4 Foods to Avoid Giving Your Cat

Today's topic is a familiar one to you, since we have often posted about human foods that are toxic to your pets.

Normally we don't have guest posts on our blog, but we wanted to share this one with you because the author zeroed in on something we'd never considered: it's not just common foods that can be poisonous to your pet....

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You love your feline friend. Sometimes you might decide to let your cat try some of your human food. Maybe Fluffy jumped on the counter and started eating something she shouldn't. Be very careful what your cat eats. Cats and humans may seem alike in many ways, but our bodies are quite different. Cats are carnivores and true meat eaters. Many plants and human foods are very poisonous to your cat. Keep your kitty protected by knowing some common household foods and plants that may be a hazard to your friend.

1. Caffeine

Caffeine is in many products that are commonly found in the home. Soda, coffee, chocolate and tea can all be harmful to your cat. Cats are much smaller than humans and caffeine works more intensely on a cat. Caffeine can overwork your cat's heart and nervous system. Do your best to not let your cat sip on your caffeinated human drinks.

2. Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic are often left on top of your counters. They are also popular ingredients in human dinner dishes. Do your best to keep these far from your kitty's mouth. Onions and garlic contain a substance that destroys your cat's red blood cells. This leads to anemia and eventual death. Keep your onions and garlic locked up away from kitties who enjoy vertical exploration.

3. Alcohol

Alcohol is kept in many houses around the world. It also leads to people not thinking correctly and being a little more forgetful. Don't leave full beer glasses lying around after a party. Alcohol is very dangerous to a cat and they don't know not to drink it. Keep your cat safe by making sure your cat can't get into any alcoholic beverage. Don't even joke around with your friends about giving your cat a beer. The idea of a drunk cat may be amusing, but you could be killing your feline friend.

4. Poinsettia

Poinsettias are beautiful plants with brilliant red flowers. They are often given as gifts around the holidays and your house can fill up with them. They may be a great centerpiece accent but they are also poisonous to your cat. This plant can cause vomiting and make it difficult for your cat to breathe if they ingest it. Make sure to place your holiday Poinsettias out of reach.

There are literally hundreds of common household plants that poisonous to your cat. If you see your cat acting weird after introducing a new plant, take your pet to the vet immediately. Poisoning needs to be taken care of as quickly as possible so do not hesitate!

About the author: Andrea Booth is a blogger for Smith Monitoring, and expert in security systems for Dallas. She enjoys spending her time taking pictures of her two kitties. I know...

Monday Medical Holiday Toxins: Mistletoe

Mistletoe in a hackberry tree on my sister's land in Texas

About this time last year I was in a van, driving through west Texas back country with a camera crew.  Suddenly, I saw something very familiar to me. Since we were on our way to film a Christmas special, it seemed all too appropriate.

"Look! Mistletoe!" I pointed out the window of the van.
No one believed me.

But having grown up with the stuff dripping from the oak trees on my parents' land in central Texas, I knew what I was talking about. It was mistletoe, and I won the Trivia round that day with the crew.

Oddly for a wintertime holiday plant, a large number of mistletoe varieties are tropical or sub-tropical. Mistletoe is also a partial parasite, and it grows in clumps in trees like oak, walnut and hackberry.

And since mistletoe is a known toxin to both humans and pets, it makes a good Medical Monday topic for December.

One of the earliest mentions of mistletoe is in Greek mythology around the first century BCE, in Virgil's The Aeneid. It also makes an appearance in thirteenth century Norse mythology. Mistletoe didn't really become a part of Christmas tradition until the 18th century.

1900's postcard, public domain

Back in the first century, mistletoe was actually considered to be an antidote to poisons. That's sadly ironic, since mistletoe is toxic to humans and pets alike.

It was also considered to be a cure for infertility in animals. Pliny the Elder documented a Celtic ritual in his "Natural History" series where mistletoe was mixed in a drink and served to animals to increase fertility. One wonders how many farm animals survived this practice.

There are two main species of mistletoe, the European variety and the American variety. The European variety is considered the more poisonous of the two. Both varieties are harvested commercially for Christmas decorations.

If you suspect your pet may have turned your décor into a menu item, look for symptoms to begin to show up in 2 to 24 hours. As with all toxins, the symptoms may vary with the amount ingested.

If you think it was just a berry or two that got eaten, or maybe a few leaves nibbled on, then look for things that might indicate you have inflammation in the stomach or intestines – stuff like drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.

If your mistletoe is completely gone and you suspect Fido might have chowed down on it, that’s a bit more dangerous. In large doses, mistletoe can affect the cardiovascular system – especially if it’s of the Eurpopean variety.

You risk low blood pressure, abnormal heart rate, seizures, or a condition known as ataxia (or “walking drunk”). This can even be fatal, so seek medical help immediately.

And remember, if you ever suspect your pet may have eaten something he shouldn’t, call your veterinarian immediately. There is also a Global Crisis Solution Center that has a poison emergency page that includes animals. On it you can find a link to Poison Control Center phone lines in over 70 countries.

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable holiday season - for you and your pets!
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Sources:

Images of American & Eurpoean Mistletoe
Mistletoe species are partial parasites
If your pets eat mistletoe, what should you expect? FDA.gov
Pet Poison Helpline
Mistletoe commentary by Pliny the Elder