Easter Can Be Dangerous to Cats

Cats, Health No Responses »
Apr 202011

Here is a short list of plants that you see this time of year that are toxic to both cats and dogs.

Easter Lily (ALL Lilies)
While Easter Lilies are not toxic to dogs they are highly toxic to cats and can cause immediate kidney failure with only one leaf eaten. Other lilies such as the Calla Lily and the Day Lily are toxic to dogs as well as cats. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, excessive drinking and urination.

Hyacinth
This flower is part of the lily family and can be highly poisonous. Symptoms include: Intense vomiting, diarrhea (occasionally with blood), depression and tremors.

Daffodil
The bulb of this flower is the most dangerous part, but any part of the plant can cause sever problems. Symptoms of ingestion are vomiting, salvation, and diarrhea. If a large amount is eaten it can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias.

Tulip
Again this flower is in the same family as the lily and like the Daffodil the bulb has the highest amounts of toxins. Symptoms to watch for are vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and extreme or hypersalivation.

Easter Rose
This plant is also known as Hellebore, Christmas Rose, or Lenten Rose. It is not a rose at all rather a bushy stalk with pinkish white flowers. Symptoms of ingestion are drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, and depression.

 

For a complete list of toxic plants please see the ASPCA’s list of Plants Toxic to cats, dogs and horses.

 

Other Easter dangers include candy especially chocolate, Easter Grass that you fill your baskets with, candy wrappers, candles and other decorations. Please be mindful of your cats and where you place your decorations.

 

via Boris Kitty

Posted by CatToys.com at 2:51 pm Tagged with: , ,

Natural Alternatives to Chemical Sprays

Cats, Health 2 Responses »
Apr 292009

There are many hidden dangers to our cats some of which we probably don’t even think about because we use the products on a daily basis. One such danger is household bug spray.

We were just alerted by a fellow cat lover about an article in the Wired magazine about what’s inside a can of RAID. Basically the main insecticide used in the bug spray cannot be filtered out of your cat’s system fast enough before it hurts or even kills them.

There are natural alternatives to these chemical sprays like the Sentry Natural Defense Household Spray that is safe to use around pets, children, and even food. It kills most household pests like spiders, ants, fleas and more naturally.

Mind you the product does contain mineral spirits so do not use in direct contact with your cat and keep him away until the spray is completely dried just as you would the more harmful chemical based products.

From the product brochure, “Because octopamine is not found in humans or other mammals, birds and fish, the natural active ingredients in Sentry Natural Defense products are safe to use around your family or pets, when used as directed.”

If you would like more information or have questions please visit Sergeants.com.

Posted by CatToys.com at 1:12 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Friday the 13th and Black Cats

Cats, Health, Kittens No Responses »
Mar 132009

It is Friday the 13th and superstitions abound. Many people believe that today is unlucky. Some folks even have a strong fear of Friday the 13th this is called paraskavedekatriaphobia or some times friggatriskaidekaphobia, while the fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. For some people these fears are all too real, while for some of us it is just harmless superstitions.

But with all this superstitious nonsense running around it is important as cat lovers to keep your black cats (another source of fear and loathing to the highly superstitious person) safely indoors on Friday the Thirteenth. When people feel strongly that something is unlucky, like Friday the 13th or a black cat, they fear it. If that fear is strong enough, who knows what can happen.

No one knows for sure where these fears originated but they have been around for a very long time. For instance many hospitals do not have a room number 13 and most hotels do not have a thirteenth floor. Our 32nd President, Franklin Roosevelt refused to travel on the 13th of any month. Other famous triskaidekaphobics were Napoleon and Herbert Hoover.

Posted by CatToys.com at 11:17 am Tagged with: , ,
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