20 Human Foods You Should NEVER Feed Your Cat

Photo © Mara Zemgaliete – Fotolia.com

We found a list of 20 Human Foods You Should Never Feed Your Cat. There were actually some surprises here, including a few things that people feed their cats all the time!

The majority of adoring cat owners couldn’t bear the thought of refusing a cat’s request for treats. While feasting on some “human treats” such as chocolate-coated raisins for snacks, many actually think, “Why not give my kitty some of these too?” And let’s be honest, your pet is probably doing their best to “Jedi-mind-trick” you into handing over your snacks…. Cats display those pleading and appealing eyes, raising their tail into the air and waving it leisurely. Cats being considered already as part of the family, almost anyone falls under the cat’s charms.

In their natural habitats, wild cats prey on mice and rats that in can in many cases carry serious diseases. The mistaken belief of cats having a steel-like stomach that can even go against rodent-borne diseases probably stemmed from this. In reality, cats have very sensitive digestive and metabolic systems, and what’s more important to know is that they have different nutritional requirements from dogs or humans. The food you are sparing from your dinner table for your kitten might in fact be dangerous to it! Cats too are picky eaters and will definitely walk away from a stale or bad-smelling meat. But this doesn’t equate to them being aware of what’s hazardous to them, and this is where responsible cat owners should be very careful to keep their pets healthy and free from discomfort.

There are numerous food items on your table that you mustn’t ever allow your pet cat to consume. But, when provided in appropriate amounts (i.e., not making up more than 15% of the diet), some human foods can be safely fed to cats as a treat or snack. However before indulging your family pet, know first the no-no’s. Here’s a list of 20 foods you should not feed your cat:

Alcohol:
Apricot, cherry, peach pits, apple seeds:
Avocado
Citrus
Cooked bones
Chocolate
Coffee
Tea
Grapes and raisins
Macadamia nuts
Cow’s Milk (!)
Mushrooms
Fat
Liver
Onion and Garlic
Potato (green parts and eyes)
Salt
Tomato
Tuna (ok as an occasional treat but should not be given all the time)
Yeast dough