When you bring a new fur baby home, you want to provide them love, engagement, and of course, safety in their new environment. Just because something is safe for humans, many cat owners automatically assume it will be safe for their feline companion, but this is far from the truth.
Taking a quick inventory and making a plan for both foods and plants about your home that can be poisonous for your cat will prevent costly emergencies down the road that can be life-threatening for your cat.
Here are just a few of the items common around homes that you should give a second look at if considering a new cat.
- Chocolate
Yes, that is correct; chocolate is a yummy treat for humans and bad news for felines. This delicious food has been widely reported as dangerous for dogs, but research has shown health risks for cats also.
Chocolate contains Theobromine found in the highest concentrations in dark and unsweetened chocolate; this substance is toxic for cats. It can cause vomiting, increased thirst, tremors, muscle rigidity, and even death. Ensuring it is kept secured in cabinets and containers not accessible by felines is critical to their well-being.
- Bulb Plants
Bulb plants such as tulips and others are considered extremely toxic to cats. With heavier concentrations of toxic compounds in the bulb, cat parents mustn’t have these in areas where cats can get to them.
As cats are curious creatures, these bulbs may appeal to them to play with but can prove especially dangerous to your feline fur baby. It should be noted that daffodils also are extremely toxic as bulb plants, which some owners might forget.
- Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins are considered toxic primarily in dogs, but with similar health issues reported by cat owners. The exact cause of this toxicity is still being studied and not fully known.
These items have been proven to cause acute sudden kidney failure in dogs, leading to death in some cases. Even without knowing what causes this, you would want to avoid these foods as a responsible feline owner.
- Lilies
Lilium and Hemerocallis, or true lily plants, are severely toxic to cats. These can cause severe kidney concerns and lead to death. Having these anywhere a cat can access them, even by jumping, should be avoided as the health risks to Fluffy aren’t worth it.
- Green Tomatoes
Considered a staple in many southern diets and many other recipes, green tomatoes should not ever be fed to cats. They contain Glycoalkaloid Solainine; these vegetables or fruits, depending on which side of the argument you take, cause gastrointestinal problems in felines that can be life-threatening.
It should be noted that even small amounts of tomatoes and even potatoes can cause issues, and pet owners should be hypervigilant about these foods when a cat is about the home.
- Aloe Vera
This plant is very common in homes and even used for some home remedies. Unfortunately, the saponins and anthraquinones in aloe vera plants are toxic to cats. Signs of your cat ingesting these plants can include lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea leading to other issues.
- Onions
Onions are especially dangerous in cats for a dual reason. First, they can cause digestive issues such as vomiting and diarrhea. That is just the beginning; when absorbed into a cat’s system, the allium family of components contained in onions can attach to red blood cells and damage them.
The cat’s bodies are known to destroy these damaged cells, further causing anemia and other concerns. Ensuring even the tiniest amount of onion is not introduced to cat’s digestion systems is critical to their health.
Introducing a new feline pet to the family means ensuring you have a solid understanding of common household pets and food that could be detrimental to them. Simple everyday food items like onions, green tomatoes, and chocolate while humans enjoy, cats can become deathly ill or die from ingestion of these items.
Being certain to keep them off surfaces, kitchens where something is dropped and forgotten on the floor, or possibly eliminating these from the home altogether, is critical for your fur babies’ health.
Additionally, bulb plants, aloe vera, and lilies are just a few of the household plants you may have around to beautiful your home. These pose no dangers to humans and can easily be forgotten regarding the dire side effects they can create for your feline fur baby. With a little research and some due diligence, you and your feline can experience many years of living healthy, fulfilled lives together.
Jonathon Hyjek is an entrepreneur and cat-lover. He is married to Joy and they share their home with their 2 feline-friends, Franklin & Ollie. Jonathon is a self-admitted “Crazy Cat Guy”. He started this website because of his love for his own cats and their well-being.