4 Ingestible hazards for cats
Cats are independent pets and do not need too much of attention, like dogs do. They easily adapt to the urban environment with little training. However, cats are very playful and curious animals. There is an old saying, "Curiosity killed the cat". This quote holds true because cats are very diligent hunters which might prove lethal or disastrous.Since cats don't really have 9 lives, cat owners should try to prevent fatal accidents. The outdoor environment is full of mechanical, chemical and environmental hazards and the thought of accidents should be enough to prompt any cat owner to keep it indoors, as much as possible and away from dangerous household products or small ingestible objects. Read on to be aware of the most common ingestible hazards for your pet cat.
1. Pharmacy products
Painkillers like Ibuprofen, Commonly prescribed drugs for fever and headache like Aspirin and Paracetamol are "poison" for cats. Do not be tempted to give any human or canine medication to your cat, unless it is prescribed by your veterinarian. Feline metabolism is very different from ours and other omnivores. They lack certain microsomal enzymes which help in a drug metabolism, thus preventing its toxicity.Other drugs include sedatives, antihistaminics, anxiolytic drugs, vitamins, alcohols, particularly methanol and ethylene glycol, and anti-hypertensives. Also, cold-drinks should not be given to a cat. A complete list of poisons would go on for pages and would be probably skipped while reading. So, the guidelines like "Keep out of reach of children" should be kept in mind.
Disinfectants, Preservatives (wood preservative, phenol, formaldehyde), anything intended to kill other organisms (pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, moth balls, rat poison, slug bait), organic solvents, paints, polishes, nail-polish removers, gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, strong acids and strong alkalis should be kept away from a cat. Antifreeze used in cars is also poisonous to cats and unfortunately cats like how it tastes, so they might be tempted even more.
Cats tend to accumulate certain toxic drugs in their tissues over time, which damage the vital organs of the cat. For example, if the bathroom floor has been cleaned with a disinfectant containing "phenol", the residual phenol is picked up by the cat's feet, when it walks there and it is washed by the tongue. Gradually, the poison builds up in her body and eventually a level will be reached which will damage her liver, kidney and other organs. A solution to this is usage of chlorine bleach, which kills all microorganisms and leaves no residue.
2. Yarn or strings, tinsels and electrical cords
A cat can swallow yarn or string, which may get caught in its throat or stomach. Make sure they are not left lying around. Tinsels look tempting to a cat but they can obviously not digest it. It's best to do without the tinsels on Christmas tree. Electrical cords look especially attractive to cats and kittens too. Cats might chew on the electrical cords. If they do, they can burn or get shocked. If the cat is a wire chewer, make sure you unplug all the wires and cords from the room in which it is left alone.
3. Small objects
Small objects like coins, paper clips, pins, needles, threads, threaded needles, toys, loose, buttons, metallic/plastic parts, poultry bones and thumb tacks should be kept away from the cat's reach as these can choke, pierce the digestive tract and lead to blockage. Cats should be protected from plastic bags or paper bags, lest an accident takes place.
Household plants like Azaleas, Poinsettias, Rhododendrons, Philodendrons, Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia), Oleander, Lilies, Ivies, Caladiums, Mistletoe, Carnations & Common or Cherry Laurel are some of the poisonous plants. Since no cat can resist at least biting on a dangling leaf (at eye level), the safest thing to do is discard all poisonous plants or grow them away from a cat's reach. You can get a complete list from a poison control centre.
4. Eatables
Green tomatoes, chocolates, raw potatoes, raw egg-whites, onions, garlic and other such vegetables should be strictly kept away from cats.
