Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat, From Onions to Xylitol (Updated October 2026)
Last updated: October 22, 2026. Originally published August 2024. We rechecked this guide against current ASPCA, Merck Veterinary Manual and PetMD information and removed statistics we could not verify. Key takeaways Onions, garlic and chives are among the most dangerous kitchen foods for cats, and cats are the most susceptible pets. Cooked and powdered forms count too. Chocolate, coffee, alcohol, raw yeast dough and the sweetener xylitol are also on the ASPCA’s do-not-feed list. Raw fish and raw meat carry bacteria, and some raw fish contain an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1. If your cat eats something risky, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away. A fee may apply. Our cats are curious and love to sniff plates, counters and trash cans. A lot of ordinary human foods can make them sick, and some can be life-threatening. This guide covers the foods that vets and poison-control experts warn about most, what they do and what to do if your cat ...