What not to feed your cat?

Answer 1

Supermarket brand cat foods should be avoided. Supermarket brand cat food is the worst food you can feed your cat. Most supermarket brands -- such as Purina, Friskies, Whiskas, Fancy Feast, Tender Vittles, etc., etc. -- are made with extremelylow-quality "meat." It is actually really disgusting. These brands are made with all the leftover animal parts, including ground-up chicken beaks and feet, cow eyeballs, intestines, and something called "Animal Digest." Animal digest is essentially a mishmash of leftover parts; it can include rats, roadkill animals, and animals that were euthanized at animal shelters -- including dogs and cats. That's right, cats. These brands also include something called "ash," which is burnt animal remains. It is absolutely revolting.

Luckily, there are better foods available, made with high-quality meat that is fit for human consumption. They are more expensive than supermarket brands -- up to $2 a can -- but they will keep your cat healthy, and will add years to his life. It is well worth the money to keep your beloved pet healthy and happy. And in fact, you will most likely save money in the long run: since better cat food means a healthier cat, you will save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on veterinary bills.

High-quality cat food brands are sold at most pet stores, including Petco, Pet Stop, and petnetdirect.com. Some high-quality brand names include: Innova/Evo, Weruva, Max Cat, PetGuard, California Natural, Instinct, Prairie, Natural Balance, Solid Gold, Merrick, Wellness, Eagle Pack, Newman's Own, WYSONG, Precise, etc., etc.

If you really cannot afford to buy this food for your cats, then Iams brand is an acceptable second-choice. Iams is a supermarket brand, but it is of a higher quality than most supermarket brands. It's not as good as Innova/Evo, Weruva, Max Cat, etc., etc., but it is better than the other supermarket brands.

Also, although it is not strictly necessary, it is a good idea to feed your cat both wet and dry food. Wet food is more fatty than dry food, so a diet consisting of nothing but wet food can potentially cause weight problems. But more importantly, dry food helps scrape plaque off of the cat's teeth, giving him healthier teeth and gums, and better-smelling breath. My personal favorite dry food brand is Innova/Evo: most cats love it, and it makes their coat super-shiny and soft.

Also, although it is not strictly necessary, it's a good idea to give your cat some variety with his diet. Having variety in your diet is good for humans, and for cats too. Also, sometimes cats get bored eating the same thing every day. Whenever I go to Pet Stop to buy cat food, I always buy a few different flavors of each different brand, so as to give them as much variety as possible. My cats get a different wet food every night, and during the day they get Innova/Evo dry food.

Answer 2

There are many human foods that are toxic to a cat:

Chocolate - Can affect the heart and nervous system causing excitement / nervousness / trembling, vomiting / diarrhoea, seizures, muscle spasms, coma and death.

Caffeine - Can affect the heart and nervous system and causes the same or similar symptoms as chocolate.

Alcohol - Giving a cat alcohol repeatedly (or a lot of) will cause liver damage, breathing difficulties, coma and even death.

Garlic (any form) - Can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia.

Onion (any form) - Can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia. Onions are more toxic than garlic.

Tomatoes (all aspects of the fruit and plant) - Can cause the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems, but mostly causes severe digestive upset.

Potatoes (Raw and plant) - Can cause the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems, but mostly causes severe digestive upset.

Mushrooms - Some species of mushroom are highly dangerous as the can cause shock and even death.

Grapes and Raisins - It is unknown why these are toxic, but even a tiny amount can severely damage the kidneys.

Macadamia Nuts - Can cause gastrointestinal upsets, lethargy, vomiting and muscle tremors or stiffness.

Foods that are potentially harmful:

Liver (in large amounts) - A small bit of raw liver on occasion is very beneficial to a cat.

COOKED bones and fish bones (including raw and cooked) - Cooked bones are very hard and brittle and will splinter which can cause obstruction or laceration in the digestive system. Raw bones are much safer as they are soft and do not splinter.

Dog Food - Dog food is vastly different to cat food so doesn't have the added Vitamins and Fatty Acids cats need, such as Taurine.

Foods high in Salt and Sugar - Too much of both can harm your cat's health (sugar can cause obesity and Diabetes and salt will cause a chemical imbalance, as well as dehydration).

Milk - Cow's milk, despite popular belief, is not tolerated by many cats as many are lactose intolerant. An adult cat gets no nutrition from any sort of milk, but specially formulated cat or kitten milk can be used as an occasional treat.

Answer 3

I have a cat, and believe me there is a lot to be wary of. Foremost, Some cats enjoy munching on wires, so be sure that this is not a problem for your animal. Always be careful of plants around the house, some can be poisonous if chewed. A specific example of this is Poinsettias which are usually found in your household around Christmastime. My cat always attempts to chew ours, though these plants are extremely poisonous. Subsequently, be aware of cheap imported toys as small parts can fall off and be swallowed.

Also, foam toys are always a thriller for cats, and although foam is not necessarily dangerous, a lot of useful toys can be ruined. Hairbands and ties also make fun toys for kittens, so be sure that they are not swallowed while cats are playing. Finally, be careful of what you feed your animal. Only give them tuna which is meant for cats, and NEVER give an animal chicken-the bones may get lodged in their throat (unless of course the chicken is meant for a feline). The brand of cat food I trust most is Purina, which serves well for moist or dry food.

Answer 4

You shouldn't be cruel to it, and if you try to do calculus with it, you're going to wind up doing most of the work while your cat just sits there. Perhaps you could try asking a more specific question.

Answer 5

grapes, apple seeds, macadamia nuts, chocolate, alcohol, onions