What NOT to feed your cat at Easter

Katie Court — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Easter is a time to treat yourself and your nearest and dearest, so it's only right to spoil your feline family members, too. But, while we humans can subsist on chocolate eggs, hot cross buns, and roast dinners (for a few days, anyway), cats require a more specialist diet. As a result, many common easter treats and foods can make them ill.

So, which foods are a no-go for cats, and what alternatives are there? Here, Catit has shared the foods in your Easter feast that your cat shouldn't have, plus four tasty cat-safe treats they can enjoy instead.

Which Easter foods are toxic for cats?

Common Easter foods that you should avoid feeding to your cat include:

Chocolate: Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, both of which can be toxic to cats. Just 30 grams of chocolate can be enough to make the average 4kg cat very ill (Catit). So, be sure to keep your chocolate treats far out of reach of curious or peckish felines this Easter.
Hot cross buns: Dried fruit like sultanas, raisins and currants can make your cat ill, and may even cause kidney failure. So, all types of fruited buns are best avoided.
Onions and garlic: Anything containing onions and garlic can be harmful to your cat. So, that might include gravies, sauces, stuffing, or other elements of your Easter meal.
Mint sauce: While it might pair perfectly with a lamb dinner, mint can be harmful to cats in high doses.

4 cat-safe easter treats

If you want to treat your cat this Easter, the first thing to bear in mind is that cats tend not to have a sweet tooth. In fact, it's thought that cats lack the necessary taste receptors on their tongues to taste sweet foods at all (PubMed). Cats are also obligate carnivores, meaning they need a lot of meat in their diets, but don't need a lot of carbohydrates or fibre. So, when it comes to treating your cat, it's best to stick to meaty, fishy, savoury foods — they'll thank you for it!

We've shared four tasty, cat-safe Easter treats and foods, so your feline friend can join the fun this year.

Tuna biscuits

It's traditional to eat fish on Good Friday, but we think most cats would be quite happy to eat these tasty tuna treats every day of the year. Made using just four ingredients, these treats are easy to make and perfect for treat dispenser toys.

To make these tuna biscuits, you'll need 1 egg, 1 x 145g tin of tuna in spring water (not in brine, as this is too salty for your cat), and 200 grams of wholewheat or gluten-free flour, plus a cup of water for mixing.

Start by heating your oven to 180°C (160°C if using a fan-assisted oven) or Gas Mark 4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Purée the tuna until smooth using a food processor or hand blender.
Using a mixing bowl and spoon or silicone spatula, blend the pureed tuna with the egg. Gradually incorporate the flour into this mixture until a dough forms — you may need to add a few splashes of water if it's too dry. Pro tip: You'll get extra brownie points with your cat if you let them lick the spatula or spoon when you're finished baking!
When the dough is malleable enough to roll, place it on a lightly floured surface and roll it out until it's ¼ inch thick.
Cut the biscuits. You can slice them up into small (1cm) squares, or any other shape you'd like. For an extra-special touch, you could even cut them into cute seasonal shapes, like eggs, bunnies, or flowers, using a miniature cutter. Just make sure they're small enough for your kitty to eat.
Spread on the baking tray and cook for 15 –20 minutes, until lightly golden. You may need to do multiple bakes if you don't have room on the tray for all the biscuits.
Wait until the biscuits have fully cooled before serving to your cat. The biscuits should keep for a couple of weeks when stored in an airtight container.

Boiled eggs

Chocolate eggs might be a no-go for cats, but they can still enjoy an egg or two this Easter. When hard-boiled, hen's eggs are a tasty superfood for your cat. Boiling eggs kills any potentially harmful bacteria that might make your cat sick, like salmonella. It also reduces the natural levels of a protein known as avidin, which is thought to disrupt the absorption of essential vitamins in your cat's diet. So, as long as the egg is fully cooked all the way through, boiled eggs are a perfectly safe, healthy, and delicious treat for your cat.

Cats love the excitement and thrill of the chase, so you could even set up an egg hunt.

Carob 'chocolate'

Carob is a type of fruit that looks and tastes a little like chocolate. But, unlike real chocolate made from cocoa, carob doesn't contain any caffeine or theobromine — the compounds that make it unsafe for cats to eat. So, if you don't want your cat to miss out on the fun this Easter, you could offer them a carob-based treat in place of a chocolate one.

Spring lamb

If you'll be having roast lamb this Easter, you could consider plating up a mini portion for your feline friend. While cats may not be able to tuck into a full roast dinner with all the trimmings, as natural carnivores, they can still enjoy a small serving of roast lamb, along with a few cooked veggies like peas or chopped carrots. Many cats love lamb, which is why this meat is a popular ingredient in many cat foods, and veg provides essential nutrients and fibre, too.

However, when serving cooked lamb to your cat, there are a couple of things you'll want to bear in mind. Very salty, fatty foods can upset your cat's digestion, so be sure to trim any fat and serve the lamb unseasoned. You should also make sure the meat is cooked all the way through and take care to remove all bones. And be sure to skip the mint sauce, as mint can be toxic for cats in large doses. For a cat-safe spring garnish, top your cat's lamb with a little sprig of fresh catnip or a sprinkling of chopped cat grass instead.

Easter is a time to feast with all the family, so it's only right to let your cat join in with the celebrations! If you don't have time to bake treats from scratch this year, your cat will most likely be just as happy with some ready-made snacks instead. Whether it's a creamy lickable treat, tasty biscuits, or meaty cat jerky, there are lots of ways to spoil your cat rotten this Easter weekend.

A chunk of chocolate could kill a cat, charity warns

Tom Stone — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 08:00:00 +0000

A few chocolate buttons or a small chunk could kill a cat, vets at the nation's leading cat charity have warned in the run up to Easter.

Just two grams of chocolate could be toxic to our feline friends, Cats Protection's Central Veterinary Officer Sarah Elliott cautioned: "Eating even a small amount of chocolate could raise a cat's heart rate and increase loss of bodily fluids, both of which could be fatal.

"Caffeine in chocolate can affect the central nervous system and cause muscle twitching, but the main danger is theobromine. Cats can't metabolise the stimulant and diuretic as well as humans so it remains in their bloodstream for longer and quickly builds to dangerous levels."

Signs of poisoning can be seen within 30 minutes to two hours after ingesting the chocolate and can include vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive urination, irregular heartbeat and seizures.

Sarah said: "The severity of these symptoms will depend on your cat's weight and how much chocolate they have eaten, but if you believe your cat has eaten any chocolate you should contact your vet straight away. Do not wait for the symptoms to appear before seeking help."

Sarah urged safety at Easter with its shiny temptation of foil-wrapped chocolate "Cats are curious creatures so it's important to keep chocolate out of their reach,' she said. "By taking a few simple precautions we can all tuck into our favourite chocolate while making sure our cats remain happy, healthy and safe."

Cat owners shouldn't confuse curiosity in their own treat as a cat's craving for chocolate. Unlike dogs, a cat's tongue cannot detect sweetness from sugar and it is more likely the cat is just curious or attracted to the fat content of food made for humans.

Chocolate is just one food that poses a risk to cats. Coffee, nuts, grapes, garlic and coconut water can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea or dehydration. Even milk and cheese can bring on sickness and digestive problems as many cats are lactose intolerant.

Carers at the cat charity's 37 centres and more than 200 branches have first-hand experience of dealing with the fallout of feline misadventure through their work to support cat welfare.

Samantha Taylor, Manager at Cats Protection's Downham Market Adoption Centre, said: "People come to us for support and sometimes ask if it's ok to feed a cat food that is meant for people or to say their cat has eaten something they shouldn't and they are worried.

"Plants such as lilies and daffodils are toxic to cats, but cats have been known to eat anything, from chocolate to plastic. Our advice is always the same; if you think that your cat has eaten something they shouldn't, contact your vet immediately. If you wait, it could be too late."

Cats Protection provides extensive care advice to support better cat ownership, including the risks of eating dangerous foods or flowers. Visit www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/poisoning

Your Pets Daily - Keeping cats safe at Easter