Can cats eat raisins?
This cat blog will answer the main query, “Can cats eat raisins?” we will also discuss the health hazards of consuming raisins, how many raisins are required to cause damage to the kidneys, and what you should do if your cat consumes raisins.
Can cats eat raisins?
No, cats cannot eat raisins. Raisins are not safe for your cat to eat because they can cause stomach upset initially then kidney damage, nervous signs, and other problems in your cat. The exact mechanism of kidney damage is still unknown to the researchers but you should avoid giving raisins to your cat.
What are the health hazards of consuming raisins for your cat?
Following are the health hazards of consuming raisins for your cat:
Stomach upset
The first thing is stomach upset. Raisins are not healthy for your cat and they can cause stomach upset. Cats are obligate carnivores. They eat a meat-based diet and are good at digesting it. Cats are not good at digesting raisins so they remain undigested in the stomach.
Following are the clinical signs of stomach upset in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
Kidney failure
The next thing is kidney failure. If your cat continues to consume raisins, it will cause damage to the cells of the kidneys. Ultimately the kidneys will not work and it will lead to kidney failure in your cat.
Following are the clinical signs of kidney failure in your cat:
- Decreased urine output
- Blood in urine
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Fever
Kidney failure is a serious condition in your cat and your cat will be shifted to dialysis which is difficult to maintain and costly for you.
Please make sure your cat doesn’t eat any kind of grapes and raisins because grapes and raisins both have the ability to cause organ damage and kidney failure in your cat.
Brain damage
The next problem is brain damage. If your cat continues to consume raisins, it will lead to brain damage. The brain is the sensitive organ in the body and if your cat shows nervous signs, quickly take your cat to the vet because the vet is the only person who can save your cat.
Following are the major clinical signs of brain damage in your cat:
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Confusion
- Decreased appetite
- Imbalance
- Incoordination
Liver damage
If your cat continues to consume raisins it will lead to liver damage because the liver is the central metabolic station in the body. The central metabolic station clears the blood from the toxins. If the liver is damaged the body will no longer be able to remove the toxins from the bloodstream.
Following are the major clinical signs of liver damage in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Body edema
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Enlarged liver
- Abdominal pain
What can you do if your cat ate raisins?
The first thing you can do is to call your vet. Your vet will give advice to you. If your vet tells you to bring your cat to the vet hospital, please do not hesitate to do so.
When you arrive at the vet, the vet will take a brief history of your cat. Your vet will ask you questions such as about the diet of the cat, the environment in which you have kept your cat, and other things.
After that, your vet will quickly examine your cat and will jot down the important details such as clinical signs, age, sex, and breed of your cat.
After the clinical exam, your vet will go for some toxicology tests which will confirm the type of toxicity your cat is facing. After that, your vet will treat your cat according to the condition of your cat.
How many raisins are enough to cause damage to the kidneys of your cat?
There is no exact number of raisins that can cause damage to kidneys, but the damage to the kidneys can be done by a few numbers. When your cat consumes raisins, it will take around 12 hours after consumption that your cat will start showing kidney damage signs as discussed above in the article.
How can you prevent such a thing from happening?
The best way to prevent such a thing from happening is to limit the reach of your cat in the kitchen. Keep the raisins locked up so that your cat doesn’t reach them. You can also distract your cat with some healthy fruits.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we answered the main query, “Can cats eat raisins?” we also discussed the health hazards of consuming raisins, how many raisins are required to cause damage to the kidneys, and what you should do if your cat consumes raisins.
