What Is Toxic To Cats? 5 Household Hazards

Chances are, your cat feels safe in your home. But as it turns out, a whole bunch of common household items – including food, plants, and even medications – can be dangerous for them. So what is toxic to cats and how can you prevent them from getting their paws into them? We’ll cover all these, including when a cat GPS tracker can be an important safety measure. Let’s get started.

What is toxic to cats? 5 dangers to watch out for

Here are the top 5 household hazards for cats – most of which are most likely somewhere around your house.

1) Poisonous plants

Not all plants are poisonous to cats, but many are. If you have houseplants, chances are you have at least one plant in your home that’s poisonous for your cat. If a cat takes a bite of a toxic plant, reactions can vary from mild irritation to vomiting, seizures and even death. Common plants like lillies, poinsettias and tulips are among the ones you need to watch out for. Read our full guide to plants poisonous to cats.

“Because lilies are so dangerous for cats and there’s a high risk of death if they’re ingested, it’s best to not bring these plants into your home if you have a cat.

It’s also best if you don’t plant them in your garden if your cat goes outside or if your neighbors have outdoor cats.”

– Pet MD¹

Also keep in mind that water with fertilizer in it can harm your cat, if ingested. Your feline might try to take a drink, so always keep watering cans away from cats.

⚠️ Watch out: your cat might also come in contact with poisonous plants in your neighbors’ backyards or elsewhere, if they spend any amount of time outdoors.

2) Toxic foods

Many foods that are safe for us are toxic to cats. So be aware of the most common foods poisonous to cats, and keep them out of reach. These include:

• Grapes (and raisins)
• Chocolate
• Avocados
• Onions
• Raisins
• Xylitol, or any foods containing the artificial sweetener

Read more:

• What Can Cats Not Eat? (And Why Not?)
• What Human Foods Can Cats Eat? (And How Much?)

3) Household chemicals

Most homes contain some household chemicals, from cleaning products to nail polish remover. Keep chemicals away from your cat and make sure to clean up any spills properly. Contact with a hazardous chemical may cause poisoning and/or chemical burns in your cat.

For safety, keep those items stored away a cupboard. Also while cleaning, it’s wise to keep your cat in another room until area is dry and safe again.

Household chemicals that are toxic to cats include:

• Pesticides
• Snail, insect or rat poison
• Weed killers
• Antifreeze (which actually tastes sweet to cats!)
• Cleaning products
• Pool chemicals
• Fertilizers
• Paint thinner

Remember, many cats eat grass, so be careful not to let your kitty go roaming if there may be fertilizers or other dangerous chemicals around.

💡A cat GPS tracker can be an important safety measure if you’ve got an outdoor cat – or one that spends any amount of time outdoors. We’ll cover it in detail a little further below.

4) Medications

Another household danger for cats is medication. Never give medicine to your cat without your vet’s guidance. Keep all human medication out of reach of your kitty (that includes pills dropped on the floor) because they may try to eat it if they can reach it – and which can turn out to be toxic to cats.

Common causes of poisoning in cats include:

• Aspirin
• Pain relievers
• Vitamins and supplements
• Dog flea treatments

5) Dangerous areas & objects

When it comes to household hazard for cats, be on the look out for toxic plants, foods, medications and chemicals. Besides that, you may also want to consider these commonly overlooked dangers:

• Open windows: When cats discover an open window, they may try to get out. Which could lead to them getting stuck, injured or worse. For safety, use a screen or stay in the room with your cat when the window’s open.
• Balconies: Balconies can also be danger-zones for cats. Even though cats are known for their great balance, they can still fall and suffer serious injuries. To protect your feline friend, consider cat-proofing your balcony with a safety net.
• Ropes and cables: Playing with ropes and cables can be fun entertainment for your cat. But it can also pose a serious risk to your furry friend. Keep cables, ropes, and other dangerous household items out of reach of your feline.

Cat poisoning symptoms

Cat poisoning can come in a variety of forms – your cat may have ingested, inhaled, or touched something toxic. Depending on the substance, symptoms of cat poisoning vary.

Here are some common signs of poisoning in cats:

• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Twitching
• Seizure
• Difficulty breathing
• Lethargy
• Cat not eating
• Coma
• Skin inflammation
• Unstable walking
• Shock, collapse
• Drinking (and urinating) more often than usual
• Inability to urinate
• Irregular heartbeat
• Blood in urine/stool
• Bruising
• Nosebleeds
• Jaundice
• Fever

How quickly a cat becomes sick depends on the toxin involved, and the amount ingested. So it’s essential to get your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

What to do if your cat is poisoned?

If you think your cat may have been poisoned or ingested something toxic, don’t panic. Call your vet right away. In case you can’t reach your vet, you can visit an emergency veterinary clinic. Or call an animal poison control hotline for help (fees may apply).

Pet Poison Control Help Hotline Resources by Country:

If you know which poison your cat came into contact with, collect a sample of it (or the package/label). This information will be helpful when talking to a vet or helpline.

Don’t induce vomiting in your cat, unless instructed to by a vet. In some cases, vomiting a toxic substance could cause more damage.

Where a cat GPS tracker can be a lifesaver

You might be cat-proofing your kitchen cabinets and backyard – but what about the outdoors? There’s no end to the places your cat might end up licking antifreeze, eating something they really shouldn’t, or running into poisonous plants.

💡Which is where a cat GPS tracker can help you figure out exactly where your cat tends to spend most of their time. So you can check if they’ve been snooping around your neighbors’ lily-riddled backyards, any fertilizer-strewn fields nearby, or any nearby dumpsters.

Just check your cat’s Heat Map & Location History…

…and figure out your cat’s secret “hangout” spots – with just a glance at your phone.

And with this knowledge, you can prevent your cat from venturing to these areas, warn your neighbors – and take a more active role in your feline buddy’s health, safety, and well-being.

Ready to poison-proof your home & keep your cat healthy?

The list of “what is toxic to cats” could be way…way longer – and sadly, there’s dangers everywhere, often not the most obvious to us humans. But on the bright side, you can poison-proof your home and backyard by:

• Keeping your indoor and outdoor space free of any poisonous plants,
• Preventing your cat from venturing into your kitchen,
• Watching out for household chemicals, including cleaning liquids and antifreeze,
• Keeping medications well out of reach,
• Watching out for dangerous indoor spots, like open windows and balconies,
• Knowing the symptoms of cat poisoning – and reaching out to a helpline right away

💡 Finally, if your cat tends to wander the outdoors – a GPS tracker can help you keep an eye on them, right from the comfort of your couch. So you can intervene if they venture anywhere dangerous…with just a glance at your phone.

“Anyone with cats knows how slick they are…even if your cat is an indoor cat, they will eventually find a way out. My cat is indoor and outdoor, and I will never again have a cat without a Tractive!

First, it’s fascinating seeing where they go, their favorite spots, and the territory they establish.

Second, when she has been out too long and I start to worry, I know right where she is and I go get her! I would recommend this highly for both cats and dogs!“

– Traci, US (Source: Trustpilot)

Know everywhere your cat goes

See where they are in real-time, no matter how far they go. Get alerts if they roam too far home. Find out where they’ve been and discover their favorite spots. Let others track with you.

Discover Cat GPS Trackers

Here’s a short, sweet video covering some common cat poisons – and how you can avoid them:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.