Your cat relies on you to keep him safe. Thankfully, taking a little time to educate yourself and be sure that you are taking proper precautions isn’t terribly difficult. Hazards for cats are everywhere, but Cat Care of Vinings is here to help you steer clear.
Thinking Like a Cat
Cats are curious by nature, and that makes them vulnerable to exposure to harmful things. They jump, bat, climb, and lick their way into trouble.Cats are also challenged because their actual metabolism is incapable of converting many compounds that are harmless to other species into compounds that can be properly utilized by the body or excreted. This makes them very vulnerable to toxins.
Thinking about areas your cat can access and what might pique their curiosity can help you to increase your pet safety awareness.
Top Hazards for Pets
Our top kitty dangers fall into a few common categories:
Toxic foods—Not everything is good for sharing. Onions and garlic make the top ten list for pet poisonings in cats. Foods like chocolate, grapes, or raisins can also cause trouble for the feline species. Household items—Items around the house tend to be hazardous for our pets. Cats are very sensitive to essential oils, for example. Household cleaning products and chemicals are also potential problems, especially if kitty walks through them and then cleans their fur. Medications—Cats don’t tolerate medications well. Human medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen can carry very serious consequences as can stimulants such as ADD/ADHD medications. Cats also can have serious reactions to medications for dogs such as flea and tick prevention. House plants—Inquisitive cats like to nibble on plants, but toxic varieties can lead to pet poisonings. In particular, be aware of lilies in flower arrangements. Even just licking the pollen off of their fur can lead to kidney failure.
Pet Safety Tips
So how can you keep your cat safe? Poison prevention for cats doesn’t have to be hard. Take steps to do the following in your home:
Keeping potential toxic foods and substances well out of the reach of petsKeep medications in a secure location that your cat cannot accessResearch plants and be sure that they are cat friendly before bringing them into your homeKeep the belongings of guests in your home in a secure place such as a closet or bedroomAvoid applying essential oils to your petLet cleaning products and other chemicals dry completely before allowing your pet into the area they have been usedUtilize pet-safe alternatives where possibleKeep tempting hazards like wax lamps and candles in a location that your kitty cannot get toSecure electrical cords and blind pulls away from curious cats
The world can be a dangerous place for a cat without any fear, but with a little preparation, you can do your due diligence as a human and keep your pet safe. Please contact us with any questions about how to best care for your furry friend. We want to keep them safe and happy, too!
