Discover 30 toxic and dangerous foods for your cat

chat noir et blanc assis sur une chaise fasse à une assiettes d'aliments : des tomates, du fromage et de la charcuterie

With the exception of foods that are highly toxic to our cats (chocolate, coffee, onion...), most native foods (those that have not been processed) consumed by humans are consumable, at least in small quantities, by our cats. However, they are not always well tolerated!

Some foods will only be well tolerated in small amounts, and this tolerance varies from cat to cat: this is the case, for example, with cooked starch or sugar.

Toxic Foods for My Cat

These are foods that should never, under any circumstances, be given to our cats.

Some sauces containing garlic and onion, or any food made from chocolate or caffeine should be avoided. You should also be careful of toxic plants for cats, which account for up to 20% of poisoning cases in cats.

Coffee Caffeine is a real poison for our cats. It can cause an accelerated heart rate, breathing difficulties, tremors...
Tea Tea also contains caffeine, which can cause serious poisoning.
Grapes In any form, grapes are dangerous for our furry friends. They can cause acute kidney failure within 2-3 days of ingestion.
Chocolate Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulating alkaloid that is not detoxified by the cat's liver. It can cause excessive drooling, tachycardia (too rapid heart rate), seizures, coma, and even death.
Garlic It contains a toxin that affects red blood cells and its ingestion can lead to hemolytic anemia with consequences such as jaundice.
Onion Onion contains the same toxic compound as garlic.
Alcohol Alcohol is extremely dangerous for our cats. It can cause liver and brain damage, and even death.
Chestnuts and Horse Chestnuts They are harmful to the liver of our little companions and can even cause some neurological disorders.
Avocado Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that is harmless to humans but dangerous and sometimes deadly to our little companions.
Bones and Fish Bones Sharp bones and fish bones can get stuck in the digestive tract, particularly in the larynx, pharynx, or esophagus... and block the passage of food.
Raw Potatoes for Cats They contain solanine, which is toxic to both humans and cats. Ingesting raw potatoes can cause digestive and neurological issues.
Cherries Generally, fruits containing cyanogenic glycosides are not suitable for cats.

Foods to Avoid for My Cat

These are not toxic to our cats, as long as they are given in small quantities. However, they can cause digestive problems or severe health issues if given in large quantities and/or over time. "Moderation is key", this saying applies to our furry friends as well!

Some vegetables and legumes are difficult for our cats to digest, which is why we recommend giving them raw or cooked zucchini, which are well tolerated, as a supplement to a healthy and balanced diet.

To prevent them from gaining weight and the health problems that come with it, avoid giving them table scraps and instead opt for cat food cans specifically formulated for them to meet their nutritional needs.

Raw Egg The raw egg white contains an enzyme that reduces the absorption capacity of vitamin B8.
Cheese It is not toxic to your cat, but when consumed in large quantities, it can cause inflammation of the pancreas.
Butter Our cats enjoy a small piece of butter from time to time. However, as butter is a very rich food, it should not be given in large quantities.
Milk Lactose tolerance can vary from cat to cat. If your cat tolerates milk well, they can have a small amount occasionally.
Nuts It is mainly the mycotoxins present in the pulp or husk of the nut that are highly toxic. But don’t worry, our cats are not attracted to the walnut husk.
Spinach Spinach is rich in oxalic acids, which can cause urinary problems.
Citrus Fruits Oranges, lemons, mandarins... The citric acid in the fruit can irritate the cat's digestive system.
Swiss Chard Swiss chard is high in nitrates and oxalic acid. It can cause urinary issues.
Cakes And anything that is sweet in general!
Turnip Turnips are not recommended for our cats as they can cause digestive problems like vomiting or diarrhea.
Canned Tuna Our cats love it! However, canned tuna has a very high salt content. Therefore, it should not be given too often.
Leeks From the same family as garlic and onions, leeks are toxic. They are less dangerous than onions, but large quantities must be ingested to cause poisoning. Also, they are very fibrous and difficult for cats to digest.
Lentils Lentils are hard to digest due to their high phytic acid content.
Eggplant Eggplant contains atropine, which can cause heart rhythm disturbances in your little companion.
Cabbage Cabbage is difficult for our little companions to digest. It can cause gas and diarrhea if given in large amounts.
Cold Cuts Like cheese, cold cuts are too fatty. Given in large quantities, they can cause inflammation of the pancreas.
Sorrel Like spinach and Swiss chard, sorrel is rich in oxalic acid and can cause urinary problems.

My cat has been poisoned, how should I react?

You should urgently call your veterinarian, as they are the only ones who can guide you on what to do. Try to provide as much information as possible, including the food ingested and the quantity. There are two veterinary poison centers in France, they are available 24/7 and offer free advice.

And how to treat my cat? Visit our blog for 5 healthy treats for my cat. You can also treat your cat with our delicious cat kibble, which are both tasty and healthy.