When you think of a cat drinking, you likely think of milk, right? It’s a combination that has been portrayed in movies and television time and time again. Not everything on the media is true, and the idea that cats love milk is one of those things you should question. Did you know that milk is actually bad for your feline friend? Because milk, among other foods, is bad for your cat, it’s important to keep it away from your pet. It would even be helpful to keep a list of harmful foods for future reference.

Chocolate

Most pet owners know that chocolate is bad for dogs. But did you know it’s also bad for cats? Chocolate contains theobromine, which can cause heart problems, muscle tremors, or seizures. Sure, one bite won’t kill your cat, but large amounts could lead to serious problems. It’s best you keep chocolate away from your pet.

Bones

Because cats have sharp teeth, you may believe that they can eat bones. That’s wrong. Bones, in fact, can choke your cat, injure her digestive tract, or damage her teeth.

Caffeine

Caffeine can already cause adverse effects on humans: anxiety, insomnia, and rapid heartbeat are just a handful of symptoms one can experience from consuming coffee or energy drinks. If caffeine is bad for you, just imagine how terrible it would be for your smaller companion. Caffeine can cause your cat to become restless or to have heart palpitations, rapid breathing, or muscle tremors.

Alcohol

This is an obvious one, but it’s listed here anyway just in case. Much like its effects on humans, alcohol can damage your cat’s liver and brain. But because they are much smaller, the damage can happen easily and quickly.

Cheese and Milk

Cheese and milk are high on the list of no-nos for cats. Because cats are lactose intolerant, feeding them dairy products will cause vomiting or diarrhea—you don’t want to clean that up.

Raw Meat

Because domesticated cats’ ancestors ate live animals in the wild, you may believe that all felines can tolerate uncooked food. On the contrary, raw meat, such as fish, chicken, and even eggs, can cause pancreatitis or give your cat Salmonella or E. coli.

Grapes and Raisins

Although fruits and vegetables are good for humans, that does not mean they’re also good for your pet. Grapes and raisins, in particular, shouldn’t be given to your cats. Those foods can cause kidney failure.

Green Tomatoes or Potatoes

Here are two other ones from the fresh produce section to keep away from your cat. Green tomatoes and potatoes contain glycoalkaloid solanine, which is poisonous to cats. It can lead to lower gastrointestinal problems.

Raw Liver

Although the cooked liver can be a great source of protein and iron, having too much raw liver can give your cat a vitamin A imbalance called hypervitaminosis A.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic are two ingredients that can elevate your seasoning game. However, those two can upset your cat’s stomach. Trace amounts in sauces are okay, otherwise, keep those kitchen staples away from your pet!