Health & Care

Tips on providing a safe home for your cat, as well as lists of
dangerous plants, foods, products and medications. 

Hiding

Cats that are scared, curious or even just contrary may run into fireplace openings and run up the chimneys. They’ll come down eventually, but you’ll save yourself a lot of anxiety by ensuring the flue is closed. Kittens can go down the smallest holes, like by the pipes leading to your sink, air ducts, under fridges & dishwashers. Please, take a moment to look around and kitten proof.

Look for any holes, even in cupboards and be sure they’re securely blocked. When a kitten is tucked away snoozing in a secret place, somehow they don't hear your voice and you will ensure your kitten's safety and save yourself many anxious hours by kitty proofing your home.

Escaping

Cats are escape artists. They can get through impossibly small places and are faster than the speed of light. Windows and doors need screens and to be carefully watched. If you do have screens, be sure they’re secure.

If you don’t have screens, don’t ever open your windows unless, even if you’re high up or the open window is six feet from the floor. Don't assume your cat can't get up there because they are sneaky. If you’re opening a window just a "smidge", be sure it’s locked at that location. Cats are amazingly strong for their size, especially if frightened, and can push open even large, heavy windows.

If you have a very quick, sneaky kitty, post a note reminding your family to be alert when entering or exiting. Don't be fooled by the casual saunter, because kitties are watching your every move. It's always a good idea to put a collar on your cat just in case they do escape. A cat that’s been indoors is even more ill-equipped to face the dangers of the outside world. Be sure to put your contact number and note the cat is an indoor cat.

Other Hazards

Young, lively kittens can be a big danger to themselves. They can injure themselves critically or fatally: by tipping furniture over (bookshelves should be secured to not tip), dragging table cloths and subsequent heavy centerpieces onto themselves or each other. Cords from lamps, computers and especially blinds and other draperies are a huge temptation and danger to curious little paws and mouths. Hair elastics, tinsel or string can kill when ingested. To be safe, kittens should never have the run of the house unsupervised. Confine them to a small room at night or when you are not at home. This is also important for consistent litter training.

Plants Toxic to Cats

Seventeen of the most common toxic plants for cats are:

Lilies - Marijuana - Sago Palm - Tulip/Narcissus bulbs - Azalea/Rhododendron - Oleander - Castor Bean - Cyclamen - Kalanchoe - Yew - Amaryllis - Autumn Crocus - Chrysanthemum - English Ivy - Peace Lily  - Pothos - Schefflera

An extensive list of toxic plants published online by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) can be found here.

Foods You Shouldn’t Feed Your Cat

Raw Fish. As tempting as it may be to feed your cat some raw fish, don't...it can be dangerous. Not only do does raw fish have the possibility to carry bacteria, leading to food poisoning, but it contains an enzyme that destroys thiamine, which is essential to a cat. Too much raw fish can lead to neurological issues, seizures, coma or even possibly death. Now, if feeding your cat a special raw fish diet from a supplier that has been correctly handled and frozen up until consumption, that's fine.

Tuna. When feeding your cat tuna that is packed for human consumption, an all-tuna diet can cause malnutrition in your cat. There are cat foods and treats that are designed specifically for cats for this reason. Small amounts probably aren't harmful, but tuna in-full or in-excess can be dangerous. Talk to your vet about incorporating tuna to a cat's regular diet if they just can't resist the temptation when they hear the can opener.

Dog Food. Though not necessarily toxic for cats, dog food fed as a regular diet to cats can lead to malnutrition. Dog food is specially formulated for dogs, as is cat food. There may be common ingredients, but there are specific vitamin and nutrient 
formulas that will differ with cat and dog food.

Bones and Fat Trimmings. Remember Heathcliff the Cat and how he ate fish bones all the time? Well, that was just a cartoon for a reason. Bones from fish or meat are brittle, break easily and can cause an obstruction in your cat's airway or digestive system. Also, fat trimmings whether from cooked or raw meats can cause pancreatitis. It's safest to just keep table scraps away from your cat; or keep your cat away from tables and counters, where table scraps tend to be.

Sugar. To keep your cat healthy, don't feed them sugary foods. Though sugar isn't toxic to cats, it can cause obesity and potentially diabetes (as is the case with humans, too). It could also take a toll on a cat's dental health.

Mushrooms. The dirty truth about mushrooms is that they contain toxins that can affect multiple systems in a cat. Eating mushrooms can cause shock and result in death. Keep an eye on those outdoor cats too if there are mushrooms popping up in the yard.

Other foods you should avoid feeding to your pet are: Alcohol - Avocado - Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine - Citrus - Coconut Water - Grapes and Raisins - Milk and Dairy - Nuts - Onions, Garlic and Chives - Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones - Xylitol - Yeast Dough

You can learn more on the ASPCA’s website here.

Human Medications

It is safest to keep all human medications stored where your cats cannot reach them. Here’s a list of the top 10 most toxic medications: NSAIDs -Antidepressants - Acetaminophen - Methylphenidate (for ADHD) - Fluorouracil - Isoniazid - Pseudoephedrine - Anti-diabetics - Vitamin D derivatives -Baclofen

You can view an extensive list of human medications toxic to cats on the ASPCA’s website here.

Dangerous Retail Pet Products

Numerous over-the-counter "pet products", such as Hartz Flea and Tick Control, Sergeant's flea drops, Big Spot flea shampoo and numerous others, are in fact harming and sometimes killing perfectly healthy cats and dogs. They contain the same pesticides found in Raid and have been shown to cause severe skin burns, seizures, vomiting and death.

Watch an investigative report by CBC's Marketplace here.

Watch an investigative report by NBC's Joel Grover here.

Never use these products on your cats and consult your veterinarian about products proven to be safe. Just because a product is on the shelf in a pet supply store or supermarket does not mean it is safe.

A note about clumping litter: Clumping litter can be deadly to kittens (and none too good for adult cats) as it can be easily ingested and will turn into a rock hard substance in their intestinal tracts and can cause death. If your own cat uses this, please be sure your kitten does not use it. Yes, many kittens have used clumping litter and been fine, but why take a chance?