Generally, when pet owners sit to eat our meals, their pets go and sit beside them. It is not to give them company but to beg for food. Even though the pets have already finished eating their share of the food, they will just not let their masters eat in peace. I am sure that most of the people who own cats or dogs can relate to this. In this situation, almost all of us would feel bad looking at the “puppy eyes” or the “kitty eyes” and throw them some table scraps. The people who do not do so must be stone- hearted right? WRONG! They are actually very smart not to do so because many of the table scraps might prove to be harmful for our pets.
The food requirements of our pets are different from those of ours. Would you prefer to eat the food that is meant for your dog or cat? Likewise, they too should not be served the food that you eat. Some foods that seem quite innocuous to us might actually be toxic to our animals. Do not be under the false impression that if your pet likes to eat something, it is good for him. Even diabetes patients like to eat sweet things, right? Not just that. There are many other non- edible objects in and around the house that are most likely to be ingested by your cat. Therefore it is only advisable to have knowledge of these and take the necessary precautions rather than have your pets suffer as a consequence of a little error on your part.
10 Cat Toxins
1. Plants
Usually, the type of plant depends on whether it is toxic or not. Plants like lilies, tulips, oleander, amaryllis, autumn crocus, azaleas and rhododendrons can prove deadly for your cat. Just a tiny amount of any portion of these plants can cause kidney failure. They can also lead to foaming at the mouth and inflammation when ingested.
2. Household Cleaners
Natural products are a little less harmful than their chemical counterparts. Household cleaners, detergents and disinfectants which are concentrated products can be extremely harmful and even fatal in some cases. Your pet can come into contact with these chemicals in many ways like absorption through the skin, breathing the vapors or licking these chemicals.
3. Spot- on flea/tick dog products
Dog and cat products should never be mixed. There is a reason that they are made separately. It is said that even a drop of dog flea products can kill cats. This is because it contains high concentrations of permethrin. Cats can tolerate only very low concentrations. If you have dogs and cats at home, try to buy products which are formulated for both of them and read the instructions carefully before use.
4. Human prescription medications
Blood pressure pills, antidepressants, and painkillers (opioids and prescription NSAIDs) are the most common human medications to cause poisoning in cats. Apparently, they are drawn to such medicines. It may lead to severe neurological and cardiac effects, tremors, heart problems, seizures and death in cats. So be sure not to drop any of your medications and just leave them where your cat may find and ingest them.
5. Over the counter medications for humans
Many of these products would smell or taste yummy to pets. But the cough, cold and allergy medicines for humans consist of substances which damage red blood cells and cause liver failure in cats.
6. Pesticides and Insecticides
It is very important to keep cats away from plants or anything else that has been treated with pesticides or insecticides, at least until the products have dried or settled. Even fertilizers and similar chemical- laden lawn and garden products which have been designed to enhance growth, are not safe.
7. Chocolates, coffee and alcohol
Chocolate, coffee and other products which contain caffeine can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, and potentially death. The more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is for pets. Any alcoholic drink or food containing alcohol can make your pet very ill and can even be fatal.
8. Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and other products containing nicotine
These can be highly toxic not just to humans but also to pets. Even stop- smoking products like nicotine gum are included. Nicotine poisoning in pets causes elevated heart and respiratory rates, neurological symptoms, loss of bladder or bowel control, tremors, seizures, paralysis and death.
9. Vitamin D administration
Some pet owners assume that their pets have deficiency of vitamin D just as humans do and thus they end up administering them with vitamin D supplements. But most dog and cat foods contain vitamin D already. So the additional supplementation leads to toxicity.
10. Glow in the dark objects
Many cats like to gnaw on glow sticks and glow jewelry. These items contain a chemical that can leak out and burn your cat’s fur and tongue.
The objects mentioned above are only the most common ones that cats are found poisoned with. There are a lot of other things that might be found in an open bag, cupboard, garage etc. If you have a curious cat then you would need to keep it at a safe distance from all things that might adversely affect its health. So is best if you are careful, instead of expecting your cat to eat smart.