Pet Poison – Spring Toxic Products

Pet Poison Prevention week is the 3rd full week of March. March is also the time of year when days start getting warmer and longer. People start on all their Spring projects, like gardening and cleaning. Spring is also when we celebrate Easter. These are all activities that could contain toxic products that could pose a threat to your cat. Being informed on potential dangers will help keep your furbaby safe.

3 Main Spring Poison Potentials

Easter Lilies

When you think of Easter you think of Easter Lilies. Unfortunately, these beautiful flowers are extremely fatal to cats. All parts of the lily are toxic, the stem, leaves, petals and even, the pollen. Just one small bite can cause your cat to have extreme digestive upset. Left untreated this could lead to kidney failure and even death. Early signs of lily poisoning will be vomiting, lethargy and lack of appetite. You will notice these symptoms within 2-4 hours of consumption. By 24-72 hours, you will see an increase of thirst and urination, leading to a decreased urination due to kidney failure. Time is of the essence with lily poisoning. Your cat will have a good chance of survival if treatment is received within 6 hours.

You can still enjoy the beauty of Easter flowers with Easter orchids, daisies or Easter cactus. They are just as pretty and pose no threat for your cat.

Gardening Toxic Products

The longer days and warmer weather of Spring lures us outside. A lot of people spend their days working on their gardens. Cat parents need to be mindful of the potential toxic products and plants that they are putting in their gardens, especially if they have cats that go outside. I am going to focus on some of these toxic products. You can find a comprehensive list of toxic and non toxic plants on the ASPCA website.

• Blood Meal – if ingested can cause diarrhea and vomiting and even pancreatitis.
• Weed Killers & Pesticides – extreme toxicity is present while in the container. Toxicity lessens once it is applied to your lawn. It is best to keep your cat off the lawn for at least 48 hours. It is always best to use a pet friendly product.
• Vermin, Snail and Slug Baits – most of these are highly toxic since they usually contain strychnine, an extremely poisonous alkaloid. If ingested, these can cause deadly tremors and seizures.
• Fertilizers – Organophosphates are found in most fertilizers. Ingestion of this can cause salivation, respiratory issues and seizures.
• Mulch – while most mulch is safe for cats, any mulch that contains cocoa is extremely toxic to cats. This mulch will contain caffeine and theobromine, which are both toxic if ingested.

Cleaning Toxic Products

Spring equates Spring Cleaning. Windows are opened and air is flowing. It is time for us to shake off the winter slump and freshen up our houses. A cat will appreciate a clean house, but you must remember that their paw pads are vascular, meaning that anything that they are exposed to will be absorbed and travel through the blood system. Products containing ammonia and bleach are potential dangers, especially if they lick their paws after getting them wet. Popular products like Pine-Sol, Lysol and Clorox wipes contain ingredients that could pose a threat to your cat’s well-being.

So, what is one to do when they want a clean house without exposing their cats to potential dangers? There are a lot of alternatives to commercial cleaners that will keep your house clean and fresh and your cat safe and healthy. You probably have most of these items in your house already, such as white vinegar and baking soda. The Two Crazy Cat Ladies have a recipe to make your own DIY Safe Cleaner and a video of Cat Safe Cleaners. Check them out.

Whatever products you use in and out of your home and no matter if they are commercial or you make your own, the best practice is to keep and store those products out of reach of your cat. Remember the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat”. If you suspect that your cat has been poisoned, get them to the vet as soon as possible or call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Helpline, available 24/7.

Hope you and your babies have a happy and safe Spring!