Taro

The calcium oxalate needles and irritant proteins in raw taro sting a cat's mouth and throat, so raw or half-cooked taro is a food to avoid; cats need no such vegetable, and a thoroughly cooked peeled piece is at most a tiny novel treat.

Drooling, lip licking and pawing at the mouth, oral and throat discomfort, repeated swallowing, vomiting, poor appetite, lethargy and hiding; skin contact with raw juice may redden and itch.

**Contact a vet immediately** if there are signs of mouth irritation; do not induce vomiting at home or give human medicine.

At most a rare tiny piece, peeled and cooked until soft; **candied taro and taro paste should not be fed**, keep raw taro and its peel away from cats, stay within about 10% of daily energy intake, and keep complete cat food as the main diet.

Raw taro holds calcium oxalate needles and irritant proteins that burn and swell the mouth, throat and skin, so raw or half-cooked taro is a food to avoid; **peel it and cook it through until soft** before offering a little.

Burning and swelling of the lips, tongue and throat, drooling, repeated swallowing, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, poor appetite and lethargy; skin contact with raw taro juice can redden, itch and sting.

**Contact a vet immediately** if a pet bites into raw taro; do not induce vomiting at home or give human medicine, and rinse skin that touched the juice, wearing gloves yourself when handling raw taro.

An occasional vegetable treat only: peel it, cook it soft, cut it small and add no sugar or oil; **candied taro, taro paste and taro balls are far too sugary**, so skip them, and keep treats within about 10% of daily energy intake.