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Home > Cat Newsletters > Cat Newsletter 4
Cat
Newsletter 4
Most of us are surrounded by plants. They add the needed finishing touches to any decor. However, a small percentage of these plants have the potential to cause harm of our cats and this beautiful plants could become a deadly enemy. Cats are generally sensible creatures - but nevertheless they can become victims of poisoning. Who is at risk? Most cats are fastidious creatures and are careful what they eat. Poisoning in cats is therefore generally rare. Young cats, and especially indoor cats are most at risk as they may chew houseplants through curiosity or boredom. When a cat is confined to a run or lives entirely indoors-hazardous plants should be removed from its environment. Cats given free access to the outside world tend to have other things to occupy their minds than sampling unfamiliar vegetation. But even free roaming adult cats may accidentally ingest needles or seeds that have become entangled in their coat during grooming. Many cats love to eat grass to aid their digestion. Indoor cats may crave some greenery and chew at houseplants. There are
many plants that are poisonous to cats. They vary in their toxicity. Many
are irritant rather than poisonous. Below is a list of houseplants that
can be harmful or fatal depending on the quantity swallowed. Also, remember
that cats that chew plants are exposed to any chemical pesticides or fertilizers
that may have been applied directly to the plants or through the soil. Baby's Breath Cactus, Candelabra Daffodil Easter Lily Ferns Geranium Hahn's Self-Branching
Ivy Indian Rubber
Plant Jack in the
Pulpit Kalanchoe Lacy Tree
Philodendron Madagascar
Dragon Tree Narcissus Oleander Peace Lily Red Emerald Saddle Leaf
Philodendron Tansy Mustard Virginia Creeper Water Hemlock The signs of poisoning can be vary - drooling, repeated vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, suddenly collapse, excessive irritation (red, swollen, blistering or raw) of the skin, the mouth or throat, . Skin reactions It’s more common for plants to cause skin irritation in cats than to poison them. Contact with the leaves, stems or sap of certain plants can cause rashes and hypersensitivity to sunlight resulting in sunburn. In cats these plants can cause blistering or itching of the mouth and gums. Sneezing and eye problems can also be caused through contact with these plants. What to do? You should contact your veterinary surgeon immediately if your cat is showing signs of poisoning. If you see your cat eat something that you suspect to be poisonous, don’t attempt to make it vomit. Take your cat to the vet with a sample of the plant or even better a plant label. Make a note of the time of eating and any symptoms. Several days may pass between the ingestion of the undesirable material and the effects. How to prevent the poisoning in cats? You can prevent your cat from chewing on plants by misting the leaves then sprinkling them with cayenne pepper. You might also want to consider planting a container of grass (regular grass, not the drug) for your cat. If your cats are digging in your pots, go to your local hobby/craft store and buy a few pieces of plastic needlepoint canvas. Trim it to the shape of the pot, cut a slit in it and then a hole in the center for the plant. Rest it on top of the soil and your cat will be unable to dig. Of course it’s impossible for you to prevent your cat coming into contact with hazardous plants in neighbouring gardens but you can make a note of any toxic plants in their gardens. After gardening, ensure hedge clippings or uprooted plants are tidied up. Bulbs, rhizomes, and the roots can be the most hazardous parts of some plants.
Please, tell us what do you think about our Cat Newsletter, what information do you need and how can we help you. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Yours truly, Petar Petrov
– Editor |
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