7 Foods That Threaten Your Pet Cat's Health

7 hours ago 2

Illustration of a kitten or a cat cub. (Photo: Pixabay)

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - One of the important forms of care for a pet cat is by providing it with nutritious food intake. Nutrition can be obtained from main food as well as supplements available in various pet supply stores. Currently, there are various options of cat food in the market, such as dry food and wet food.

The selection of cat food should be adjusted according to the cat's age, as the nutritional content in each product is generally designed to meet the nutritional needs at certain ages. Therefore, it is important to provide appropriate food to keep the cat from health risks.

As reported by Hillspet and WebMD, here are some foods that should not be given to cats:

1. Raw Eggs, Meat, and Bones

Just like in humans, consuming raw eggs and meat can expose cats to bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli. This infection can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. In addition, raw eggs contain enzymes that can trigger skin and fur disorders in cats. Meanwhile, raw bones are at risk of causing choking or injuring the cat's digestive system.

2. Chocolate and Caffeinated Drinks

Chocolate contains a substance called methylxanthines that can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle tremors, irregular heartbeat, discomfort in the abdomen, excessive thirst, and seizures. This substance is also found in caffeine, making both very dangerous for cats.

3. Milk and its Products

Although cats seem to like milk, their digestive system is not able to properly digest lactose. As a result, consuming milk can cause diarrhea. This happens because a cat's digestive system usually can only digest its mother's milk in the early stages of life, and it is difficult to readapt to lactose after weaning.

4. Grapes and Raisins

Consuming grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats. About 12 hours after eating, cats may start vomiting. Within 24 hours, symptoms such as fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and infrequent urination may occur.

5. Canned Tuna

Cats that consume canned tuna too often, either for humans or formulated for cats, can become addicted. If consumed excessively, the risk of mercury poisoning may occur.

6. Onions and Garlic

Onions, including shallots, garlic, and chives, can damage a cat's red blood cells and trigger anemia. If consumed in large amounts, onions can make cats appear lethargic, lose energy, lose their appetite, and even experience a change in gum color to pale.

7. Dog Food

Although they may look similar, dog food is not designed for a cat's nutritional needs. If given in the long term, dog food can cause a deficiency in important nutrients like taurine. Taurine deficiency can cause various health problems in cats, including heart problems, coughing, and being less active.

Risma Damayanti also contributed to writing this article.

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