Cats are widely loved and often cherished members of many households. In this article, I’ll discuss food unsuitable for cats, draw your attention to their hearing issues, and address an important question: why are many people allergic to our beloved pets?
Some products are strictly forbidden for our feline friends. These can cause serious health problems for cats. So, which ingredients should you absolutely remove from your pet’s diet?
What Cats Shouldn’t Eat.
Milk.
This is recommended only for kittens. Adult cats can suffer from lactose intolerance, which is found in milk. While milk contains many valuable microelements, it also has a downside: diarrhea and severe allergies.
Therefore, avoid giving your cat this treat.
Onion.
Do not give products containing onion to your cat. A vegetable completely harmless to humans can cause anemia in cats.
Onions contain many disulfides and sulfoxides, which damage a cat’s red blood cells. Furthermore, even a small amount of raw or cooked onion is enough to cause severe poisoning. Onion toxicosis can even be fatal.
Coffee.
Keep coffee away from your feline friend. Even in small amounts, coffee grounds cause poisoning in adult cats.
For a kitten, it can even be fatal. If a cat accidentally tastes coffee, it can lead to seizures, vomiting, and full-body tremors.
Cats and Chewing Gum.
If your cat shows interest in chewing gum, you’re in for serious trouble. Chewing gum contains xylitol, a natural sweetener.
This is dangerous for animals as it rapidly increases insulin levels and lowers blood sugar. It can be fatal, so keep chewing gum far away from your cat.
Alcoholic Beverages.
Sadly, some cat owners (inappropriately) offer their pets wine or beer. However, this is strongly NOT discouraged.
Cats tolerate alcohol very poorly. Even one teaspoon of alcohol can cause difficulty breathing, depression, and coordination problems.
Cats and Citrus Fruits.
They contain citric acid and a large amount of essential oils. As a result, cats can experience diarrhea and nervous system problems.
They can also suffer from gastrointestinal irritation. Consuming citrus fruits or using them as a food additive can lead to serious illnesses in cats.
Eggs.
Raw eggs can contain parasites that cause pancreatitis. Pancreatic inflammation in pets is incredibly difficult to treat. Furthermore, enzymes in raw eggs block the absorption of vital B vitamins. Therefore, raw eggs are not recommended.
Grapes and Raisins.
Do not give your cat these products. They can cause kidney failure in cats. Even a small amount can lead to serious illness.
Chocolate.
It contains a dangerous substance called theobromine. It is digested very slowly in a cat’s body. Theobromine can accumulate in the cat’s body to toxic levels.
As a result, the cat can suffer from dehydration, seizures, and it can even be fatal.
Cats and Avocado.
A fruit beneficial for humans, but harmful to cats. It contains a special ingredient called persin. Eating avocado can cause fluid accumulation in your cat’s chest.
Also, a cat might accidentally swallow the pit, requiring immediate surgical intervention. Make sure to remove these foods from your cat’s diet. By doing so, you can save them from many health problems.
Let’s protect our beloved pets!
Cats and Their Hearing.
As is well known, cats are excellent predators. In addition to their sharp eyesight, teeth, tough claws, and strong paws, one of their primary hunting tools is their hearing.
In this article, I want to share some facts about cat hearing. Read on to learn a lot about your feline companion!
What We Know About Cat Hearing A cat’s ear, like other feline sensory organs, is complex and consists of three sections: the inner, middle, and outer ear.
The size, shape, and capabilities of a cat’s ears are determined by genetics and vary depending on the breed.
A notable characteristic of a cat’s hearing is the mobility of its ears. Each ear can move independently, allowing them to track different sound sources. More than ten muscles can rotate the ear by nearly 180 degrees.
The unique ear structure allows for precise sound discrimination. Cats can not only distinguish and remember sounds but also determine their direction, pitch, and intensity.
In complete darkness, they can “guess” or pinpoint the trajectory of a sound source.
Your Cat Listens Carefully A cat’s hearing range is unique, very wide, and not fully understood. Researchers state that cats can perceive and distinguish sounds in the range of 45 Hz to 65 kHz.
Cats do not have organs that produce ultrasound, but they hear it well. This helps them when hunting rodents and small animals that communicate using ultrasound.
A cat’s ears act as a kind of locator, capable of amplifying sounds several times over. Precisely because of their high hearing sensitivity, common household noises such as vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, children’s shouts, etc., can quickly induce stress in cats and prompt them to seek refuge in secluded spots.
Cats have twice as many nerve endings transmitting sound information to the brain compared to humans. They also have excellent auditory memory.
They easily remember their name and the sound of their owner calling them. Cats can distinguish the intonation of human speech, recognize up to 100 words, and understand up to 10 different commands.
Ears also serve a communicative function.
Their position can express your cat’s emotions, mood, and state. For example, ears flattened against the head and slightly turned back indicate a warning or tension.
If a cat is happy, their ears will be relaxed and pointed upwards.
The lining of the ear canal contains glands that produce brown earwax. Excessive wax production can indicate underlying health problems in your cat.
Due to the complex structure of the ear canal, water getting inside is harmful.
What Should Owners Do?
Cat owners have a responsibility to ensure a suitable environment in their home. Intense sounds and loud music are distressing for cats.
Regular hygienic ear cleaning is necessary: wipe away any accumulated wax as needed using cotton pads moistened with a special lotion or chlorhexidine.
If excessive wax is present, you should contact a veterinarian.
When bathing your cat, prevent water from entering their ears.
Cats and Allergy Sufferers.
However, as unfortunate as it is, not everyone can own a cat due to allergies triggered by what is commonly referred to as “cat hair.” Of course, there are hairless breeds like the Sphynx, but they have a peculiar appearance that isn’t for everyone.
Most importantly, even these breeds do not guarantee the absence of allergic reactions. Fortunately for allergy sufferers, this problem might be solvable in the future, as scientists are working to create a truly hypoallergenic breed.
Recent research suggests that this idea is quite feasible.
Why Are People Allergic to Cats?
Cat allergies are a fairly common problem. According to official data, up to one in five people worldwide may suffer from it.
Furthermore, it’s a very unpleasant condition causing symptoms like coughing, sneezing, severe shortness of breath, runny nose, watery eyes, and redness of the eyes and skin.
In some cases, symptoms can be more severe, even triggering asthma. According to some estimates, approximately 500,000 asthma attacks and 350,000 emergency room visits annually are related to cat allergies.
Only pollen and some food allergies are more common. However, until recently, scientists knew little about the specific “cat allergen” that causes this condition.
Where did it originate, and what function does it serve in the cat’s body?
Currently, scientists are aware of several proteins that trigger allergies. The primary one is the Fel d 1 protein. It is secreted by absolutely all cats regardless of breed, sex, coat length, age, etc.
Contrary to popular belief, this protein is produced in the sebaceous, salivary, perianal (near the anus), and lacrimal glands, not in the fur.
In fact, the allergy is caused not by the fur itself, but by the protein deposited on it.
It should be noted that while all cats secrete Fel d 1, the amount of protein secreted varies. This means that some cats may be more allergenic, while others are less so.
However, there are no cats in the world that are completely non-allergenic to allergy sufferers. How to Make Cats Hypoallergenic The Fel d 1 protein consists of two chains, each encoded by a specific gene– CH1 and CH2.
Scientists do not yet know the precise function of this protein in cats. However, studies of similar proteins in other animals suggest it may be involved in immunoregulation, epithelial protection, or even chemical communication between cats.
In a recent study, scientists tracked how this protein mutated over millions of years across 276 different cat species. As a result, the team discovered over 100 mutations.
This shows that the protein has mutated constantly over time, indicating that the CH1 and CH2 genes are highly variable. Therefore, the function of the Fel d 1 protein may vary across different cat species, suggesting that it might not be critically essential for survival.
The authors reported these findings in the publication PNAS Nexus.
This hypothesis has been supported by practical findings: scientists discovered that two cat species, the puma and the black-footed cat from South Africa, possess natural mutations that significantly impair the Fel d 1 protein.
Furthermore, editing the CH2 gene using CRISPR technology also demonstrated that this manipulation does not affect the animals’ health.
Considering all of the above.
The scientists believe they can artificially block the synthesis of the Fel d 1 protein using modern gene engineering technologies.
Consequently, cat fur would no longer trigger allergies in humans. Protein synthesis can be blocked in various ways, such as by deleting genes or “switching them off” so they no longer function. The aforementioned CRISPR technology could help accomplish this task.
If genetically modified food exists, then why not genetically modified cats? While scientists caution that truly practical results are still some time away, the idea itself is highly promising.
It would allow millions of cat lovers to finally enjoy their pets without suffering from allergies.
At the same time, visually, they would remain just as fluffy and lovable as regular cats.
Finally, it’s worth noting that not only do humans suffer from allergies to cats, but cats can also be allergic to humans.
Occasionally, the allergic reaction to humans can be so severe as to be life-threatening for the animal. Fortunately, in most cases, it causes only mild discomfort for the affected cats.
Takeaway.
Whether you’re managing a cat’s diet, protecting their hearing, or navigating allergies, understanding your feline friend better is the first step toward a healthier, happier relationship.
Have a purr-fect day!
