The digestive systems of cats cannot tolerate all the foods and drinks that the digestive systems of humans tolerate in the same way. Caffeine and theobromine in tea are among the components that cats cannot metabolize. Theobromine is one of the components found in chocolate and known to be very harmful for cats.
In summary, tea is one of the extremely harmful drinks for cats. Although licking a few drops of tea dripping onto a plate or tray does not cause any problems, the question “Do cats drink tea?” can be easily answered with “No.” Tea can cause serious health problems for cats and can be life-threatening if consumed in excess. Therefore, it is very important that cats with a high tendency to smell and lick tea are kept away from tea. These warnings are associated with the fact that the components of the tea are harmful to cats.
Many types of tea contain a high percentage of caffeine. Caffeine is among the substances that are harmful and even toxic to cats. Some types of tea contain spices and herbal mixtures that can be harmful to cats.
Cats can experience caffeine poisoning if they consume too much tea as a result of negligence. In such a situation, cats may vomit, become restless and show symptoms such as excessive voice. In addition, cats may have symptoms such as diarrhea, accelerated heartbeat and muscle spasms. There are also different symptoms that need to be observed. It is possible that allergic reactions occur in cats that consume tea.
Safe Alternative Drinks for Cats
The teas we often consume are not beneficial for cats, moreover, they can be extremely harmful to cats. However, it is possible for cats to consume small amounts of teas that are sure of their content or specially prepared for them at home. In moderation, teas with high juice prepared from fresh fruits known not to be harmful to cats, such as apples (seedless), bananas, watermelons, blueberries and strawberries, can be offered to cats in small amounts. Once teas that are sure to be safe for cats have been prepared, it should not be neglected to refrigerate these drinks before they are offered to cats. Teas that come in at room temperature can mean delicious breaks for cats.