During the holiday season, there’s plenty of yummy food and treats filling our homes, as well as growing on the trees! So it’s super important to know which foods could be toxic to your cat with the changing season and be sure to avoid them.
Sweets and chocolate
It is fairly common knowledge that chocolate is super toxic to both cats and dogs. Sweets are also dangerous for our pets, especially those containing xylitol as a sweetener. With Halloween and Christmas on the cards, sweet treat cupboards are usually stocked! So make sure any sweets and chocolate at home are safely stored behind closed doors, away from the furry ones.
Grapes and raisins
Fall and winter are all about the baked goods, and many of our seasonal favourites often include raisins in the recipes. Grapes and raisins are both toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure. Maybe opt for recipes without these dangerous fruits, just to be on the safe side.
Pumpkin flavours and spices
Although pumpkin isn’t actually toxic to cats, certain spices and flavours around the holiday season can be so are best avoided completely! No pumpkin spice lattes for the kittens, unfortunately.
Nuts
Toasted nuts are a seasonal staple, but nuts and even acorns and conkers outside of your home contain toxins poisonous to both cats and dogs. Keep an eye on your little wanderer when they’re outdoors! Nuts can be dangerous due to their high-fat content and potential choking hazard. Macadamia nuts are specifically toxic so keep any nutty treats locked safely away.
Mushrooms
As well as mushrooms in your pantry, there are also plenty of mushrooms and toadstools that grow in the wild, most commonly during the autumn. Toxicity levels will vary between the different types, and can cause poisoning if ingested. If you notice them around in your garden, it is best to remove them where possible to avoid all risk to your feline.
There’s plenty your cats can enjoy through the holiday season, though sticking to their usual diet is the best advice we can give. It’s very tempting to toss them some turkey under the table, but keeping them well-fed on their regular feeding plan will be sure to keep them thriving all year round!
