14 Facts About Can Cats Eat Onions That’ll Make Your Cat’s Health Better

Updated: November 17, 2023 by CanCat Eat

Can cats eat onions? Onions may seem like harmless food to us. We can consume them daily. That does not mean they are also safe for your cat. Onions possess an extremely high level of toxicity for cats. In many cases, it could even be deadly to cats. We should always keep onions away from cats. no matter what.

Can Cats Eat Onion

Are onions bad for cats? Onions are toxic to a cat. Even in a very small amount. It could be very dangerous for your feline friend. There are many reasons. Any kind of onion can break down a cat’s red blood cells. And this will lead to anemia. If your cat is eating onions in large or small amounts on a regular basis, this can cause onion poisoning in cats. Along with onion,  garlic, and chives, they are also toxic for cats. You should not let her eat any of this food. They could also lead to gastrointestinal upset. You saw your cat lick an onion. What should you do?

The Cat Ate Chicken Cooked With Onion

Onions and garlic might cause digestive upset in cats. If your cat is eating onions on a regular basis, it could cause anemia. Onion toxicity

can be fatal in cats. Baby food that you buy from the market made from meat is often seasoned with onion or garlic. So, you should read the labels carefully before you feed them to your cat.

All types of onions are very dangerous to cats, and even small amounts may be harmful. So, what should you do if your cat eats onions? If you find out your cat ate chicken cooked with onion or some food that contains onion, Then your cat is going to need immediate veterinary attention. Onion toxicity in cats is a hypersensitive reaction of our feline red blood cells to the oxidant present in fresh or dried onions. An onion is toxic to a cat if more than 1 gram per 5 pounds of body weight is ingested.

How Much Onion Is Toxic to Cats

How much onion will hurt a cat? The allium plant contains N-propyl disulfide, a poisonous chemical that causes onion poisoning in cats.

A small amount of onion is highly toxic to cats, according to the ASPCA. They are also toxic to dogs and horses. Onions have N-propyl disulfide as a chemical factor. This chemical has a particular impact on cats. This is even worse than canines. Onions are potentially poisonous to our feline friends. And similar root vegetables can also be very harmful, including leeks, chives, scallions, and garlic.

Form

Even in any form, onions are toxic to cats. If you got an onion chopped up from the market, whether you got a fresh one from the garden or in dried powder form as a seasoning, It can have dangerous consequences for cats. If your kitty may look as she pleads with her eyes for a bite of your garden salad, Do not share it with your cats under any circumstances. Onion toxicity is a very serious matter in veterinary medicine. So do not take it as a light threat. Remember, Your cat’s health is counting on you.

Symptoms

If you want to be aware of the key signs that your precious pet may be experiencing onion poisoning, The key symptoms include overall feelings of weakness, diarrhea, throwing up, panting, wheezing, coughing, rapid heart rate, anemia, and bloody urine. If your cat shows any signs of dangerous symptoms, Do not waste any time contacting a vet. Directly take your cat to an emergency veterinary hospital.

Management

If your pet’s skin has made contact with onions, The veterinarian will advise you to wash and dry her thoroughly. In some cases, the vet may also encourage throwing up to remove all traces of the toxic onion. The vet may also conduct blood testing in order to determine whether or not anemia is a problem. If the toxicity level is especially serious in your cat, A blood transfusion may come into play.

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Can Cats Eat Onions and Garlic

Onions, garlic, shallots, and scallions can cause damage to your cat. The effect on your cat’s red blood cells leads to anemia. These foods are typically poisonous to cats forms of onion or garlic, such as onion soup mix or garlic powder. That can also be toxic to cats. Some cats with symptoms of lethargy, weakness, reduced appetite, pale gums, and orange to dark red urine should be taken to the vet immediately.

Can Cats Eat Pasta

Yes, your cats can eat pasta. But it’s not the best thing for your cat to eat. You should ensure that all your cat’s nutritional needs are covered by eating high-quality cat food. If your cat is healthy, then you should feed her pasta occasionally, in a small amount. But never let your cat fill up on pasta.

Can Cats Eat Tuna

Cats can get addicted to tuna because it is tasty. Some tuna won’t hurt your cats. A steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition in your cat. If You let your cat eat too much tuna, she will end up with mercury poisoning.

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Some Of The Symptoms Of Hemolytic Anemia In Cats Are:

Here are Some Symptoms Of Onion Poisoning In Cats

• Breathlessness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lack of energy
• Poor appetite

You should also know that these symptoms won’t come up right away after your cat eats onions. Most of the time, it would take 2 to 4 days after your cat consumed the onion for symptoms to become apparent.

But, let’s say your pet accidentally consumed an onion because you left it alone in the kitchen. What would you do? The best action is to bring your cat to a veterinarian immediately. The vet may try to induce vomiting to decrease the cat’s absorption of the onion by administering a product.

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Preventing Cats from Eating Dangerous Foods

Your cat’s life and well-being completely depend on your hands. It’s whether you let her eat or not. By keeping poisonous foods out of her reach as well as making sure she consumes balanced food. You are helping your feline friend to stay healthy.

Some tips for preventing your cats from reaching dangerous and toxic foods:

• Store foods like cilantro and marshmallows out of your feline’s reach. You can install cat-proof locks on cabinets, which may be necessary for a curious cat.
• Do not let your cat eat something that she should not eat while you’re cooking or eating.
• Do not feed her table scraps.
• It is especially important to be more mindful and conscious during the holidays. There is likely more enticing food around. Most of them can upset your cat’s tummy or be even more harmful to her.
• You should never entertain your cat’s begging. No matter how badly she wants to bite your pizza,
• Increase her activity time. You can distract her by increasing her activity. Perhaps she needs more playtime.
• You could give her more frequent meals. There’s a likelihood that your cat can’t wait for her next meal, so she tries to get her hands on the raw onion. You could increase the number of her meals.

What Foods Are Cats Not Allowed To Eat

credit :https://www.waggywalkys.com/foods-poisonous-pets/

Other Common Human Foods That Are Harmful to Pets

Garlic and onions aren’t the only toxic foods that are harmful to pets. Read more about why these other foods should be kept out of your pet’s reach and what foods are bad for cats:

• Alcohol: Cats can often get into alcohol. That could be from uncommon sources, like unbaked dough or rum-soaked desserts. By consuming alcohol, your cat and dog will have low blood sugar and a low body temperature. It can end in a coma or seizures.
• Avocado: Dogs and cats can have adverse reactions to avocados. But they are most toxic to birds. After having some of this fruit, birds could develop respiratory distress and may also die.
• Caffeine: Pets can react to caffeine. Some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, restlessness, and an increased heart rate. Caffeine is toxic to cats and dogs.
• Chocolate: Most pet owners recognize that chocolate is very toxic to their dogs or cats. The more chocolate there is, the better for cats it is. Because it has more caffeine and theobromine.
• Grapes and Raisins: Both grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure in dogs and some cats. Cat owners should keep these out of the cat’s reach in every form, including raisin bagels or grape juice.
• Mushrooms and Pineapples – Not all mushrooms are toxic. However, some can be gastrointestinal irritants. Others can be hallucinogenic for a cat. And some can cause acute liver failure and death for your cat.
• Sugar-Free Foods (Xylitol) The natural sugar Xylitol can be very dangerous for felines. It can cause a drop in blood sugar and potential liver damage in your cat.
• Friskies Wet Foods is also a good option.

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Foods Cats Can Eat

PROTEINS THAT ARE SAFE FOR CATS

As far as we know, cats are carnivorous. Let’s see what protein foods are safe for cats to eat.

Proteins your cat can enjoy:

• Skinless Chicken (The best!)
• Lean Beef
• Liver
• Lamb
• Lean Deli Meats
• Cooked Eggs

VEGETABLES THAT ARE SAFE FOR CATS

As we said, cats are carnivorous. But it does not mean they can’t eat vegetables. Some cats like to eat veggies as a snack.

Veggies you can give your cat to snack on:

• Pumpkin/Squash
• Peas
• Cucumber
• Cooked or steamed
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Asparagus
  • Green Beans
• Spinach

GRAINS THAT ARE SAFE FOR CATS

Some cats don’t like to eat grains. Try to give them a small amount before giving them the full piece.

Grains your cat can nibble on:

• Cooked Corn/Polenta
• Couscous/Millet (Many cats like the tiny texture of these grains)
• Carrots
• Bread/Breadcrumbs
• Oatmeal (Plain oats are high in protein!)
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes

FRUIT THAT IS SAFE FOR CATS

You can make some fun treats with fruits for your cat. Fruit could help if your cat has a digestive issue.

Fruit your cat can enjoy:

• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Watermelon, Cantaloupe, or Honeydew (No seeds!)
• Peeled Apples

DAIRY THAT IS SAFE FOR CATS

As they become older. Cats may become lactose-intolerant. So make sure to only give your cat small amounts of dairy foods.

Dairy items your cat can try:

• Hard Cheeses (Cheddar, Gouda, etc.)
• Low-lactose cheeses (Cottage Cheese)
• Yogurt (Plain, Low-Fat)

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FISH THAT ARE SAFE FOR CATS

Your cat will love to see fish treats. Too much fish can deplete your cat’s vitamin E.

Types of fish your cat can enjoy:

• Cooked Salmon/Tuna
• Canned fish
• Fish oil

Are onions and garlic bad for cats?

Onions and garlic are both toxic to cats and should be avoided. Both of these foods contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can cause red blood cells to burst and lead to anemia in cats. This can be a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.

Ingesting even small amounts of garlic or onions can cause toxic effects, so it’s important to keep these foods out of reach of your cat and to avoid feeding them anything that contains garlic or onions, such as soups, sauces, and spices.

If you suspect that your cat has ingested garlic or onions, it’s important to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible. Symptoms of onion and garlic toxicity in cats can include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, and breathing difficulties. Early treatment is important to help prevent serious health complications and ensure a good outcome.

It is best to stick to feeding your cat a nutritionally complete diet specifically formulated for their species and to avoid giving them any human foods that are toxic or harmful. If you have any concerns or questions about what your cat can and cannot eat, it is always best to consult with a veterinarian.

Conclusion

You should not give your cat even a small amount of onion. They are very harmful to your cat. All onions, whether they are cooked or raw, are very toxic to your cat. Even if your cat ate a small amount of onion, You should take your cat to a veterinarian immediately for treatment. So, it would be best if you kept onions away from your cat’s reach.

You can store the onions in the cupboard when your cat can’t reach them instead of leaving them on top of the table.  I hope this article helps you get your answer to whether cats can eat onions.

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Cats Vs Onion