Once you have been loved by a Sphynx, there is no turning back. Here at Aura, it is our honor to raise your new best friend. Sphynx Cats love to be with you wherever you are, snuggle up under the covers at night, talk to you when there is something they want to tell you, listen to you when you need an ear, and entertain you when they are feeling silly. In our opinion, there is no better companion! We hope you find our site informative. Please check our Kittens page often for new Sphynx Kitten arrivals! If you have any questions, please e-mail us at aurasphynx_live.com!
Visit our Youtube Channel for fun videos of the cats and kittens. Like us on Facebook to see many more photos and get updates from the cattery!
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Our mission is to produce the absolute highest quality kittens, educate pet buyers about the breed, and promote responsible breeding practices. We have been breeding and showing Sphynx Cats for three years, and are working hard to establish a beautiful, healthy line of Aura Sphynx.
Aura Sphynx abides by the strictest ethical practices both for the love of the breed and to help preserve and better the breed for future generations. Breeding cats are chosen first and foremost by the health of the pedigrees and breeding cats are only brought in from other catteries that perform HCM scans on their cats. Our cats are scanned annually by a board certified cardiologist. While this is not a "guarantee" that HCM will never occur, we are doing our very best to prevent any cats with HCM from being used in our program.
Only Sphynx that conform to the breed standard are part of our breeding program, and we are active in showing our cats in The International Cat Association. We believe that those who are breeding these beautiful cats should be breeding to achieve cats that fit the breed standard. If you are going to pay for a Sphynx, that is what you should get! Of course pet kittens aren't usually going to be top show quality, and there are Sphynx kittens born with varying degrees of peach fuzz, but breeders should be knowledgeable and should be attempting to produce kittens that are beautiful inside and out.
We maintain a small breeding program of no more than ten intact cats in our home at all times because we believe it is best for the cats' happiness and our own! It is less stressful for the cats, which by nature are not pack animals, and helps prevent unmanageable spread of common cat illnesses like Upper Respiratory Infections. We are better able to enjoy spending time with our cats this way as well, without feeling as though any cat is not getting enough attention. Sphynx are extremely social and tend to need more attention than other cats.
We are a cage free cattery and the boys live in the master bedroom and sleep with us at night. When girls are ready to have a litter they are assigned their own room which serves as a nursery so that they can raise their kittens in a serene environment.
Before leaving for their new homes kittens see a vet three times for vaccinations and are given a general exam each time. We spend lots of time with kittens here to make sure they are well socialized and we expose them to loud noises, dogs, and other cats. They are also fed a variety of different foods (though our favorite is the raw diet). We want to ensure that kittens leave for their homes well prepared and are happy, healthy, and well socialized.
We want to get to know all prospective kitten buyers and it is important to us to maintain a lasting relationship with the new families of Aura kittens. We love every cat born at our house and really enjoy getting updates on how they are doing in their new homes. We are available any time of day or night to answer any question at all about your baby. No question is too big or too small and when you buy a kitten from us you are also buying lifetime support from us!
Mystic is one of Aura's very first home bred cats to stay in our program! Mystic is a very talkative girl, and loves to have conversations with you. She is opinionated, but still a total Mommy's girl. She is energetic, yet cuddly. Demanding, yet attentive. She is an absolute joy to live with!
Mystic was chosen to stay on in Aura because of her beautiful silky soft skin, large lemon shaped eyes, strong muzzle, nice nose break, gorgeous tall ears and solid, well balanced body. She is a lovely girl who has achieved her Champion title as an adult. She would have endless show potential, but she does not enjoy showing. Now that she has had a litter of kittens we are hoping she will be more relaxed and amenable to showing. We plan to take her out to the shows again in Spring 2012.
Etienne, or "Chunk" as she is so aptly nicknamed here, comes from Patti Thomas of Aquariusphynx. She is the Alpha cat in the house but rules benevolently over the other Sphynx. She is a silly girl whose favorite activity is sleeping atop our LCD television. Somehow, even with her massive solid body she manages to get up and hangs her legs in front of our favorite television shows. She also enjoys talking to us and when we tell her how beautiful she is she walks around, cooing and wags her tail from side to side. She cherishes her alone time with Mommy in the office and purrs non -stop, turning into an absolute puddle in my lap.
Etienne was chosen for her gorgeous compact body, beautifully set wide based ears, lovely wide head, strong muzzle and gorgeous lemon shaped eyes. She is a beautiful example of the breed, though she has let us know that she hates being shown. It is a shame when a gorgeous cat hates the show hall but we always listen to what our cats tell us and if they don't enjoy it, we don't make them do it. She has large, healthy litters and is a wonderful mother. We are very lucky to have this plus sized lady in our program!
Envy comes to us from our good friend Isabelle Meike-Neimark of Bare Essentials Sphynx in Sweden. Envy's favorite pastime is following you around everywhere you go, purring and head butting you all along the way. She is just a love bug through and through and absolutely lives for attention and cuddles. She will even jump up to reach your hand for pets. Very little effort is needed to make this girl happy. Just be there and she will do the rest! She loves the other cats too and has been adopted by Gortenzia who even allows Envy to nurse on her.
Envy was chosen primarily for the excellent heart health of her parents. Both are nearly six years old and have had clear HCM scans with stable values for all six years. Envy also has a beautiful profile and a very good chin, a nice muzzle with defined pinch, and nice ear set and shape. We are so thankful to Isabelle for the gift of such a sweet, beautiful and healthy girl!!!!
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Satori comes from Leila McEwan at Silkstockings cattery in Alaska. Satori is a small girl with a big heart. She decided that she didn't like being the smallest girl in the house so she is lives as a spoiled girl at our close friends' house here in Las Vegas and comes here to have her litters in the Aura nursery. There is nothing Satori loves more than to play fetch with her Beanie Baby monkey and gorilla. She drags them around as if she has really just hunted down her prey. It is so entertaining to watch! She also loves the automatic laser toy and makes funny noises while she chases the laser light. When it's time for love and pets, she purrs loudly and her tail vibrates wildly.
Satori has perfect skin, large ears, a nice chin and beautiful large eyes. Satori is a wonderful mother and an asset to the Aura program.
Spirit was born here at Aura and it is such a blessing that he was. Spirit finished out the 2010-2011 show season as a Regional Winner in the kitten class and Best Sphynx Kitten in the Mid Pacific Region. We are so proud! This boy is a Momma's boy to the core, following you everywhere, talking to you, and always watching for you to settle in so he can jump on you and get cuddles. All it takes is a loving glance to get this boy's purr motor running. Not a night goes by that he needs to be looked for at bed time. He is always in the same spot, on top of Mom's chest purring away until he falls asleep. Spirit is a rough and tumble kind of guy, and is the first one to jump on a toy when it is pulled out. He is very large and doesn't quite realize that even as a junior he is bulldozing into the other boys when he plays. He loves his big brothers and they love him.
Spirit's color is Red Point and White, and he is structurally the kind of Sphynx we strive to breed. In our biased opinion, he is close to being perfect. He is broad in head and body, solid as a rock, has defined features, strong muzzle, moderate nose break, nice wrinkling, lemon shaped eyes, good chin and gorgeous large, well set ears. We can't wait to see how this gorgeous young man continues to develop.
Finnegan is a Devon Rex for Aura's outcross program and is from Melody Allen at Anexus Devons. Finnegan is a sweet funny boy, and is much mellower than the typical Devon. When he gets excited though he purrs and throws himself onto his side, where he then writhes in ecstasy. Quite the little clown! He loves being held like a baby, and although he is something of a finicky eater he LOVES Friskies Party mix treats and runs around your legs like a land shark when he sees the bag. Finnegan doesn't care too much for toys, but if you give him anything with catnip he goes nuts.
Finnegan was chosen as an outcross for his wonderful pedigree first and foremost that is free from any red flags relating to known Devon Rex genetic disorders. Type wise he brings to the table wonderful large ears, a short, wide head and a nice pronounced nose break. He also gives his kittens beautiful long, whippy tails. Having Finnegan is a huge benefit to our program and he will help impart some genetic diversity to the Sphynx gene pool.
For More Information about these babies Email Ferrin at: AuraSphynx_live.com
Thirteen week old Black Tortie Girl. She is very energetic and plays for hours with gusto! When she is done she follows it up with a sweet purr and a cuddle.
Thirteen week old Red Boy. His is going to be HUGE. Completely, totally hairless and a big lovebug. He is almost stauesque in his appearance, like a beautiful porceline figurine.
Thirteen week old Black Tortie Girl. She is a quiet girl and rather than playing wildly with her siblings she would prefer to sit and watch while in your lap. If you want a lap kitty this is your girl! Wonderful Skin.
Thirteen week old Black Tortie Girl. This girl is a real ham. She is the first to run up and get her purr box going when you come into the room. Flawless skin. She is a great mix of outgoing and loving. Would be great for a family.
RETIREE
2.5 Years old, special needs. Will need low allergen home. Sweet shoulder cat, this guy is amazing!
HCM is the abbreviation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. HCM is a genetic disease and is the biggest health problem Sphynx face. It is the progressive thickening of the heart walls which leads to the inability of the heart to effectively pump blood through the body. HCM can be found in all breeds of cats, including Domestics (alley cats), but are more prevalent in some breeds, including Sphynx. HCM is a tricky disease because in some cases it will show up in young cats, and in some may not develop until a breeding cat is older. Sometimes it does not rear its ugly head until a cat is seven years old, although this is very rare. NEVER buy from a breeder that doesn't scan for HCM! They are playing Russian roulette with the lives of their kittens.
At this time there is no genetic test for HCM in Sphynx. The only tools breeders have is to have their cats scanned by board certified cardiologists and to study pedigrees and identify cats known to have HCM.
These are two of the absolute best articles on HCM that we have found. Please click the links and educate yourself about HCM. If you are looking to buy a Sphynx, it is very important information to know: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Health/HCMforBreedersrev2011.pdf
http://www.manhattancats.com/Articles/Hypertrophic_Cardiomyopathy.html
A cat with HCM has the best chances of living a long life if the disease is caught early. We do not require that pet buyers have their cats HCM scanned, but we highly encourage it. Scanning your cat at two, four, and six years of age is a good guideline. Of course it can be done more often or less often but we feel this is a good timeline for non-breeding cats. We will help pet owners interested in HCM scanning (whether their Sphynx is from Aura or not) find nearby HCM clinics where they can take their cats in to get scans at a discounted price. Not every city or region offers HCM clinics, but if there is one, we will do our best to find it!
Ingredients:
1.) Ten pounds chicken drumsticks (uncooked)
2.) Two pounds mix of chicken hearts and chicken gizzards (uncooked)
3.) 1 cup plain greek yogurt
4.) 5 Tbsp Old Fashioned Oatmeal
5.) 1 Tbsp iodized salt
6.) 6 Tbsp Kitty Bloom brand multivitamin mix (VM 900+3)
7.) 6 Tbsp Kitty Bloom brand wieght supplement (Xtrabloom Wate)
8.) 7 Cups Water
Put all dry ingredients and yogurt in a large bowl and mix. Add water until the mix is a watery consistency.
Rinse all of your meats thoroughly and grind with a meat grinder directly into the bowl containing your watery vitamin/yogurt blend. Contact us for reliable brands of meat grinders to buy; they should be at least 1 horsepower to handle the chicken bones. Mix everything together and add water. Freeze in small plastic containers and defrost in refrigerator overnight. Never heat in microwave or on stovetop to defrost.
Your new Sphynx kitten requires a high quality diet of foods rich in nutrients and low in fillers. Sphynx have a slightly higher metabolism than an average furry cat because they use more energy to keep themselves warm. Sphynx cats also seem to have more sensitive digestive tracts than other cats. Feeding a low quality food results in a more slender and less well-nourished cat, as well as much more cleanup for you since foods with more fillers cause kitties to have more bowel movements than high quality foods. The end result also smells much worse when using a low quality cat food.
Feeding low quality foods also predisposes your cat to health issues such as urinary tract infections and kidney problems. Feed a high quality diet to help avoid these problems! We feed both RAW meat and Science Diet kitten food. To the right you can see our recipe for our RAW mix and directions on how to make it. You can either make your own raw meat, or in some areas you can buy pre-made frozen meat at specialty pet stores. Either way is fine, though you should make sure that premade raw food contains added Taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats. Our cats seem to prefer the homemade raw to the pre-frozen variety. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that in the wild they eat ONLY meat, unlike other animals like dogs that can eat meat and other foods. A raw meat diet is the absolute best diet a cat can eat, but we realize that not everyone is able to feed raw all the time (this includes us). If you are going to feed kibble only or are going to supplement your cat's diet with kibble, good brands to use are: Science Diet, Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Taste of the Wild. There are other great brands out there; these are just a few that we have used with good success. Our favorite has been the Science Diet kitten formula. Stay away from cheaper brands of food. Brands with meat as the first ingredient are always the best for your Sphynx.
1.) Sphynx require a bath every 1-2 weeks because the don't have hair to absorbe the oils their skin produces. Some cats with more peach fuzz can go as long as three weeks between baths. Use a moisturizing, mild body wash such as Burt's Bees Milk and Shea wash to prevent stripping of too many naural oils. Also, do not over bathe your sphynx. Overbathing and stripping too many oils can cause your Sphynx to produce more oil and it will make them get dirty and grimy very quickly.
2.) Clip your Sphynx's nails every week to keep them from clawing furniture and accidentaly scratching you. Many Sphynx like to jump onto their owners shoulders, and this is not fun if their claws are sharp. Look for the pink "quick" in the nail and be careful not to cut it as this is painful for your kitty. It is very easy to clip nails and your kitty will be used to having its nails clipped by the time they come to you.
3.) Clean your Sphynx's ears one to twice a week. Use a q-tip to gently clean all the visible brown wax out of your kitty's ears. Do not stick the Q-tip deep inside the ear canal. The brown wax that Sphynx produce in their ears is often mistaken for ear mites. It is actually yeast and dirt that is what you see. Tresaderm ear cleaner can be purchased from your vet and is excellent for those kitties whos ears get dirty quickly.
4.) Make sure the temperature of your house is comfortable and that your kitty has places with warm blankets and beds to crawl into for warmth. Remember - if you are cold in a tee shirt and shorts your Sphynx is cold and needs a warm spot to snuggle up in.
5.) Remember to feed your Sphynx a high quality diet of raw meat and/or a premium kibble.
6.) Clean litter boxes daily. If you have more than two cats, you will need to clean twice daily. Cats will not use a dirty litterbox as they are very clean animals and may find somewhere else to go if given no other option.
7.) Provide your Sphynx with alternative scratching options to prevent scratching on your furniture. The very best thing to get is a tall scratching post (5-6 feet) with sisal rope. They love to be atop the cat trees and love it even more when cat trees are next to windows that they can sunbathe in and watch birds from. You can also buy cardboard scratchers from any pet supply store.
8.) Have lots of toys for your Sphynx to play with and for you to interact and play with them. Many Sphynx love to play fetch with small toys like curled pipe cleaners and "Cat Crazy" cat toys. Sparkly mylar teasers and catnip toys are also favorites. This keeps your cat happy and is another way for you to bond with them.
9.) Give your Sphynx unconditional love and they will give it right back. Never hit or punish a Sphynx physically as this will only scare them and make them not trust you or other humans.
Showing your Sphynx cat in one of the major associations can be a fun and rewarding experience. It is a great way to show off your cat and get them titles, meet lots of cat enthusiasts from all around the world, and learn about the breed you love. If you are interested in having a show Sphynx, we will be happy to mentor you through your first shows so that you can have the best experience possible. As your mentor we will walk you through how to register your Sphynx in a cat show.
At The Show
When you go to a show, always come at least a half hour before the show starts so that you can check in and get set up. When you get to the show, check in with the person near the entrance to the show hall who will give you a show catalog and a ribbon. They will also tell you where you are benched. Your benching area is where you will set up your show enclosure and where you and your cat will be while waiting to be called to rings.
When you get to the benching area, get all set up and then open your catalog to find your cat's number. You should always begin showing a cat as a kitten if possible, so your cat will be listed under shorthair kittens. The breeds are listed alphabetically, so Sphynx are always near the end of the section. Write your number on the front of the catalogue or on your hand so you don't forget it. Listen for your number to be called, and when it is called take your cat to the ring they are calling you to. Listen for the numbers right before your cat's number and before they call you up, give your kitty a look and make sure that they don't have any eye boogers, dirty nails, or ear gunk to clean up. At the ring, there will be a cage with your cat's number on top. Place your kitty carefully in the cage and make sure that the cage fastens securely. There will be an area in front of the judge's ring that you can sit in and watch your cat be judged.
After you are released from a ring, take your cat back to your benching area. Make sure to listen for your number even as you are being judged in a ring though. Sometimes you may need to simply go from one ring right into another instead of heading back to your benching area for a break. Listen for the announcer to say that there is an Allbreed or Specialty kitten final. When they announce this, you will need to go to the ring, without your cat, and check to see if your cat's number is placed on one of the cages. If it is, the judge will be giving your kitten an award. Go back to your benching area, get your cat and bring it to the judge's cage. When all the cats have arrived, the judge will award 10th-1st place awards for the cats. Enjoy it, as even tenth place is quite an honor!
Etiquette
Always ask before you pet/touch another exhibitor's cat. Don't be offended if they say no, as often times they spend hours grooming their cats and oils from your hands can help undo all that hard work. Never stand in front of a ring holding your cat. Only bring your cat to a ring after your number has been called. If you have questions for a judge, wait until after they have done their final to ask. Keep your benching area tidy and your cat's litter box clean. Even when you are in competition against another Sphynx, make sure to say hello to their breeder. You can get to know many friendly and knowledgeable people this way.
Here is a list of things you will need to purchase/have on hand to take to the show:
Make sure that your cat is sparkling clean and their nails are trimmed so that judges won't accidentally be scratched. Wash your cat exactly as is done in our instructional video that is linked to from our Links page. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy spending the day with your cat and other exhibitors!
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What They Cost and Why
Sphynx kittens can be found on the internet anywhere from $600-$1,800 for the average pet kitten price. Why is there such a huge difference in the prices of kittens? There are many variables that play into what a breeder will charge for their kittens, most of which usually relates to how much that breeder invests into their breeding program (but not always). Breeding kittens of the highest quality requires a large ongoing financial investment.
There are many other costs associated with breeding responsibly, too numerous to list, but perhaps now it is easier to understand the bigger picture. Beyond just the financial costs, there is also the time investment made by dedicated breeders. Feedings every two hours for struggling kittens, socialization, nail trimming and baths for a litter of five is not an easy task.
At Aura, we follow all of the above guidelines and we do not cut corners when it comes to the health, happiness and welfare of our cats and kittens. When you find that "discount" Sphynx online or in a paper, ask yourself, what kind of care and investment do you think that breeder has made in their cats? Is taking a gamble on saving the money up front worth what you may pay, emotionally and financially, in the long run? What quality of Sphynx are you looking for, both in health and in looks? Is the breeder you buy from going to stand behind their cats after they arrive or will the communication end once the cat is out of their home? These are all important questions to ask yourself before you commit to buying a Sphynx from any breeder.
Many people think that because Sphynx are hairless they require less grooming and upkeep than their furry counterparts. Not so! Sphynx actually require much more grooming than nearly any breed of cat.
Many people that have allergies to cats do very well living with a Sphynx when they are given weekly baths. That being said, Sphynx are NOT hypoallergenic just because they have very little hair. Many kittens born and bred here now live happily with owners that have cat allergies.
The only way to know for sure whether you will still have an allergic reaction or not is to visit the cats and see what happens.
Sphynx appear hairless, but in actuality they are covered with a fine bit of peach fuzz like hair. Some may have more, some may have less. In the two pictures to the right, you can see examples of both kinds of Sphynx. Both are sisters, the top kitten being much fuzzier than her sister in the bottom photo. The advantage of having a bit more peach fuzz is that these cats tend to stay cleaner much longer than cats with less peach fuzz. Less peach fuzz is more desirable in the show hall, but having even a moderate amount does not take away from the beauty of the cat and they can still do very well at the shows if they are structurally very nice.
Even the most hairless cats will all still have at least a small amount of hair on their ears and on the bridge of their nose. Many also have some hair on their tails and on their feet.
The moral of the story is that a Sphynx with a small bit of hair is not necessarily of less quality than a more hairless Sphynx and all Sphynx have some hair on their body.
Here are some key things to look for when trying to identify the kind of breeder that you can feel good about buying a kitten from. If a breeder doesn't abide by the following guidelines, you probably don't want to buy a kitten from them. Remember also that by looking for a "good deal" or a kitten right now rather than waiting for the right breeder and kitten, you may end up paying the price financially and emotionally down the line. A Sphynx is a new family member, choose your breeder wisely!
If a breeder fits all these basic guidelines, then you can feel good about buying a kitten from them. Unfortunately the Sphynx breed is becoming highly exploited due to it's uniqueness. There are far too many backyard breeders selling unpapered Sphynx with no follow up on heart health and willing to sell more breeding cats to anyone willing to pay the price. This hurts our beloved Sphynx by threatening the health of the breed as a whole and enabling "kitten mills" to spring up worldwide. Beware, and do not buy from a kitten mill or backyard breeder!
Outcrossing is the breeding of different breeds of cats to Sphynx to introduce genetic diversity to the breed. The kittens from a first generation outcross are Hybrids. If the breed used to outcross is a Devon Rex, you can have hairless kittens. If any other breed is used, all the kittens will be furry. This generation is called F1. Because the gene that causes hairlessness in Sphynx is reccessive, if an F1 Sphynx is bred to another Sphynx, you will get 50% hairless kittens, statistically. This generation is called F2. Once you reach the F2 generation, you can take a hairless kitten and move forward breeding cats with a higher level of genetic diversity than a line that has not been outcrossed in some time.
Outcross cats can be of any breed, but each association has permissable outcrosses. When you use a permissable outcross, the offspring are eligable to be shown in the second generation (First generation if the kittens are hairless, as with Devoin Rex outcross kittens). If you use an outcross that is not permissable, offspring cannot be shown until the fourth generation. In TICA, Devon Rex and American Shorthair are permissable outcrosses. In CFA, Domestic Shorthairs and American Shorthairs are permissable.
We believe very strongly that moving forward, the breed is in desperate need of continued outcrossing. An experienced breeder knows how to consult experts in other breeds to ensure that purebreds used for outcross have good pedigrees, and know how to look at a Domestic Shorthair and determine if they have Type that is not far from Sphynx standard. Outcrosses should be treated as a breeding Sphynx would be treated and should also be scanned for HCM.
Outcross kittens generally inherit the wonderful Sphynx personality and are great companions for Sphynx! Sphynx love cuddling up with a furry friend. We give discounts for people that purchase a furry F1 with a hairless kitten.
Before bringing home your kitten, make sure that your home is safe for their arrival.There are a few key things to avoid to ensure your kitten doesn't have a terrible accident.
Let's face it: some cats are inveterate "bums" and will beg and plead most appealingly while you try to eat. While I will (rarely) give a cat a tidbit of chicken or turkey from my plate, it's a practice I don't encourage as a regular habit for a few reasons. First, because cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good, premium cat foods, and any "extras" that they consume will take away their appetites for their regular meals. A sliver of turkey or chicken from your dinner plate certainly won't kill a cat, but you're helping him develop bad habits. What happens when Aunt Phoebe comes for dinner and Simon jumps on her lap to scarf up her meal?
However, the main reason I'd discourage feeding cats "people food" is that there are a number of foods that are toxic to cats. You may have forgotten that the gravy slathered over your Thanksgiving turkey used broth that was flavored with onion, among other things. While it is tasty and harmless to humans, onions are very toxic to cats. The following is a list of foods that cats should never eat:
Onions, Garlic, & Related Root Vegetables
Onions contain a substance (N-propyl disulphide) which destroys red blood cells in the cat, causing a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia. Garlic contains a similar substance in a lesser amount.
Green Tomatoes, Green (raw Potatoes)
These foods are members of the Solanaceae family of plants, which includes the Deadly Nightshade, and contain a bitter, poisonous alkaloid called Glycoalkaloid Solanine, which can cause violent lower gastrointestinal symptoms. The leaves and stems are particularly toxic. (Tomatoes in pet foods are ripe, and should cause no concern because they appear in relatively small amounts)
Chocolate
It's becoming more widely known that chocolate is very toxic to both cats and dogs. Theobromine is the offending substance here. Janet Tobiassen Crosby, D.V.M. has an excellent article on the symptoms, effects, and treatment of chocolate toxicity.
Grapes and Raisins
These foods' toxicity has mainly been found in dogs, in quantities of varying amounts. The ASPCA advises: "As there are still many unknowns with the toxic potential of grapes and raisins, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center advises not giving grapes or raisins to pets in any amount." That's good enough for me.
Milk
Although milk is not toxic to cats, it may have adverse effects. Simply put, adult cats fed a nutritious diet don't need milk, and many cats are lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products produces stomach upset, cramps, and gassiness. If your cat loves milk, and begs for it, a small amount of cream may be okay, two or three times a week. (The more fat in the milk, the less lactose.) Another compromise is CatSip, a product made from skim milk with an enzyme added that helps the digestion of lactose. Catsip is available in supermarkets such as Safeway, Albertson's and A&P, as well as pet products chains, such as PetSmart and Petco.
These are the most commonly seen "people foods" that are potentially harmful to cats. The bottom line is to feed your cat nutritious food developed with his needs in mind and choose treats designed for cats instead of table scraps.
If You Think Your Cat Has Been Poisoned
