Can cats eat onions? The short answer is no. It doesn’t sound pleasant. Ugh! If you had docked on our article, there would be few possible reasons. One, your cat accidentally ate an onion or two, wait, there’s get to be no second reason for that. It just doesn’t go that smoothly.
Fortunately, there is nothing in onions that can attract cats on a large scale they won’t follow you even if you have a curiosity-raising wrapped onion in your hand. Cats after all are smarter than dogs! But accidents can happen to anyone.
So, let’s bounce on to some weird and crazy facts about onions!
Are Onions Safe for Cats?
The short answer is no. cats can’t safely eat onions. In fact, onions can be very toxic for cats. Even if they are powdered, raw, or cooked — can break down a cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. However, they’re less likely to try to steal it away from under your nose.
There is a specific term for this, onion poisoning in cats, from which you can figure out how unsafe it is for our cat’s health. Hemolysis, a condition where red blood cells break down.
As the cells break down, the cat has fewer red platelets flowing in the body, making indications of shortcoming and gasping because of the way that these cells serve to convey oxygen. Onion toxicity can be lethal in felines if quick veterinary consideration isn’t observed.
An onion can become dangerous for a cat. It is fine if she eats 1 gram of onion per 5 lbs body weight.
Just in case, if she ate a small amount of onion through an indirect medium, then that limited quantity of onion will not cause any harmfulness for your cat, and she will presumably be alright.
Can I Give Cooked Onions to My Cat?
Even if you plan on making onions safe for your fur buddy by boiling or cooking them, it’s not going to work! Onions are genetically ruined for cats! It might look harmless not, but it will grow into something dangerous later.
Let it be onion powder, raw, cooked, or dehydrated, any form will break down a cat’s blood-red cells, giving her anemia. I know we all have been projected to think that if you boil or cook anything, the nutritious amount doubles.
Cats required a more acidic stomach to digest foods such food as onion, doesn’t matter if they are dried or raw, damage is going to be the same.
So it’s not the health benefits are not as same as they are for humans. Most will eat raw food, except those with health concerns might need a different way!
Can Kittens Have Onions?
A big no, kittens can not have onions, just like onions are toxic for cats, the same goes for kittens. They can produce more damage in kittens than in cats. It would be a basic understanding that kittens do not have a completely matured immune system.
This doubles the risk factor, and you don’t really want it to happen just because of one silly onion! Be extra careful about your kittens consuming such toxic elements.
Why Are Onions Terrible for Cats?
This might not just sound creepy to hear, but it is. while your mum would never let you pick onions out of the dish. Saying that it is loaded with antioxidants and other millions of good qualities, then why our cats can have a fair share of these benefits.
Cats can’t have even a bit of onion because they are poisonous by all parts of it, including the bulb, blossoms, and stem.
Anemia occurs as it can cause oxidative damage to the cat’s red blood cells, making it hard for the feline to transferring oxygen to different areas of the body.
That means you should never consider feeding your cat onions, even if you both are lost in a desert, with a bag full of onions.
If she consumes accidentally in small amount, then maybe you have some scope of treating it at home. But can’t say the same on the consumption of large amount.
What Happens After Cat Eats Onion?
As we discussed earlier that there are fewer possibilities of a cat eating onions purposely, the other one is accidental. Whatever the reasons are, if you are someone whose cat ate onion in a smaller amount stay here but if she ate onions in a larger amount, you should take her to the vet.
There are some clinical signs noted after a cat has ingested onion, which is following:
- Weakness
- Induce vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dyspnoea
- Hemolytic anemia
- Lethargy
- Liver damage
- Gasping
- High heart rate
The symptoms are based on the amount of onion your cat has digested. If she took a smaller portion then there could be zero to very few symptoms such as weakness, vomiting, diarrhea. For heavy consumption, there are serious and dangerous aftereffects.
Analysis and Treatment
Usually, cats are not like our dear and innocent dogs, who will glob anything which comes into their sight. So there might be few chances where this could happen, the first thing you need to do is inspect what quantity of onions are digested by your cat.
In case of consumption of a smaller quantity than it won’t cause any harmfulness for your cat, and she will presumably be alright.
But if it has been consumed in a larger amount, you need to take her to the vet. There are following steps he might follow:
The veterinarian will examine your feline. They will search for outside indications of paleness like pale gums, a quick heartbeat or fast breathing, and an outward presentation of bluntness. This will assist them with choosing what to do straightaway.
On the off chance that your feline isn’t well on landing in the veterinary center:
- They might require more intrusive treatment and examinations.
- Your feline might have a blood test taken. A blood test will tell your veterinarian will discuss the sensitivity of the issue.
- Sickness in felines can be normal and isn’t just brought about by onion harmfulness.
- You need to do an ultrasound of your cat, in the worst scenario, to detect whether it is happening due to onion or something else.
- Severely anemic cats will require a blood transfusion.
If your feline shows up well and isn’t giving any indications of harmfulness:
- Your veterinarian might give your cat an infusion to make them upchuck.
- This situation generally occurs in the event that you got your feline to the facility before long eating the onion, or the onion isn’t yet affecting your feline’s body.
- The infusion is given under your feline’s skin and produces results within 10-15 minutes.
- You might have the option to take your feline home once more.
- Your veterinarian will probably request that you screen your feline at home for any sickness that creates.
Conclusion
Can cats eat onions? A loud no! It’s ok to feed a few human foods to our cats, which might also contain the same health benefits which they hold for us. But not all human food that is beneficial for us will do the same for our pets.
They have a different digestive system that might get triggered if you feed them unusual things, onions are toxic to cats. They can face a condition called Hemolysis, a condition where red blood cells break down. Results into shortcoming and gasping.
Your veterinarian might give your cat an infusion to make them upchuck in case of accidental consumption. On the other hand, they might require more intrusive treatment and examinations if more than 1 gram for every 5 pounds of body weight is consumed.
The short answer is no. cats can’t safely eat onions. In fact, onions can be very toxic for cats. Even if they are powdered, raw, or cooked — can break down a cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. However, they’re less likely to try to steal it away from under your nose.
Approved by Veterinary – Anthony Brooks, DVM!
References
- Can Cats Eat Onions – HealthisWealth
- Why Onions Are Dangerous For Cats – Meowijuana
- 8 things you didn’t know were poisonous to cats – Insider