As a loyal companion of humans, cats have won the love of countless people with their independent and mysterious character. However, for many cat owners, understanding cats’ dietary safety is an area that is often overlooked. Cats have completely different digestive systems from humans. Some foods that are harmless and even beneficial to humans can be fatal to cats.
1. Types of food that are killed by accident
The dietary safety of cats cannot be ignored. Here are some foods that are particularly harmful to cats and may even cause death:
1. **Chocolate and Coffee**: Foods containing cocoa alkali, such as chocolate, coffee and cocoa, are extremely dangerous to cats. Even a small amount of intake can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, excessive excitement, accelerated heartbeat and even death.
2. **Onion and Garlic**: Onions, garlic and other plants in their family contain substances that can destroy cat red blood cells, causing anemia. Long-term or large intake, even onion powder or garlic powder, can cause serious harm to cats.
3. **Alcohol**: Even in small amounts, alcohol is enough to cause harm to cats. Alcohol-infected cats may experience vomiting, difficulty breathing, abnormal excitement, coma and even death.
4. **Grapes and Raisins**: Although the specific toxic substances are not yet known, grapes and raisins have been proven to cause acute renal failure in cats and can be fatal in severe cases.
5. **Artificial sweetener - Xylitol**: Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many sugar-free foods, but is extremely dangerous for cats. Intake of xylitol may cause cats to experience sudden drop in blood sugar, vomiting, inactivation, convulsions and even liver failure.
6. **Raw meat, raw fish and raw eggs**: These foods may contain harmful bacteria and parasites, which pose a threat to cat health. In addition, enzymes in raw fish can destroy vitamin B1 in cats, and long-term intake may lead to serious neurological problems.
2. Treatment methods for accidentally eating harmful food
If you suspect that your cat has consumed harmful substances, you should immediately take the following measures:
1. **Don't panic**: Stay calm, observe the cat's symptoms, and contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.
2. **Contact the veterinarian**: Explain the situation to the veterinarian and provide information on the type, quantity and time of substances that the cat may consume.
3. **Action as directed by the veterinarian**: The veterinarian may recommend that you take specific measures, such as inducing vomiting or taking your cat to the clinic for treatment.