Top 5 Poisons Cats Ingest

There are approximately 94 million cats who allow humans to live with them in the U.S. Unfortunately, sometimes cats end up getting into things that we have in the house to keep the house clean, keep ourselves healthy, and decorate.

According to a report released by the Pet Poison Hotline, 9% of the calls were about cats who were possibly poisoned. Here are the top 5 poisons that cats are exposed to:

1: Human medications – NSAIDS, antidepressants, and acetaminophen are the most common drugs found in a home. Keep these drugs in a cabinet with the door closed or in a container that is out of reach of your cat and children.

2: Plants – some plants that we buy to make our homes prettier can be poisonous to our cats. Lilies tend to be the most dangerous, tiger, day, easter, calla, and peruvian are dangerous. They can cause kidney failure.

3: Insecticides – be careful using sprays and repellents. Some are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. Even the topical ones can be bad if your cat licks the area where you applied the medication. Consult your vet and read the labels when buying insecticides.

4: Household common cleaners – bleach, bathroom and carpet cleaners, and kitchen cleaners can be toxic to your cat. After you have cleaned a room, make sure it’s completely dry before allowing the cat back inside. If your cat has a habit of trying to drink from the toilet, keep the seat down.

5: Other toxic items like potpourri and toys – some toys that contain liquids such as glow in the dark goo can cause cats to drool and become ill. Potpourri can also cause illness and make cats vomit. These things aren’t as poisonous but definitely make your cat sick.

Keep all items that aren’t cat-safe in areas where they can’t reach it or behind closed doors. If your pet does ingest something, call your vet, find your 24 hour emergency animals hospital, or call the Pet Poison Hotline: 800-213-6680.