15 Most common household hazards for cats
Pet owners mostly treat their pets as family members, taking care of all needs of their pets. Most often pet owners do not realize the fact that the biggest danger to their pets is often caused from the stuff lying at their home. Listed here are 15 such things that lie at your home and pose high risk for your pet cats.
1. Medicines
Cats are by nature inquisitive. Hence, they have a habit of getting hold of everything that comes their way. One such common thing that they might easily find in their owner’s home is the medicines. This is a poison for them. Although it is quite true that cats are often prescribed human medicines by vets, but some drugs like analgesics, anti depressants, painkillers, etc. can prove fatal for them.
2. Insecticides
Although those industrial variants of insecticides are not used for domestic purpose, but common insecticides that would kill the mosquitoes, ticks, houseflies, termites, etc. are also harmful for the cats. They are one of the major sources of poison for cats.
3. Certain human food can be hazardous
Some food items are totally unsafe for cats. Food items which contain xylitol, such as grapes, raisins, avocado, can cause health hazards in cats. Similarly, chocolates, which contain methylxanthines, if consumed in large quantities can lead to cat diarrhea, panting, excessive urination, seizures, vomiting, abnormal heart beat rate and a lot of more critical problems in cats.
4. Few plants can be toxic
While, on one hand, you might be the proud owner of a cat, you might be fascinated with gardening too. But, beware of some plants that are really harmful for them. Plants like rhododendron, sago palm, lily, kalanchoe, schefflera, azalea, etc. can be toxic for cats. Lilies can be life threatening as well.
5. Veterinary medicines can also be fatal
What your vet doctor prescribes is meant for your cats only. But, some of them can be fatal as well. Actually, those vet medicines that you might start administering without consulting your doctor, such as anti inflammatory drugs, deworming medicines can be dangerous.
6. Rat poison or mosquito repellent
Rat poisons are utterly dangerous for cats. Though the intensity of the poisoning varies from the type of rodenticides, there can be some that bring life threatening problems too, like kidney damage, bleeding, etc. if cats swallow them.
7. Household cleaners
Household cleaners, like bleaching agents, detergents, disinfectants, can be critical for the cats. If cats inhale these common house cleaning agents, there can be problems of the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal hazards.
8. Paint chips
Common products like household paints contain lead, which is extremely injurious for cats. Lead is pernicious to cats. Along with it, metals like zinc and mercury are also equally detrimental.
9. Fertilizers and pesticides
Certain fertilizers and pesticides are very harmful for the cats, it can cause severe gastrointestinal problems.
10. Chemicals are venomous for cats
There are nearly 2,175 cases of cats getting poisoned by chemicals. There are some chemicals that are found in prominent household products such as ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool and spa chemicals. Cats face burns when they areexposed to these chemicals directly. They also suffer from gastrointestinal problems, depression, respiratory tract disorders, etc.
11. Small objects like dental floss, thread etc.
There might be things like dental floss, woolen yarn, threads, and tinsels that your cat loves playing with. But it can be fatal if cats swallow them or get themselves strangulated with these things.
12. Climbing up the curtains can harm cats
Cats love to climb up the curtains. But, think of the consequences of such a thing and discourage your cat from doing it. On unfortunate occasions the cat can fall down accidentally and break its bones.
13. Treated toilet water
Either keep your cat away from the treated toilet water or get into the habit of closing the lid every time you use the commode. It will be really fatal if your cat drinks it.
14. Rubber bands
Cats love to play with rubber bands, but it can be dangerous if it is swallowed. It can cause vomiting and other digestive problems.
15. Plastic and polythene bags
Keep plastic and polythene bags away from the reach of cats. Just like children, cats are vulnerable to suffocation and death too, when they get choked with these things.
