Cat owners often have many questions about what they can and can not feed their cats. Often, getting accurate answers to these questions can be difficult, given the plethora of resources available on the Internet.
Luckily for cat owners, this article will answer one of their most sought questions: can cats eat shallots?
Can Cats Eat Shallots?
Felines are famous for their investigative nature. Domesticated cats tend to take a keen interest in what their owners eat. The tempting aroma of shallots and dishes containing it attracts humans and their felines alike.
However, it would be best if you never gave shallots to your cats because they are toxic for felines. To learn more about shallots not being suitable for cats, read below.
Are Shallots Poisonous To Cats?
Can Cats Eat Shallots are a cultivar of the common onion and belong to the genus Allium. Other members of the Allium genus include spring onion, garlic, chives, and leek.
All members of the Allium genus, including shallots, are poisonous to cats. They contain compounds like thiosulfates and disulfides that damage a cat’s red blood cells. This deterioration of the red blood cells is known as hemolytic anemia.
In this condition, chemical reactions in the cat’s body destroy the red blood cells faster than the body can replace them. The resulting low red blood cell count then leads to oxygen deficiency in the body which precipitates various health complications in cats.
What Happens If A Cat Eats Shallots?
If your cat eats raw, cooked, or powdered Can Cats Eat Shallots, it will not show symptoms of poisoning immediately. You should provide your cat with fresh water and keep it under observation for at least a day.
Can Cats Eat Shallots can become toxic to cats if they eat more than 1 gram per 5 pounds of their weight. Therefore, it is essential that you estimate how much shallot your cat has eaten. If your cat has consumed less than the necessary amount, it may show signs of weakness and lethargy. If your cat has had more than the minimum, consult a medical professional as soon as possible.
Symptoms Of Shallot Poisoning In Cats
Generally, symptoms of hemolytic anemia in cats start showing after twenty-four hours or a couple of days. During this period, your cat may begin panting uncontrollably, looking lethargic, and acting uninterested in routine activities. You may also notice unusual weakness and an elevated heart rate. Moreover, keep a close eye on other dire symptoms, such as:
- Blood in urine
- Fainting
- Diarrhea (leading to dehydration)
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Pale gums
- Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)
These signs indicate shallot poisoning, and you should promptly contact a veterinarian or poison control center.
Treatment Of Shallot Poisoning In Cats
A veterinarian will confirm the diagnosis for a Can Cats Eat Shallots poisoning case by conducting a physical exam and blood and urine tests. They might induce vomiting in your cat to get the ingested toxic components out of its system. Additionally, your cat might receive IV fluids to help replenish energy and flush out the poison.
There is no medicine or antidote available for this condition. Supportive care is the only treatment available for shallot poisoning in cats, which is why you should not treat your cat yourself.
In some cases, medics may also need to employ blood transfusion or administer iron supplements to treat shallot poisoning.
Are Cats Allergic To Shallots?
With other fruits and vegetables, you can use trial and error to check your cat’s health reaction to omnivorous diets.
However, the case is different with shallots. Feeding shallots to a cat to check for allergic reactions is the equivalent of offering cyanide or arsenic to a human. You will not simply be risking health complications but also severe pain and even the death of your beloved pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Shallots Bad For Cats?
Can Cats Eat Shallots, like the rest of the Allium family, are not just bad but also poisonous for felines. Unlike other veggies, you should never give your cat even a tiny amount of shallot to monitor their reaction to it.
Depending on your pet’s sensitivity and immunity, it can either recover quickly from shallot poisoning, become anemic and die. Therefore, it is better not to risk your cat’s life and offer it shallots in any form in their diet.
Can Cats Eat Cooked Or Powdered Shallots?
The inorganic compounds in Can Cats Eat Shallots will harm your cat even if you boil, roast, or cook it, as cooking does not change the chemical constituency.
Powdered Can Cats Eat Shallots is an even worse threat to cats because the incorporated chemical constituents become concentrated. Hence, if your cat licks even less than a gram of powdered shallot, it will lead to hazardous consequences. Cats’ bodies also digest and metabolize powdered products faster, so you may start noticing symptoms of poisoning in your cat in less than a day.
Is There Any Health Risk Of Eating Shallots To Cats?
Eating only a small amount of Can Cats Eat Shallots will cause severe pain and discomfort in your cat. Not only will its digestive system be badly affected, but it will also become dehydrated due to vomiting and diarrhea. Furthermore, your cat may suffer from hemolytic anemia affecting its heart health while causing fatigue and weakness. If left untreated, these health conditions will only worsen with time and lead to the cat’s death.
Conclusion
- Shallots belong to the Allium genus of plants. All members of this genus are highly toxic to cats. Eating shallots will cause hemolytic anemia in your cat.
- If a cat eats shallots, you will start noticing poisoning symptoms after twenty-four hours. Symptoms may include lethargy, panting, vomiting, fainting, etc.
- Never give cats even the smallest quantity of shallots in any form because you will be risking dire complications to their health and even death.
