5 Top Household Poisons For Cats | Lola The Rescued Cat
Monday, March 26, 2018

5 Top Household Poisons For Cats

Hello, everyone. This is Lexy checking in with some very important information on keeping your pet safe. March is Pet Poison Awareness month, a time when pet parents are reminded that there are many toxins and dangers lurking in their home that can harm their pets.

pet poison awareness month|5 top poisons


Cats are curious creatures. We poke our noses into containers and paw our way into cabinets if we think there is something that will pique our interest, but we don’t realize that what is lying in wait could be very dangerous for us. We rely on our humans to keep those unsafe items out of our reach.

Many pet parents are unaware of what these dangerous items and substances are. One of our goals here at Lola The Rescued Cat is to educate our readers so their cats can live happy, healthy lives, so I have a list of five of the top household poisons for cats and some safety precautions you can take.


Five of the Top Household Poisons for Cats


1. Plants

The ASPCA reports that 5.4%* (10,725) of  Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) cases in 2017 were due to plants. Some plants and flowers that are toxic to cats are carnations, Chinese Jade, Daffodils, Tulips, Holly, Hosta, Philodendron and Night Shade. (Click here for a complete list.) Lilies are one of the most poisonous plants to cats. Even a small amount of the pollen (that can land on your cat’s fur and can be ingested during grooming) can be fatal. With Easter just around the corner, opt for a safer alternative such as Orchids or an Easter Cactus. If you love houseplants, why not grow a pot of catnip or African Violets?


Pet poison control|5 top poisons
Photo: Getty Images

2.  Medications

Human prescription medications topped the ASPCA’s list of the Top Ten Pet Toxins of 2017.  Last year, 17.5% (34,888) of APCC cases were attributed to prescription medications.  Cats have difficulty metabolizing certain drugs, and Antidepressants, NSAIDs, Prescription ADD/ADHD medications, and over the counter cough, cold and allergy medications are serious threats to us.  Effects of the ingestion of any of these are severe neurological and cardiac consequences, seizures, tremors, liver failure, and possible death. One acetaminophen tablet can be fatal for a cat because of the red blood cell damage is causes. This can be prevented by being extra cautious when you’re taking medication. Do a pill count to be sure none have dropped, and if you suspect you have dropped a pill search for it immediately. Keep medications out of kitty’s reach in a secured location. (Warning: many cats, like myself, can open a cabinet. Take this into consideration when storing your medications.)


pet poison month|5 top poisons


3. Household cleaners

In 2017, Household Items comprised  8.6% of APCC cases.  Toilet and drain cleaners can cause chemical burns, and other corrosive agents that are dangerous include oven cleaners, rust-removal agents, and lime-removal products. Many cat owners don’t realize that some common household cleaners like kitchen and bath surface cleaners, carpet cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners can be harmful to cats. While contact with small amounts of these cleaners is not necessarily deadly, they will certainly irritate your pets’ digestive and respiratory systems. Some precautions you can take include: closely following the instructions on the labels; wiping down surfaces thoroughly after using cleaners; if you suspect your cat has gotten any household cleaners on their paws, wash them off immediately; keeping cleaners locked in a cabinet that your cat can’t get into; purchasing non-toxic cleaners. Our mother has started to use natural household cleaners and hardly ever buys commercial cleaners anymore. It’s not only better for us, but it’s also better for her, too!


Photo: bbhyglene ltd

4. Insecticides

According to the ASPCA, insecticide exposure cases continued to decrease with only 6.7% of APCC cases (13,307) related to these items in 2017. If the directions on the label are not followed, these products can be dangerous to pets, so always use caution when dealing with insect poisons. Any product containing organophosphates and large amounts of iron can lead to seizures, vomiting, bloody stool, liver and heart issues. Opt instead for all natural, chemical free products. If you do use conventional products follow the label instructions carefully and keep your cat away from the product! Wipe up any excess immediately. If you’re using insecticides in your yard, keep your cat indoors so they will not come in contact with them. And as always, store them safely.






5. Food 

Human food remains one of the top 10 pet toxins. In 2017 10.9% of APCC cases (21,648) were related to human food consumption. Cats cannot safely ingest all of the food people eat so pet owners need to be cautious. Some everyday foods that pose potential hazards are:

Alcohol: Alcohol consumption can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing and tremors. A tablespoon or less can put a cat into a coma and can lead to death.

Caffeine (coffee, soda, tea, energy drinks:) Caffeine can cause restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors.



pet poison month|5 top poisons
Photo: Dreamstime.com

Dairy Products: Cats have difficulty digesting the lactose in dairy products, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and upset stomach.

Chocolate: The compound in chocolate that is of major concern is theobromine. It is in all forms of chocolate, and most concentrated in dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Consumption can cause heart arrhythmias, muscle tremors, or seizures. Chocolate also contains caffeine.

Onions and Garlic: Onions and garlic can cause damage to your cat’s red blood cells and lead to anemia. Baby food made from meat is often seasoned with onion or garlic, so read the labels carefully if you feed these to your cat.


If you think your pet has ingested a dangerous substance, you can call the Animal Poison Control  Center’s 24 hour hotline at (888) 426-4435 or the 24 hour Pet Poison Hotline at 855-764-7661.

I hope this post was informative. Feel free to share or Pin our Infographic to help keep pets safe.

*These numbers also include the statistics for dogs. 
Lexy

Would you like to comment?

  1. My human tries to be really careful about what she allows in the house - or allows me to be around when we are not home!

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  2. Great post and perfect timing for it, as well, with Easter lilies flooding the market right now. Our humans are practically OCD with watching out for whatever we might feel like getting into, even innocently walking through stuff that would be bad for us, like spilled spices on the kitchen countertops. We know we aren't supposed to be up there, like we aren't supposed to be up on the fireplace mantle where a plant is, either. We hope the word continues to get out that humans need to keep us safe!

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  3. L & L; thanx for de ree minderz...with spring time heer...well, it SHULD bee...N spring kleenin, flower plantin, easturr....etc etc..... ♥♥

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  4. Yup, you've gotta be super careful with the baby food stuff. I remember when Peep #1 was lookin' for special stuff for Nissy, she had to search high and low for kinds without seasoning. purrs

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  5. Thanks for this reminder, Lexy. The mom is kinda fanatical in keeping harmful things away from us.

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  6. Our peeps are very careful too and that is quite a scary list!

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  7. Very important information! Mudpie is nosy but doesn't really get into anything she shouldn't, thankfully. There are some very sad stories out there about kitties that have gotten very sick or worse though :(

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  8. Excellent post. There are so many dangers in our homes for kitties.

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  9. This is a great reminder for those of us who already know - and a great educational post for people who don't. I'm surprised anti-freeze didn't show up in the list. The Boy and I have had more than one battle when I've found a Tylenol on the floor. Yes, I'd like to believe our cats are smart enough not to ... but Bear has a wild streak and Ellie will eat anything.

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  10. We think this is vitally important for cat owners to know. A great reminder for those of us who think we know it all!

    Well done and Lola is SUCH a star isn't she :-)

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  11. Great post and so important to remind everyone about it especially as next month we have Easter and Passover which can also bring hazards to our pets

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  12. Very important info!! I will share with some friends who have cats!
    (YAYDog Clare)

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  13. Our humans have become so very careful about what they'll allow in the house. They won't hardly have any plants in the house. Most plants are cacti and in restricted areas. They've thrown away tons of cleaners out of concern for our safety. Now they only use pet-friendly ones.

    Here's our funniest story about our humans! Last week they forget and left chocolate-covered granola bars on the counter before going out for a walk. They know we still counter-surf and so they came home just to put away those bars and keep us safe.

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  14. I am always nervous about plants and Kilo eating my medications or my daughter's chewing gum or other food he shouldn't. He got into chocolate and onions so far but survived fine with a little help from the vet and the poison hotline thank goodness.

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  15. Super important reminders here! It's scary to think about how many toxic things we all have lying around our house. Thanks for educating and raising awareness about this issue, because it is definitely one that we can all benefit from hearing over and over.

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  16. I imagine this is even more important than with dogs. Cats can get EVERYWHERE. Most dogs stay on the ground and some of the furniture such as couches and chairs. Cats get on top of cupboards and everywhere.

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  17. This is a great write-up! I've pinned the excellent graphic. Thank you for putting this together! Very important for cat parents to know about all of the potential items in the house that could be poisonous.

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  18. Infusers ... the essential oil ones. Also a danger. I am told more so for cats. We basically clean with vinegar and water in our home. :)

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  19. It's scary how many things are poisonous for us! I love your graphic! Mom Paula is afraid to use almost anything except for water around us.

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  20. I will be pinning this graphic! Pets are like toddlers, you have to be vigilant to keep them safe.

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  21. Great reminder! Yes. Many people may assume things like medicine or insecticides are poisonous however no one really considers human foods or plants can be toxic too. Great infographic too. Pinned!

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  22. What a great and important post, Lexy! Our mom and dad are hyper vigilant about keeping stuff away from us (they even put baby latches on the cabinets, so we do not get into anything we shouldn't). We will share! Purrs - Gracie and Ava

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  23. As a dog person I don’t think of cats being so snoopy and just gobbling down something. But of course there are many household dangers for them as well, even if cats appear to have more common sense than dogs.

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  24. Thanks for a great post, so important to keep sharing this. I will definitely be pinning your awesome graphic!

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  25. What a really great post, thanks!
    Have a wonderful Easter and April Fools Day too...

    Noodle and crew

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  26. Great post Lola and we love your graphic, its epic!

    Big hugs

    Basil & Co xox

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  27. It is no secret that exercise is one of the key ingredients to a long and healthy life and this is also true for our pets. Unlike Humans, http://catandcats.com/ do not need to do 20 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 times a week to stay in shape.

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