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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Top Household Hazards for Cats


Top Household Hazards for Cats



Your cat is curious, sticking his nose into random spaces and places. Exploring may expose him to some not so obvious dangers in your home. It just takes a bit of time and know-how to “cat-proof” your house so your kitty stays healthy and safe.
Human Medicines
Some human over-the-counter and prescription medicines pose a serious threat to your cat, so keep them in a place he can’t get into.
  • Antidepressants
  • Cancer medicines
  • Cold medicines
  • Diet pills
  • Pain relievers (acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen)
  • Vitamins and other supplements


You may have heard that some common medicines work for people and cats. Never medicate your cat without first talking to your vet, though -- it's easy to give your cat a fatal overdose. 
Human Foods 
Many cats crave people food, but this human fare can be poisonous to your feline:
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine (coffee, soda, tea)
  • Chives
  • Chocolate
  • Garlic 
  • Grapes
  • Onions
  • Raisins
  • Xylitol (found in sugarless gums, candies, toothpastes)
  • Yeast dough
Indoor and Outdoor Plants   
Common houseplants -- as well as ones that you may bring into your home -- can be hazardous to your cat's health: 
  • Aloe
  • Azaleas
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Lilies
  • Marijuana
  • Mistletoe
  • Poinsettia
  • Rhododendron
  • Tulips
Insecticides and Other Chemicals
Some chemicals taste especially good to cats. To prevent accidental pet poisoning, keep these and all chemicals locked away:
  • Antifreeze
  • Bleach
  • Detergents
  • De-icing salts (which pets may walk through, then lick from their pads)
  • Dog flea and tick medication (pills, collars, sprays, shampoos)
  • Fertilizers
  • Herbicides
  • Insect and rodent bait
More Household Hazards
These common household items can choke or strangle your cat. Some may even lead to intestinal blockages.
  • Chicken bones
  • Dental floss, yarn, string
  • Holiday decorations, including lights and tinsel
  • Toys with small or movable parts
If Your Cat’s Been Poisoned
Every moment matters if you think your cat has been exposed to something toxic.
Call your vet. Post your veterinarian's phone number in an obvious place, along with the number for the Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435. They can help you know what to do next.
Collect samples. Take samples of vomit, stool, and the poison your cat consumed to the vet with your cat.
Watch for symptoms. Symptoms of poisoning in cats include:
  • Breathing problems
  • Confusion
  • Coughing
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea
  • Dilated pupils
  • Gastrointestinal irritation
  • Salivation
  • Seizures
  • Shivering
  • Skin irritation
  • Tremors
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness
Educate. After your cat recovers, call your poison control center or humane society to let them know what happened to your pet, so they can track problem poisons and help prevent other pet poisonings.

Source: (recommended) http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/top-10-cat-poisons

2 comments:

Unknown said...

This is really good information. A lot of things I did not know. Super helpful! =^..^=

HallowedToes said...

I am very curious as to what studies concluded that cannabis was toxic to cats? It can't be legally studied for it's effects on humans in much of the world, who did a major study with cats? I have read that catnip is of the mint family, but that cannabis is closely related to the mint family. Not that I am trying to denounce the concept of toxic mints, because plenty of them can kill you with low doses, I would just like to know where the data is coming from, especially since we have been misled for more than a generation with "data" from fictitious studies of the effects of cannabis on humans, just want to find hard facts here. I have known some cats to steal their human's stashes to eat & not get sick at all or experience any changes in behavior, such as that of catnip exposure.

I really appreciate you taking the time to compile this list, many of the items on the list surprised me, though some were a bit duh (like bleach). My cats do not go outside & we "childproofed" (if that's possible, usually means that when they try to get into stuff they get distracted playing with the childproofing & forget all about the cabinets & such) the house, so they can't easy access our household dangers (I do have to yell at my guy a lot for leaving one of the cabinets unlocked almost every time he gets into it, you would think that if he can lock ALL the other cabinets that he would lock that one too, but no - I stay on top of it though, they do not need access to the chemicals stored there, like Drano). My cats are my babies & I am a bit of an overprotective mother lol so I like to be aware of things like this.

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