Indoor and outdoor plants, household chemicals, certain foods and human medications can all pose a serious risk to your cat. Here’s what to watch for — and what to do in an emergency.
Plants
Ingesting just a small piece of some common ornamental plants such as poinsettias could be enough to make a cat ill, and swallowing a sizable amount could prove fatal. Lilies are especially toxic to cats — they can cause life-threatening kidney failure if ingested even in tiny amounts.
Plants that are toxic for cats include (but are not limited to):
- Poinsettias
- Lilies
- Mistletoe
- Holly
- Tulips
- Foxglove
- Philodendron
- Amaryllis
- Baby’s breath
- Sweet William
- Hydrangeas
Household chemicals
Many of the chemicals around your house can present a hazard for your feline friends. Keep these materials somewhere your cats can’t reach, and clean up any spills promptly. If you have an outdoor cat, take precautions when using these products in your yard.
- Pesticides: insecticides, rodenticides
- Garden products: fertilizers, weed killers, molluscicides (snail baits and pellets)
- Miscellaneous: ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, swimming-pool chemicals, household cleaners (bleach, detergents and disinfectants)
Toxic foods
It’s tempting to give your beloved cat a treat of human food, but many of the things we enjoy are off-limits for our feline friends, including:
- Grapes & raisins
- Onions
- Avocados
- Chocolate
- Anything containing xylitol (an artificial sweetener)
Medications
Human medications and flea treatments for dogs can be acutely toxic for cats. Never give your cat medication without first consulting your veterinarian. Cats will often gobble up pills they find lying on tables or dropped on the floor, so be vigilant with your medications.
Some common causes of poisoning include:
- Aspirin
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
- Ibuprofen
- Dietary supplements (vitamins)
- Flea medication for dogs (cats must not come into contact with a treated dog for 24 hours)
Common signs of poisoning
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Seizures
- Blood in the stool or urine
- Lethargy or loss of appetite
- Bruising or nosebleeds
- Irregular heartbeat
- Inability to urinate
- Difficulty breathing
How quickly will my cat become ill?
This depends on the toxin involved. By the time an owner recognises a problem, a cat may already be at significant risk for serious health problems — which is why a prompt veterinary consultation is essential.
What should I do if I think my cat has ingested something toxic?
Call your veterinarian immediately. If your vet is not available, try a local emergency veterinary clinic or an animal poison-control hotline. If you know the toxin your cat was exposed to, obtain a sample or a label to bring to the vet or to describe to the hotline.
IMPORTANT: do not induce vomiting unless you are specifically directed to do so. Certain poisons can cause more damage during vomiting than if left in the stomach.