Foods poisonous to cats

While cats are usually pretty sensible when it comes to choosing which foods to eat,  there are a few things we, as owners, need to know.

Any food which isn't specifically designed with cats in mind can upset their digestive system and cause illness.
Below are some foods which cause serious health problems:

Alcohol - Just a tablespoon of an alcoholic drink can cause severe liver and brain damage in a cat .
Chocolate - Containing caffeine and Theobromine, all forms of chocolate are poisonous. However, dark chocolate and unsweetened cooking chocolate are most toxic. Ingesting chocolate can cause heart palpitations, muscle tremors or seizures. 
Coffee, tea & energy drinks - These also contain caffeine which will cause your cat to become restless, have rapid breathing, heart palpitations and muscle tremors. 
Dairy products - Like humans, some cats are lactose intolerant so eating dairy products can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Raw fish, raw meat, raw eggs - As well as causing vomiting and diarrhea, raw meat, fish and eggs can cause a painful condition known as pancreatitis. These is also a risk of salmonella and E-coli in these foods.
Grapes and raisins - Its unusual for a cat to eat these but it has been known. As in dogs, cats who eat grapes or raisins may suffer with acute kidney failure so although it's unlikely, best to keep them well out of the way.
Onions and garlic - A little onion or garlic cooked in a sauce are not likely to cause any real problem, but any member of the onion family, if eaten in sufficient amounts can cause digestive upsets and even anemia if eaten in large enough quantities.

Care for your cat
If you think your cat has eaten any of the above, try to establish how much they have consumed and contact your vet as soon as possible.