5 Things in Your Household That Are Toxic for Cats You Might Not Know About
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Cats are known to be one of the most low-maintenance pets. Their independent nature allows pet owners to leave them for hours on end without fuss. However, that doesn’t make them any less susceptible to dangerous items lying around your home. In case of freak accidents, it pays to consider getting pet insurance for your cat. It will cover the costs of treatments or tests resulting from accidents or illnesses. With that out of the way, you can rest assured that your cat is protected against unfortunate situations. Plus, it prevents you from shelling out sudden expenses in the future.
All that said, here is a list of five things in your home that may be toxic for your cats. Keep them in mind and make sure to put these items away before you carry on with your day. If all else fails, your pet insurance plan should help ease your worries.
Alcoholic and Caffeinated Beverages
We all love ourselves a good glass of wine or beer after a long day’s work. Cats, on the other hand, may not react well to alcoholic beverages. They contain ethanol, which affects a cat’s nervous system. They can get drunk with just a small sip, causing unstable movement and sleepiness. If ingested in excessive amounts, the worst-case scenario is respiratory failure and possibly death.
Similarly, coffee, soda, tea, and other drinks with caffeine can be bad for cats. They are shown to affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, and nervous system. That said, make sure to stow away your morning cup of coffee, along with the beans atop the kitchen counter.
Food Items
Cats are not allergic to all human food items. In fact, some enjoy chicken just as much as humans do. However, there are certain food items commonly found at home that can cause food poisoning. This includes chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, chives, and leeks. If you prepare homemade meals for your cat, make sure to exclude them from your recipes. They can cause serious damage like ruptured blood cells, impaired oxygen flow, low blood pressure, seizures, tremors, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Flowers
This one may come as a surprise to many of you. While some flowers can live harmoniously with cats, certain forms of pollen, flowers, and leaves can be toxic to their health. You should avoid lilies, daisies, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, azaleas, and chrysanthemums.
Medicine
Another household item we tend to leave around the house is medicine. Certain types can fatally damage your cat’s systems, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, sleeping pills, cholesterol medication, and antidepressants, to name a few. As a safety measure, keep all your medicine bottles stored in a secure place.
Cleaning Products
Ingesting cleaning products is dangerous for nearly everyone, including cats. Detergent, bleach, and bathroom cleansers are common culprits in cat poisoning. If your cat shows signs like vomiting, burning skin, excessive drooling, and respiratory difficulties, then it is best to rush them to the vet.
These are just some household items that may pose risks for your cat’s health. Be cautious and read up on other ways you can keep your cat safe at home.