Cats and onions?

Question

I was just reading an artical and it said that onions are REALLY bad for cats. Well I use onions all of the time in my cooking and usually when I go to throw away the ends and the papery outside I miss the can. And if I am busy cooking I wont pick it up until I remember, and sometimes it gets kicked or dropped and I don't see it until the next day. Which by then I am assuming the cats have played with it or sniffed it or what not. Is this dangerous as well? Or do I have nothing to be worried about? Do they have to eat a lot of onion or just a little bit to be dangerous??? Thanks

Answer 1

Hi there...yes, onions can be toxic to cats if ingested (sniffing isn't harmful). Onions contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Ingested in small amounts it isn't as harmful, but over time can be a problem. It's important to remove all toxic food ingredients to avoid any accidental ingestion as many cats do not know which foods are fine for them. Cats will even lick up anti-freeze and we all know how lethal this substance is, but they do not unfortunately.

Here's a list of food ingredients which cats should avoid: http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1276&articleid=1029

Answer 2

Onions are toxic to cats and dogs. I have a cat that will eat ANYTHING, and was like that when I got him, so I have to keep a better eye on what he gets into. If he eats a little piece of onion (like the size of chopped onion you would get on a chili dog), he would probably be ok, but don't give him a plate full on purpose. If in doubt, call a vet...that could never go wrong.

Answer 3

My Cats KNOW onions are bad for then they won't touch them. Even when I'm chopping onions they run away.

the main problem is if onion is IN something tasty they want anyhow like liver and onions. I don't compost my onions, and i seal them up in plastic to keep the house form smelling, so try that, added protection from smells and for Kittie.

Answer 4

Well... I did not know that onions were toxic to cats and dogs.

But I have nothing to worry about.

My cat is the most fussy eater there is.
There is no way he would have any interest in an onion.

Answer 5

Onions are TOXIC to cats-I wouldn't let her near onion grass! Fresh normal garden grass-free of chemicals is fine, so is catnip & catgrass and oat grass and rye grass!

Answer 6

I've never heard that onions are dangerous. Our cat likes cooked onions sometimes, like from a stirfry or stew.

Answer 7

Cats And Onions

Answer 8

My cats eat onions all the time that get dropped on the ground, and they are healthy as ever, but still, if experts say that it is not healthy, than I would try and not let them get a hold of them, but smelling them should not hurt them.

Answer 9

Cats do not anything that is dangerous to them.
They do not like some smels, like orange, beer, onion, perfums.

Answer 10

well if it was from a anI'mal site, then im guessing it would be true, i know a few things can be bad for cats, like milk or fish, chocolate, cheese the reason they cant have our cows or goats milk is because it to high in fat and cats tend to be lactose intolerant to this milk so its best to by them proper cats milk. and fish is something they might react with them, you think, whats the things cats eat in the wild, birds, lizards, mice, rats. things like this, do you ever see a cat catching a fish.. no and so if you cat tends to get the runs after eating fish, ( meaning running poo) or vomits, then you shouldn't feed it fish, i know onions are toxic to dogs, it will make them very sick, but I'm not sure about cats, there is a few things Ive heard that can make a cat sick.. but i cant remember what they are, sorry i couldn't help you more.. i feed my cat cooked chicken pet mince, rice and mixed frozen veggies, dried biscuits and the occasional can pet food, i refuse to feed her fish or any kind, whether that's fresh or canned.. my that's because my cat loves rice with veggies and either canned chicken, beef, liver, lamb etc, or cook meet, sometimes i will feed her raw meet like chicken necks for her teeth.. i hope i could help.