Ragdoll Cats

Did you know onions are extremely toxic to cats? It doesn’t matter if the onions are fresh, dehydrated, boiled, sliced, diced or puréed, onions are poisonous to your Ragdoll cat.

Onions contain a chemical called allyl-propyl disulfide. This substance is harmful to your cat’s red blood cells. If your cat eats onions it can trigger an anemic reaction called Heinz Anemia. The chemical found in onions damages your cat’s red blood cells by interfering with the action of hemoglobin in the blood. When the red blood cells are damaged by this chemical they are unable to transport oxygen to tissues in your cat’s body.

Anemia is serious condition whether you are a cat or a human. Anemia can cause a variety of other conditions including depression, rapid heart rate, kidney and liver damage. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, vomiting, and refusing to eat.

If you suspect your Ragdoll cat has eaten onions or foods that contain onions or onion salts contact your veterinarian immediately.