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 On this page there is information on -
"Foods that will Kill!"
"Household Things that will Kill!"
"Plants that will Kill!"
# Source: "Danger !", by Karla S. Rugh. D.V.M., Ph.D. as published in 'Cats USA, 2007'
The following list contains only some of the foods that are toxic to cats and kittens. Contact your veterinarian for a complete list of taxic
foods -
# Source: " Danger ! ", by Karla S. Rugh. D.V.M., Ph.D. as published in 'Cats USA, 2007'
The following list contains only some of the every-day household items that will
maime, injure or kill cats and kittens -
 | Electrical cords -
 | kitten teeth are sharp |
| one good bite on a cord that is plugged in and your kitten can get electric shock, burns, neurological damage, heart and lung damage, any or all of which can be fatal. |
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| Strings, threads, needles, cottons, pins, hair clips, glider clips, rubber bands -
| if swallowed or chewed, they form wads that obstruct your kitten's digestive tracts. Even a single strand of string or cotton can be life-threatening. As it passes through the digestive tract, it can cut into the intestines as they contract around it. Also, thin cords such as those found on draperies can strangle a kitten. Kittens are drawn to them as a good play-thing. |
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| Poisons - the average household is full of poisonous substances. For example -
| house plants (also see below)
 | can range from mildly toxic to deadly |
|
| apricot fruit is not toxic, but
| the leaves, twigs and kernel inside the pit contains deadly cyanide. |
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| chemical products, cleaning supplies -
| most chemicals including solvents, paint thinners, gasoline, |
|
| antifreeze and others are extremely toxic. |
| household cleaning supplies -
| the unappealing smells and tastes of these highly toxic products - detergent, bleach and other cleaners - may not keep your kitten away. |
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| lawn and garden products -
| contact with fertilizers and herbicides can occur if your kitten tears into a product container or licks its paws after walking through areas where the products has been applied. |
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| pesticides -
| products used to kill various types of pests - fleas, ticks, mice, rats - can also kill your kitten. |
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| rodent poisons
| are often incorporated into edible baits that can be dangerously - and sometimes fatally - appealing. |
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| our medications -
| a normal dose of prescription or over-the-counter medication for you is a huge overdose for your kitten. |
| Flavoured medications, such as paediatric preparations and even heartworm preventatives for animals, are especially dangerous. |
| Spilled medication can be deadly if your kitten decides to sample it - or even just play with it. |
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| foods -
| just because a food is safe for you to eat doesn't mean it's safe for your kitten - see the list above for some of the examples of foods that are harmful to cats. |
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| Falls -
| Cats always land on their feet, right? Wrong!! |
| Cats and kittens can suffer serious injuries when they fall. |
| Care should be taken with such things as stairs, decks, balconies, excavations. |
| The injuries suffered can range from minor bumps and bruises to major fractures and even death. |
| Kittens are especially prone to falling because they don't seem to understand the concept of height or depth. |
| Kittens also play without paying attention to their surroundings. |
| Some will jump through an open window or off a deck in a moment of excitement. |
| Others climb for the sheer joy of it, only to find themselves unable to get back down. |
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| Motorized menances -
| No doubt about it, cars, trucks, etc. are hazardous to your kitten or cat's health. |
| Unless you have a specially designed cat play area outside, your kitten is at risk every time it goes out-side. |
| Don't make the mistake of thinking the noise and motion of cars on the street will scare your little friend away. |
| Under normal circumstances, it probably will, but in an emergency - for instance, being chased by a large dog - your kitten will most likely dart into traffic without hesitation. |
| And cars don't have to move to be dangerous. If your kitten decides to curl up under the hood of your car, it could be seriously injured or killed when you start up the engine! |
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Don't assume a products' yukky smell or taste will keep your kitten from sampling it - smell and
tastes aren't always related to toxicity.
# Sources: "Plants Poisonous to People", by Queensland Health"; "Some Poisonous Plants Common in the Northern Territory", by the Northern Territory Poisons Information Centre; Royal Children's Hospital Safety Centre, Melbourne; Ms. Robyn McKeown, Pharmacist in Charge, ACT Poisons Service; "Poisonous Plants in the Garden", NSW Agfact H1.1.25; The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide.
The Silent Killers
Cats and kittens can die or become seriously ill from a silent killer lurking near every home - garden plants.
Western breeder, Bev Rutherford, spent a few weeks trying to restore the health of two litters of Devon Rex kittens struck down by a mystery illness. After countless visits to the vet, she discovered the kittens had been poisoned from chewing on a jasmine vine growing near their cattery.
Queensland Health Minister, Ken Hayward, says most poisonous plants were only a problem when eaten or handled. "Pets are susceptible to deleterious effects if they eat the plants, or if fallen leaves contaminate drinking water", he said. "While many plants provide food for humans and animals, and other provide a source of medications, people need to be aware of the dark side of some plants which are ingested or come into contact with the skin."
Mr. Hayward said it was important for people to understand the potentially harmful toxic effects of garden and bushland plants.
Identify all your Garden Plants
Western Australian Poison Information Centre senior pharmacist, Gladys Heedes, advised people to identify all their garden plants, including shrubs and trees. "A tremendous amount of plants are poisonous," she said. "We have millions of plants in this country, not just natives, but varieties from Europe, Africa, Asia and America. I advise people to be cautious of plants which are not part of the food chain."
Miss Heedes said common food sources, such as tomato and strawberry plants, were fairly safe but people should be careful of other plants. "The problem with listing poisonous plants is that people often think plants not included in the list are harmless," she said. "There have been incidents where people have not acted because plants eaten were not listed."
ACT Poisons Service pharmacist in charge, Robyn McKeown, agreed a variety of common plants were toxic. "The Death Cap mushroom causes us the most concern," she said. "It is very toxic and death can occur, even in adults, if just one cap is eaten. A large number of other plants are grown indoors because of our harsh climate. People should take care - especially when they have young children or animals."
Some Common Poisonous Plants
The following list of common toxic plants is not complete and people should always seek veterinary advice if they suspect their pet has been poisoned.
| Adam's Needle |
| African Milk Bush |
| Agapanthus |
| Angel's Trumpet |
| Apple of Sodom (Devel's Apple) |
| Apricot kernels |
| Arum Lily |
| Azalea |
| Bird of Paradise or Dwarf Poinciana |
| Bitter Almond |
| Black Bean (seeds) |
| Black Locust |
| Boxwood/edging box |
| Burrawang (seeds) |
| Bushman's poison |
| Caladium |
| Candelabra |
| Carolina Jasmine |
| Castor Oil plant (seeds) |
| Chalice Vine |
| Christmas Rose |
| Climbing Lily |
| Cherry kernels |
| Coffee Senna |
| Colocasia |
| Cotoneaster (berries) |
| Cotton Bush - Swan plant |
| Crab's Eye - Gideegidee |
| Rosary bean or pea |
| Jequirity bean (seeds) |
| Crown of Thorns |
| Cunjevoi |
| Daphne |
| Deadly Nightshade |
| Death Cap Mushroom (Angel of Death) |
| Delphinium |
| Diffenbachia |
| Dumb Cane |
| Duranta - Golden Dewdrop |
| Elephant's Ears |
| False Acacia - Black locust |
| Glad Iris |
| Foxglove |
| Georgina Gidyea |
| Giant Stinging Tree |
| Gloriosa Lily |
| Golden Chair tree |
| Golden Dewdrop - Skyflower/Pigeon Berry |
| Green Cestrum |
| Hydrangea |
| Jerusalem cherry |
| Kaffir Lily |
| Laburnum |
| Lantana |
| Larkspur |
| Lily of the Valley |
| Lobellia |
| Loquat |
| Lupin |
| Morton Bay Chestnut (seeds) |
| Mother-in-law plant |
| Naked Lady |
| Oleander |
| Onion lily |
| Pencil plant |
| Pepper tree |
| Petty Spurge (sap) |
| Philodendron |
| Physic Nut - Coral Bush |
| Pigeon berry |
| Pineapple Samia |
| Pink/Blue Periwinkle |
| Poinsettia |
| Poison Ivy |
| Poison Sumac |
| Privet |
| Purple Jessamine |
| Plum kernels |
| Peach kernels |
| Rhododendron |
| Rhubarb (leaves) |
| Rhus |
| Snow on the mountains - Ghost week |
| Spider lily |
| Stinging nettle |
| Strychnine tree |
| Thorn Apple |
| Tree Zamia |
| Virginia Creeper |
| White Cedar |
| Wintersweet |
| Wisteria |
| Yellow Jasmine |
| Yellow Oleander/Be-still tree |
| Yew |
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