One of the healthiest snacks found in many households, especially households with children, is boxed raisins. While these are the perfect snack to give your kids, what happens if your cat gets into that raisin box instead. Can cats eat Raisins? The answer to that question is a loud, resounding, absolutely not!
While this dried fruit may offer you and your children some health benefits, they offer no health benefits to your cat. In fact, raisins, as well as grapes, are highly toxic to your feline friend and should be avoided at all costs. In fact, even just a couple of grapes or raisins warrant a trip to your vet right away.
In this blog, we’ll discuss why you shouldn’t feed your cat raisins, how to spot raisin poisoning in your cat, and even some healthy substitutes for raisins to feed them as well.
Why Are Raisins Toxic to Cats?
Whether it’s grapes or raisins, both fruits are extremely toxic to felines. This is because if your cat eats them in large amounts, it can cause total renal failure or kidney problems. However, raisins are even more harmful to your cat than grapes are. This is because the raisins are in a concentrated form, and the cat can gobble much more down much quicker.
Raisins can start poisoning your cats’ kidneys much faster than grapes can, so make sure to get your feline companion to the vet as soon as possible if you see the symptoms of raisin poisoning in our next section.
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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Raisin Toxicity in Cats?
Raisins have a very high level of toxicity for cats, so you need to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms if you keep raisins in your house. Below we’ll give you a few of the top symptoms you should look out for.
Very little or no urination
Dehydration
Excessive urination
Diarrhea
Meowing or yowling in pain
Loss of appetite
A general weakness
Very little movement
Lethargy
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms of high toxicity in your cat, it’s best to get him to your local emergency vet right away before it’s too late.
These signs and symptoms can lead to renal failure and even death if you fail to get your cat the treatment he needs right away.
What Should You Do if You Suspect Your Cat has Raisin Poisoning?
If you suspect your feline friend has gotten into raisins and been poisoned, then the first thing you need to do is contact your vet. If you act quickly enough and get your cat to the vet, it’s possible the damage can be stopped, and your cat can be saved.
To help your cat vomit up what he ate and to reduce the number of toxins in his system, your vet will probably use a purge. If the purging doesn’t help your cat, then he may be put on IV fluids and undergo other supportive care. It could be possible that your cat will need to stay overnight in the vet’s hospital so they can get all the toxins out of his system and ensure he’s well enough to go home.
Never, ever try to induce vomiting on your own at home, as that’s dangerous to your cat as well. Also, since the procedure to induce vomiting is tricky, you could end up doing your cat more harm than good, though you’re trying to help him. So instead, leave it to the professionals.
Of course, the best way to avoid your cat ending up with raisin poisoning is to prevent him from eating the raisins to begin with. So, in our next section, we’ll give you some tips on keeping the raisins away from your furry friend.
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How to Prevent Your Cat from Eating Raisins
Every pet owner knows that cats can get into places you didn’t even think possible. Unfortunately, this means sometimes it’s hard to keep foods away from your sneaky, curious cat. However, it’s extremely important to keep the raisins away from your feline for the reasons listed above.
The good news is that your cat probably won’t want to eat them, to begin with, because cats are carnivores and would much rather have the chicken on the counter than the raisins in a bowl on the table. However, they have been known to dig into veggies and fruits from time to time, so here’s a couple of tips for you.
Store the Raisins Out of Your Cat’s Reach
Easier said than done, we know. However, you should be fine if you store the raisins in an airtight container in a pantry that the door stays shut on. Just don’t forget to close the door when you’re not in the pantry or cabinet.
Feed Your Cat an Alternative Snack
Of course, while you’re eating, your cat is going to want to eat with you. So, providing him with a different snack while you’re eating your raisins should work. We’ll give you a few alternatives to raisins below.
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Alternative Snacks for Your Hungry Feline
If you’re looking to give your can alternative healthy snacks, we’ve got a few you can try him on below.
While these are a good choice as a healthy snack for your cat, they should never be used as a main meal or given constantly. Cats are carnivores and need a lot of protein to stay healthy, so provide snacks with care.
Final Thoughts
So, no, it is not okay to give your cat raisins in answer to the question above. Raisins are highly toxic to our feline friends and need to be avoided at all costs. If you feel that your cat has gotten into the raisins in your kitchen, then make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible to make sure he’s okay and on the road to a full recovery. If you know your cat has ingested raisins, don’t wait for the symptoms to begin; take him to the vet right away instead.
