Fabulous Pets House

We use to keep various substances at our homes and we are often not aware of their potential threat to the cat's heath or even life. Many plants we grow and many materials we use everyday may be poisonous for our pets. Even if we do not want to get rid of these items, it is good to know where the risk comes from.

Common Household Poisons:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• antifreeze, coolants
• bleach
• boric acid
• brake fluid
• carbon monoxide
• carburator clearer
• cleaning fluid
• deodorants, deodorizers
• diet pills
• disinfectants
• drain cleaner
• dye
• fungicides
• furniture polish
• gasoline
• hair colouring
• herbicides
• insecticides
• kerosene
• laxatives
• lead
• lye
• matches
• metal polish
• mineral spirits
• mothballs
• nail polish and remover
• permanent wave lotion
• phenol
• photographic developers
• rat poison
• rubbing alcohol
• shoe polish
• sleeping pills
• snail or slug bait
• soaps and detergents
• suntan lotion
• tar
• turpentine
• windshield washer fluid
• wood preservatives

Poisonous Plants:

Holiday and Seasonal Decorative Plants

• Amaryllis spp.
• Celastrus spp. Bittersweet
• Chrysanthemum spp.
• Colchicum autumnale Autumn Crocus
• Euonymus japonicus Japanese Euonymus
• Euphorbia milii Crown of Thorns
• E. pulcherrima Poinsettia
• Helleborus niger Christmas Rose
• Ilex spp. Holly
• Phoradendron spp. American Mistletoe
• Solanum pseudocapsicum Jerusalem Cherry

Common House Plants

• Alocasia spp. Caladiums
• Azalea spp. Weeping Fig, Creeping Fig, Mistletoe Fig, Rubber Plant
• Dieffenbachia spp. Dumb Cane
• Hydrangea spp.
• Hedera helix spp. (many indoor ivies)
• Ligustrum spp. Japonicum texanum
• Narcissus spp. Paperwhites and other winter forced bulbs
• Nicotiana spp. Ornamental Tobacco
• Philodendron spp.
• Rhododendron Ficus spp. Weeping Fig, Creeping Fig, Mistletoe Fig, Rubber Plant

Common Outdoor Plants

• Abrus precatorius Rosary Pea
• Actea spp. Baneberry
• Allium spp. Onions, Chives, other related plants
• Ampelopsis quinquefolia Boston Ivy
• Atropa belladonna Deadly Nightshade
• Aconitum spp. Monkshood
• Aesculus hippocastanum Horse Chestnut
• Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-Pulpit
• Bulb Flowers: Star of Bethlehem, Tulip, Hyacinth, Iris
• Buxus spp. Boxwood
• Cestrum nocturnum Night-blooming Jasmine
• Clematis viginiana
• Conium maculatum Poison Hemlock
• Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley
• Cyclamen spp.
• Daphne mezereum Daphne
• Datura spp. Jimson Weed, Thorn Apple
• Delphinium Larkspur
• Descurainia pinnata Tansy Mustard
• Digitalis purpurea Foxglove
• Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman's Breeches
• D. spectabilis Bleeding Heart
• Ipomoea purpurea Morning Glory
• Hydrangea spp.
• Kalmia latifolia Mountain Laurel
• Laburnum spp. Locoweed
• Lantana camara Lantana
• Lathyrus spp. Sweetpea
• Ligustrum vulgare Privet
• Lily spp.
• Lobelia spp. Indian Tobacco
• Lupinus spp. Lupine Bluebonnet
• Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato(only the vine is toxic)
• Melia azedarach Chinaberry
• Mushrooms (all outdoor varieties have potential of being toxic)
• Narcissus spp.
• Nerium Oleander Oleander
• Papaver spp. Poppy
• Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper
• Physalis spp. Ground Cherries
• Phytolacca americana Pokeberry
• Prunus spp. Wild Cherry, Wild Peach, Wild Apricot, Chokeberry Almond, Black Cherry
• Ranunculus spp. Buttercup
• Rheum rhaponticium Rhubarb (only the leaves are toxic)
• Ricinus communis Castor Bean
• Robinia pseudoacaria Black Locust
• Sambucus spp. Elderberry
• Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot
• Solanum spp. Deadly Nightshades (including potato vines, green spots, and tubers)
• Taxus spp. Yews (especially the berries)
• Triglochin maritimun Arrowgrass
• Toxicodendron Poison Oak, Poison Ivy
• Urtica spp. Stinging Nettle
• Veratum viride False Hellebore
• Wisteria spp.

Symptoms of Poisoning

Some signs of poisoning are:

• continual vomiting
• diarrhea
• refusal of food
• pale gums or tongue
• swollen tongue
• abdominal pain
• convulsions

What To Do

If your cat is displaying any one or combination of these symptoms it is possible it has injested a poisonous plant or other toxic substance. Poisoning is dangerous and medical attention should be sought immediately. Try to identify the poison. This information will provide for a quicker diagnosis and treatment of your pet.