Cat Treats vs Poison – A Pet Health Infographic
You know how it is: Your cat does those blinking, loving eyes. Pawing at you while you eat. If they could talk, they’d be complimenting your culinary skills.
‘I love the way you’ve combined the colours in your dish, there.’ Tiddles purrs.
You thank Tiddles. You are happy because you’ve been working hard on presentation recently. You’re so happy that Tiddles gets a nice juicy piece of chicken liver to himself.
‘I’d love to eat that,’ Tiddles paws the liver piece back along the floor toward you. ‘But the high amounts of vitamin A in this could well give me osteoporosis. Could I trouble you for some deli meat instead?’
‘You’ve cat to be kitten me right meow.’ You reply.
While the first bit of dialogue is, clearly, a very real and regular occurrence, cats will rarely turn away from what you consider a treat. This can be tricky, because, like humans, there are plenty of edible things that aren’t good for us. This infographic tells you which treats are good for them, which are not, and why.
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Cats: Treats Vs Poison
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Sources
5 human foods cats can eat – animalplanet.com
5 human foods cats can eat – care2.com
All about catnip – cat-world.com.au
Feline urinary tract health – catinfo.org
Destructive chewing by cats – cats.about.com
Human food for cats? – cats.about.com
Raw diets and cats: what about eating bones? – feline-nutrition.org
What should I feed my cat? – kb.rspca.org.au
Are broccoli and melon toxic to cats? – lovemeow.com
Health benefits of methylxanthines in cacao and chocolate – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
10 people foods that are safe for your cat – pawnation.com
Cat diet – pdsa.org.uk
Anatomy & function of the esophagus, stomach & intestines in cats – peteducation.com
Nutrition for cats and dogs – pethealthcouncil.co.uk
Cat treats and snacks: what’s healthy? – pets.webmd.com
Foods your cat should never eat – pets.webmd.com
People foods your cat can eat – pets.webmd.com
10 mistakes people make in feeding cats – pets.webmd.com
Pets and onions – petinsurance.com
The incredible edible egg: nutritional or deadly for pets? – petmd.com
Can cats eat chocolate? – petsadviser.com
Cats – nutritional needs – pfma.org.uk
Tips on cat treats – shorevetcentre.co.uk
Feline behavior problems: destructive behaviour – vet.cornell.edu
7 foods you should never feed your vat – vetstreet.com
Carrots – whfoods.org
Can I feed my cat milk? – yourcat.co.uk
Here’s a text-friendly version of the above infographic:
Cats: treat vs poison
Let’s face facts – cats are adorable. So who can resist giving theirs a treat?
But before you give in to those big, longing eyes, be sure you know which household foods are fine for a healthy treat and which ones can do more harm than good.
Furry facts
2.5X – Your cat’s intestines are 2.5 times the length of its body.
41 – The number of essential nutrients cats must eat in their food.
20% – Treats should only make up one fifth of your cat’s daily food intake.
Treat
Cat food
An obvious choice, but cats need essential nutrients from meat and commercial cat food. Contains: protein, vital nutrients, fatty acids
Canned fish
Canned fish contains vital protein and fatty acids for your cat’s health, but keep portions small. Contains: protein, Omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, trace metals
Wet meats
Mix things up at dinner time with some moist meats like fresh lamb. The moisture promotes a healthy urinary tract. Contains: water
Poison
Dog food
An occasional bite won’t hurt, but eating dog food can lead to severe malnourishment. Contains: insufficient protein and fatty acids
Liver
Liver can cause vitamin A toxicity. This potentially fatal condition causes deformed bones, bone growths on the elbows and spine, and osteoporosis. Contains: vitamin A
Chocolate
Toxins in chocolate, particularly dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate, cause arrhythmia, tremors, seizures, and death. Contains: methylxanthines, theobromine, caffeine
Cow’s milk
Cats love milk, but their digestive system isn’t so keen. Most cats are lactose intolerant, which means upset tummies and diarrhoea. Contains: lactose
Cooked bones
Once cooked, bones splinter more easily which can lead to tearing and choking. The fat in them will stretch your cat’s waistband. Dangers: sharp bits
Raw meat and fish
Aside from food poisoning, enzymes in raw fish destroy thiamine. Deficiency causes serious neurological problems, convulsions and coma. Contains: thiaminase
Onions, garlic and chives
Even a curious lick can spell disaster for your kitty. The allium damages red blood cells and can cause Heinz body anaemia. Contains: thiosulphate, n-propyl disulphide
Grapes and raisins
Toxicities can cause the sudden development of kidney failure within 48 hours of snacking – and researchers still don’t know exactly why. Contains: toxins that can lead to kidney failure
Raw meaty bones
These chewy treats offer a number of healthy benefits, but they’re not without risks:
Pros:
- Mouth – keeps jaws strong, teeth clean and gums healthy
- Mind – chewing relieves boredom
- Plants – draws attention from other chewable items, like your house plants
Cons:
- Cracking – large bones or marrow bones can break a cat’s teeth
- Constipation – too much can cause digestive problems for cats
- Choking – there is a high risk of choking or splintering
Treats for training
Use treats as rewards after tasks like claw trimming or bath time to associate those activities with good feelings. Don’t let your cat’s curious appetite get the better of them. Watch what they eat and know what’s right for your little troublemaker.
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