12 Human Foods That Are Dangerous for Cats and Dogs

Quick answer: Never give pets chocolate, grapes or raisins, onions or garlic, xylitol (in sugar-free gum), alcohol, caffeine (chai and coffee), cooked bones or raw dough. If your pet eats any of these, call a vet right away. Don't wait for symptoms, and don't make them vomit unless a vet tells you to.

The 12 to keep away

1. Chocolate: especially dark chocolate. Toxic to dogs and cats.
2. Grapes and raisins: can cause kidney failure in dogs.
3. Onions and garlic: including in salan, curries and gravies. They damage red blood cells; cats are especially sensitive.
4. Xylitol: a sweetener in sugar-free gum and some peanut butters. Very dangerous for dogs.
5. Alcohol: even small amounts.
6. Chai and coffee: caffeine is toxic to pets.
7. Cooked bones: they splinter and can cut the gut.
8. Raw dough: yeast keeps rising in the stomach.
9. Macadamia nuts: toxic to dogs.
10. Salty snacks: namkeen, chips and nimko.
11. Fatty leftovers: oily, rich dishes can trigger painful pancreatitis in dogs.
12. Milk: many adult cats can't digest it and get an upset stomach.

Watch out for lilies too

Not a food, but worth knowing: lilies are extremely toxic to cats, even pollen or vase water.

Signs your pet ate something bad

• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Drooling, shaking or restlessness
• Weakness or collapse

What to do

1. Remove any remaining food.
2. Note what was eaten and roughly how much.
3. Call your vet immediately.

This is general guidance, not veterinary advice. Always ask your vet.

Read next: What to feed your cat · How to feed your dog

FAQs

Can dogs eat roti? A small piece of plain roti now and then won't hurt most dogs, but it adds nothing to their diet. Never give roti with ghee, salan or onions.

Can cats drink milk? Many adult cats can't digest milk properly and get diarrhoea. Fresh water is best.