Can cats eat grapes and raisins?

It is an incorrect statement that a cat always knows what is good for him and what is bad for him. In general, we must take care of his safety and the health of the pet.

Cats often like to play with things they shouldn't. Their innate curiosity is often dangerous for them. It is not true that a cat always knows what is good for him and what is bad for him. This also applies to grapes. If your furry cat loves to chase them, roll them, nibble them, or just eat them, you better start hiding the grapes from him! And this is not an exaggeration. Can cats eat grapes?

Attention!

Does your cat like to play with grapes? Be careful - it's dangerous!

What should I do if my cat eats grapes?

You may have fed grapes to your cat in the past and have not seen any negative side effects. If yes, that's great! However, this should not be a common occurrence. Because the toxicity of grapes in cats is so unclear, it is always best to keep your pet away from any potential harm, even if they have had good luck in the past.

If your cat accidentally ingests grapes, watch for signs of distress like lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea. Most symptoms will likely appear within the first 12 hours after ingestion. If your cat begins to act strangely or suddenly loses his appetite, he may be having a toxic reaction. Contact your veterinarian immediately for further instructions and continue to monitor your cat for signs of distress for 24 hours.

Why does my cat like sweets?

In fact, it cannot be said that cats like or dislike the taste of sweets. In fact, they don't feel it at all.

A cat has only 470 taste buds in its arsenal. For comparison, a dog has 1,700 of them, and a person has 9,000. And this limited cat set does not contain receptors responsible for recognizing sweetness. So even if your pet reacts violently to the way you unwrap the treat, it doesn't reveal that he has a sweet tooth.

Why then do cats try to get close to ice cream or sweet treats? Perhaps they are attracted not by the sweet taste, but by something else. Given the animals' affinity for fats and meat products, it can be assumed that they are attracted to human treats by the fat content, the meat-like smell, or the amino acids. A pet's desire to try peppermint candies is often triggered by a scent reminiscent of catnip; playful kittens reach for candy, treating it like a toy. Whatever the animals' motives, a serving of sweets can harm them.

Meat diet

It is obvious that in the wild, cats eat mainly meat that they obtain for themselves. Let's figure out what you can't feed British and regular cats? Just raw meat. What is sold on the market is the meat of animals pumped with antibiotics and hormones. 70% of the product is contaminated with helminths; the meat contains pathogens that are dangerous to health; they can be active even after weeks of freezing.

A cat can even be poisoned by a mouse that it caught itself, because it might have eaten the poison. Before giving meat to pets, it must be boiled. You can give rabbit, chicken, beef and sometimes game. The diet must include offal, but not liver. Raw liver causes diarrhea, while boiled liver, on the contrary, makes defecation difficult.

The meat needs to be cut into large pieces and boiled for up to 10 minutes; if you cook for a very long time, the value of the product will decrease.

Hydrangea

The plant is also known as hydrangea. Most of its species are shrubs up to 3 m high. There are also small trees and vines.

Both flowers and leaves are dangerous for cats. They contain cyanide ions, which only act when in contact with water or saliva. When they enter the body, abdominal pain, indigestion and vomiting occur. Severe poisoning can cause pulmonary, heart and kidney failure, which is often indicated by trembling.

The harmful effects of grapes

Grapes and raisins are a big no-no for dogs. If a dog accidentally ingests grapes or raisins, it can cause sudden kidney failure or other gastrointestinal problems. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, lethargy and diarrhea. Although there is no specific scientific evidence that grapes and raisins have the same toxic effects on cats, cat owners have reported similar reactions. In some cases, cats that have ingested grapes have been known to develop gastrointestinal disorders. Because of this, it's best to stay on the safe side and keep grapes and raisins away from our feline friends.

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A cat laps milk from a saucer and then suffers from diarrhea

If you don’t know what you can’t feed a fold-eared cat, then you will be surprised that these purebred pets, like many non-pedigreed ones, should not be given milk. Pedigree animals are much more likely to suffer from intestinal disorders and disorders of the intestinal tract. Any animal can be lactose intolerant, and a cat with sensitive digestion may suffer from diarrhea. Although until a certain time the animal can drink milk without any complications.

Cats can be given fermented milk products: cottage cheese and kefir, but not all animals like them. Cream and sour cream should be removed from the diet. If the animal tolerates lactose well, then once a week a small amount of cow's milk at room temperature is acceptable.

You shouldn’t give yoghurts and curds, they contain a lot of additives that are unnecessary for the cat’s body.

Tansy

Tansy, or wild rowan, is a perennial plant that has a strong, distinctive odor, so cat poisoning is unlikely. Extracts from the plant are used as a dietary supplement for better digestibility of feed.

However, those specimens that grow on the site pose some danger due to the high content of thujone, alkaloids, glycosides and organic acids. The entry of these substances into the cat’s body can cause disruption of the central nervous system. Symptoms include anxiety, severe agitation, which turns into depression, movement disorders, and loss of appetite.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine alkaloid, which is extremely harmful to cats. The higher the cocoa content in chocolate, the more dangerous it is for animals. Well-being problems in a cat weighing about five kilograms can be caused by just 20 grams of dark chocolate with 85% cocoa content - that’s about four squares of chocolate. If your cat eats them within a short time, she may experience diarrhea, vomiting and seizures. In the worst case scenario, too much theobromine can lead to heart attack, coma, and death. Remember that cats do not need to be cheered up by eating chocolate, and do not share it with them.

Smoked meats and pickles

Sometimes animals happily eat canned tomatoes and cucumbers. This does not mean that they are safe for them, it only indicates that the cat is missing something.

Owners, out of habit, can sweep all the remains of their meal into the cat's bowl, but the animal is not allowed any smoked, fried, or canned food. Sausages are also not suitable for them. All the food that people prepare for themselves includes spices and salt, but cats do not need this. This is not a complete list of what you should not feed your cat.

Harmful effects of grapes

Grapes and raisins are big no-nos for dogs. If a dog accidentally ingests grapes or raisins, it can cause sudden kidney failure or other gastrointestinal problems. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, lethargy and diarrhea. Although there is no specific scientific evidence that grapes and raisins are equally toxic to cats, cat owners have reported similar reactions. In some cases, cats that ingested grapes have been known to ingest the gastrointestinal tract. Because of this, it's best to stay safe and keep grapes and raisins away from our feline friends.

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Pasta lovers

Sometimes cats are noticed to have an exorbitant love for pasta and other flour products: rolls, fresh bread and other provocateurs of constipation, colitis and obesity. What should you not feed a sterilized cat? Exactly these products. Neutered animals are more prone to obesity due to hormonal imbalance. Manufacturers make food specifically for them with weight control, they have fewer calories. If you want to keep your animal on natural food, then it is better to make your choice in favor of cereals. Buckwheat and rice are ideal for this; you need to add meat to your diet.

Difficult to digest are: millet, semolina, corn grits and rolled oats.

What are the signs of grape poisoning in cats?

So what happens if you catch your pet chewing grapes? It is recommended that you monitor your cat closely over the next 24 hours to identify any unusual symptoms early.

Here are signs that may indicate that your cat is suffering from the effects of grape poisoning:

vomit;
lethargy;
diarrhea;
abdominal pain;
decreased appetite;
excessive thirst.

If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. The reason it is so important to act quickly is that these symptoms often indicate kidney failure . Because this is a very serious condition, it is important to seek professional help as soon as symptoms of poisoning appear.

Contraindications for feeding cats fruit

Diseases for which you should not include fruits and berries in a cat’s diet without the permission of a veterinarian:

diabetes mellitus – fruits and berries are record holders for the content of sugars of natural origin, which is why they are very high in calories, and excess weight often provokes diabetes;
obesity - fruits are very high in calories, so they definitely cannot be included in the diet of a losing weight pet;
food allergies - if a cat has a sensitive type of gastrointestinal tract, she experiences vomiting, bad bowel movements, itching, sneezing or swelling to new foods, then you should not experiment. It is better to stick to a proven list of products; if it contains a sufficient amount of meat and additional vitamins, then there is no need to worry about a lack of nutrients.

The most useful products

What vegetables should you give your pet?

Before including plant foods in a cat’s diet, it is important for the owner to understand what kind of food will bring maximum benefit to the animal’s body. Kittens and older cats need the following natural vegetables:

Zucchini will help maintain the normal health of an elderly pet.

Zucchini. They contain potassium, manganese and magnesium. These elements are required for the normal functioning of almost all organs and systems. The product is especially useful for older cats, since beneficial substances are removed from the body during the aging process.
Beet. Increases the acidity of urine, which promotes the rapid removal of salts, preventing the occurrence of urolithiasis. It is recommended to give beets in small quantities, as they provoke diarrhea.
Broccoli. Contains vitamins from group A, B and C, iron, potassium and phosphorus. Cats also love cauliflower, which is no less healthy; white cabbage will also not harm the cat.
Carrot. Helps improve night vision.
Cucumbers. They consist almost entirely of water, so they help normalize water balance.
Pumpkin. Allows you to improve respiratory processes, protects the body from chemical damage, and helps strengthen bones and teeth. It is permissible for a cat to eat pumpkin only in boiled form.
Greenery. Kittens love sorrel, parsley, and dill, which help prevent diseases of the genitourinary system.

Healthy fruits

Strawberries are very useful for fluffies, but in large quantities they lead to the development of constipation.
Some breeders note that their pet happily eats melons and watermelons. However, it is known that felines do not taste sweetness. Despite this, fruits are beneficial for the body of both a sterilized cat and a pet that may have offspring. You can feed cats the following foods:

Apples. Contains vitamin C, which is important for the full development and growth of your pet. They are able to strengthen the immune system and protect the body from infectious and viral pathologies. It is recommended to boil the apple and turn it into puree.
Strawberry. The composition contains a large number of useful elements, for example, folic acid, potassium and manganese. However, despite the benefits, strawberries also contain a sufficient amount of sugar, which can negatively affect the cat’s body and cause constipation.

What to do if your cat eats grapes or raisins?

Since not all cats react the same way to different foods (even officially poisonous ones), when a cat suddenly eats grapes, first of all, observe it.
If there are any alarming symptoms, we should immediately go to the veterinarian with the pet.
Tell us what and how much the cat ate.
If our eater has eaten a large amount of grapes or looks sick, especially if there is kidney disease, then take him to the clinic immediately. There is no point in waiting and risking your health.

Conclusion It's great that many owners treat their cats as legitimate members of the family. However, a loving owner must also be responsible and know that a cat cannot eat everything that people eat. Can cats eat grapes? NO! Grapes are bad for cats, as are raisins, especially raisin candies, since sweets are also not suitable food for cats. You don't have to give up these fruits yourself, but keep them carefully hidden from your pet.

Toxicity

Seedless grapes cause the same spectrum of damage as seeded grape varieties. At the moment, grape seed extract is recognized as safe for dogs, and the search for a toxic substance in the pulp and peel of the berry continues. A series of experiments conducted by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in 1998-2004 revealed the same toxicity of both purchased grapes and those grown in the yard of your own home without the use of fertilizers and insecticides (1).

Under the experimental conditions, it turned out that the variety and region of grape growth, as well as the gender, age and breed of dogs, do not matter. The clinical picture and course of poisoning are the same in all parts of the world (1). It should be noted that grapes have been proven to be toxic specifically to dogs; whether this berry is harmful to animals of other species is not known for certain.

The minimum documented toxic dose for grapes is 0.32 – 0.65 ounces per kg. weight, that is, 9.07 - 18.43 grams per kg in units familiar to the Russian reader. The toxic dose of raisins is much less - 0.11 ounces per kg, that is, 3 grams per kg (1,2,5). But since the mechanism of poisoning is unknown, all cases of eating grapes, even in quantities obviously less than the toxic dose, should be taken seriously (1,2).