If you’re a cat mom/dad or a cat lover in general, this one’s for you.
When someone from our family gets sick, it doesn’t just displease them, but we feel uneasy in our hearts. The same goes for animals, especially cats. These animals cannot speak or explain how they feel, and it can deeply concern us sometimes. Therefore, to save them from any harm, we should make our efforts to make our space the most comfortable home for them.
Every second is critical if your cat gets exposed to something toxic, so here are a few symptoms you should look out for and get them checked if you notice anything off. These symptoms include: breathing problems, coughing, depression, dilated pupils, upset stomach, seizures, shivering, skin irritation, tremors, vomiting, weakness, confusion, excessive saliva, etcetera. Do not append time second-guessing their conditions with cats; instead, take them straight to a vet.
To save them from experiencing these situations, keep an eye out for the following 10 possible causes that could toxicate your cat’s life.
1. Most Human Medications
Medicines that work for us humans are certainly not made for animal consumption, cats to be specific, because they are built as sensitive beings. Additionally, because we are not educated enough on the effects of our medications, we surely should not give them to our cats. In essence, some medicines that can be extremely harmful are:
- Antidepressants – this can cause serious vomiting in extreme conditions.
- Serotonin Syndrome – an endangering condition where symptoms can raise the temperature, increase blood pressure, and result in seizures
- Methylphenidate – this is a type of ADHD medication tablet that hazardously boosts your cat’s heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature as it acts as a stimulant for pets.
- Inflammatory medications – can cause kidney damage with ulcers in the stomach during severe conditions.
- Tylenol – this drug is very toxic for cats as it directly affects the red blood cells in cats; just two of these can prove to be fatal for them.
But even with cat medicines, you have to be careful and never give them any medicines unless a professional doctor or a vet tells you. Keep away from felines when you have medical ointments or creams on your skin, so they do not lick it without intention.
2. Insecticides and House Cleaners
Chemicals are fascinating to cats; they like being funky around harmful chemicals because they can taste and smell good. Insecticides are commonly used at home. They can be in the form of bleach, antifreeze, detergents, de-icing salts, fertilizers, herbicides, etc. At the same time, they are inedible even for humans; they can affect cats in an extremely deadly way, so always remember to keep these substances out of reach and covered.
In addition, some small household items can also ruin your cat’s well-being. Little things in the house can easily choke your cats; these items can include chicken bones, dental floss, yarns, strings, toys, holiday decors, and so much more.
3. House Plants
Some common plants that we bring home to decorate our houses can be lethal for the feline species. A fundamental list can involve Aloe Vera plants, Azalea, Lilies, Marijuana, Mistletoe, Tulips, Sago Palm, and Hyacinths. But don’t be concise on this list; make sure you do your research before getting yourself a small life dependent on you.
Just the fragrance of some of these flowers may cause significant stomach issues, including seizures, vomits, liver failures, etc.
To prevent any casualty, you should get flowers that are animal friendly. Especially ones that do not possess a strong smell and would not affect your cat, like the rattlesnake plant or perhaps a spider plant.
4. Glow Sticks and Jewelry
We often forget that our cats are attracted to all those things that are shiny and look fancy. They don’t play with them but might nibble on them and mistakenly ingest them, and sometimes they could choke. Still, in other circumstances, the ingestion can be very harmful because items like tops and rings are mostly unnoticeable, but that doesn’t stop the toxicity from disrupting their tiny digestive systems.
5. Chemical Hazards
Even simple chemicals like chlorine or chlorophyll could bring about chemical burns in a feline’s body. They are susceptible, so make sure your cats don’t try to taste the water from a pool or thinners in your cleaning closets.
6. Rat/Mouse poison
For obvious reasons, stuff that kills and prevents rats from entering your space can also kill your pets. Therefore think all options through and place your cat somewhere it doesn’t come in contact before laying it out. It won’t just affect their stomach or organs but could kill them immediately.
7. Human Foods
Human foods such as garlic cloves, chives, coffee, and chocolate can harm your cats. Your feline buddies might make their way to you when they smell your lunch or dinner; they might also give a shot at sneaking some bites. But you need to know that some foods should not be given to them under any circumstances because they are poisonous to kittens. These could include the above-stated cloves, chives, and stuff, but there’s an even longer list. Alcohol, grapes, onions, raisins, yeast dough, and xylitol are also part of it.
8. Heavy Metals
Lead is a provoking metal that can cause severe gastrointestinal and neurological problems if gobbled up by your cat. It can be found in household items like batteries, linoleum, and paints, so keep an eye out before exposing them to your cat.
9. Cannabis and Nicotine
Any form of nicotine or cannabis is toxic for cats and can cause some concerning health problems within their bodies. Toxicity can enter through both edible and smoke forms. Therefore, you should ensure that these substances are out of reach for your cats, so they refrain from eating such things. Furthermore, e-pens and vapes are equally baneful as they are highly concentrated liquids. Inhaling them can contribute to spreading lymphoma to your cat, so don’t even vape in front of your pets.
10. Consumption Of Raw Food
Raw meat and egg consumption can cause salmonella in cats, just like it affects humans, leading to food poisoning in a few hours. They can also have E.coli, which is contagious and can be transferred to humans, so stay safe and wash your hands while having any contact with raw meat. However, to prevent the worst situations, you need to put in the effort and save your cats from harm as much as you can.
Wrapping Up
In light of these causes, the primary purpose of this piece is highlighted. Pets, in general, are a part of our family; they grow with us and grow close to us in no time. Their health should be equally prioritized as you do yours because they are animals and can’t speak or voice out what they feel. Animal empathy is vital because we humans are not the only ones thriving to survive on earth. We share this space with animals, and they deserve the same respect we expect from others.
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