your cat away from.

1. Onions - Onions, especially when sauteed or tossed in with another food, may appear appetizing to your cat, but this is one veggie that you should keep her away from. Even onion powder is not good for cat consumption. Onions contain compounds that actually break down the cat's red blood cells if consumed enough. This can lead to anemia and be a real danger to a cat's overall health. Be careful with some foods that you would not suspect to contain onions, such as baby food, which can have the powder of onions added for flavoring.

2. Milk and Milk Products - Dairy products are definitely attractive to your cat, for whatever reason. Leave an open glass of milk anywhere in the house, and there is a good chance kitty will find it. The problem with this is that many cats are intolerant to the lactose in the milk, which means consuming dairy products can cause them to have painful stomach issues, such as diarrhea and nausea. While your kitty may drink a little milk or eat a bite of cheese without problems on occasion, it is best to keep dairy to yourself.

3. Tuna - Pop open a can of tuna fish in the kitchen, and you are sure to attract the attention of just about any feline within the neighborhood. Cats love anything fishy flavored and tuna, with its moist and tender pieces and strong aroma, is definitely one human food that can entice any cat. Even though tuna in moderation would likely be fine, if your cat is eating strictly tuna every day, which they would gladly do, they can suffer from malnutrition. Plus, too much tuna can lead to high amounts of mercury in the small feline's body, which can be toxic.

Your kitty may prefer to eat everything just the same as you do, and it can be difficult to turn them away when they are so interested in what you have to eat. However, it is always best to keep a cat's diet fairly regimented, with only 5 to 10 percent of her diet coming from treats including human foods. A healthy diet is one of the easiest ways to avoid unnecessary trips to the local emergency animal clinic or veterinarian.

For more information, contact North Lexington Veterinary Clinic or a similar location.