Household Dangers

Bags with handles & Chip bags

All cats love bags – any bag – paper, plastic, leather straw etc. because they are fun to hide in and sometimes sleep in them.

But bags with handles and chip bags are a potential source of injury to cats.  As they try to squeeze their bodies into the bags their necks get wrapped around the handles and they can not free themselves.  This causes them to panic and run around the house trying to get out. When a cat sticks their head in a chip bag, they can suffocate.

While it may be amusing to watch, if they fall down the stairs or bang into a wall in a panic, they can cause serious injury to their bodies.  We have had some patients rip all their nails out trying to free themselves.

So please take precautions by cutting the handles off the plastic and paper bags and make sure your handbags and chip bags are out of reach of curious kitties investigating the contents.

Lilies*

Easter lilies are extremely toxic. Even the smallest bite of the plant can cause kidney failure. Lilies should never be around a house that has cats.

Top 10 Toxic Foods, Plants & Medications

Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 289-0358

Food

  1. Chocolate

  2. Grapes, raisins & zante currants

  3. Xylitol (suger-ree gum & candy)

  4. Caffeine (coffee beans, grounds & tea)

  5. Macadamia nuts

  6. Unbaked yeast bread dough

  7. Table salt (in excess)

  8. Moldy food

  9. Onions, garlic, leeks & chives

  10. Alcohol

Plants

  1. Azaleas (Rhododendron species)

  2. Castor beans (Ricinus communis)

  3. Day lilies (Hemerocallis species)*

  4. Lilies (Lilium species)*

  5. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)*

  6. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia species)

  7. Oleander (Nerium oleander)

  8. Sago palms (Cycas revolute)

  9. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia species)

  10. Yew (Taxus species)

Medications

  1. Amphetamines (ADD/ADHD meds)

  2. Vitamin D3 (overdose)

  3. Ibuprofen (Advil)

  4. Venlafaxine (Effexor)

  5. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)(overdose)

  6. Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

  7. Asprin (overdose)

  8. Hydrogen peroxide, injested

  9. Pregabalin (Lyrica)

  10. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)

Gas Stoves

We all worry about household dangers with children but what about with cats?

Cats are notorious for being inquisitive and jumping on stoves to investigate is common. Gas stoves with knobs that turn present a problem because they can inadvertently turn the knobs with their paws while jumping and turn on the gas.

Every year 1,000 house fires are started due to pets. Make sure to protect your beloved animal companions and your home from accidental fires with stove knob protectors.

New York Post: Cats cause hundreds of house fires and injuries by turning on stoves