Many people decorate their
homes with festive holiday plants that are gorgeous to look at, but may be
deadly if eaten. In addition, many are busy baking and cooking in preparation
of big family meals together. Since we’re so busy, sometimes we may not notice
if our mischievous cat is trying to snack on something she shouldn’t.
Here are some of the top
holiday items that cats love to eat (but shouldn’t!):
Plants
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| Mistletoe should be kept well out of cats' reach |
First
of all, it is important to note that even non-toxic plants can cause coughing,
choking, stomach upset or mild vomiting. Sometimes a leaf can even become
lodged in a nostril or scratch or irritate an eye. If your cat eats a plant and
needs to seek medical attention, it is always a good idea to bring the plant
that was eaten with you to the vet – that way if you are uncertain of the
species, your vet may be able to identify it and determine the treatment
needed. Also, bringing the plant helps to evaluate exactly how much and what
part of the plant was eaten. A tiny bite of a certain plant leaf may be safe,
while the berry or flower of the same plant is lethal.
Holiday plants vary in their
toxicity.
Lilies (all of the Lilium family and Hemerocalis
species), amaryllis bulbs
and
mistletoe are the most dangerous. If you or anyone in your
household suspects that your cat may have ingested any part of a lily,
no
matter how small, please seek immediate veterinary attention. Hesitation
may mean the difference between life and death for your cat! If more than 6
hours pass between lily ingestion and treatment, your cat’s chance of recovery
decreases from fairly good to guarded-to-poor, and you can expect some
long-term kidney damage.
There
are several species of mistletoe including Phoradendum and Viscum
– some of which are highly toxic and some of which are less so. Any type of
mistletoe ingestion should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian.
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| Cats should be monitored around holly |
Holly
(
Ilex spp.) – certain species contain the methylzanthine
Theobromine
(also theophylline which is used as a respiratory aid, and caffeine –
I'm sure you know
what that does!)
in all parts, but concentrated in the leaves. Theobromine is the toxic
substance that is also found in chocolate. Leaves can cause cuts or irritation
in the mouth and esophagus. The berries, which contain glucosidic saponins, are
mildly toxic to humans in small quantities, but can cause toxicity to varying
degrees in pets. It is best to contact a veterinarian if your pet has ingested
holly.
Jerusalem
cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) is a decorative species of
nightshade with bright red berries that are poisonous.
Poinsettias (Euphorbia) have gotten a bad rap as an
extremely poisonous plant due to an urban legend dating back to 1919.
They do cause some intestinal upset, but rarely cause death. Pine needles and
Christmas cactus usually
cause irritation and intestinal upset but are less toxic. The most common signs
of plant toxicity are: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and excessive
salivation (drooling).
 |
| Poinsettias aren't as bad as many people think |
If you have a live tree, Christmas tree water may contain
fertilizers or preservatives and stagnant tree water can breed bacteria, but
ingestion of a small amount of water does not usually cause severe issues.
Covering the water with chicken wire or other mesh allows you to refresh your
tree, but prevents your cat from drinking the water.
Pine sap is not toxic but is sticky
and hard to remove. Cats may lick excessively or pull at their fur if sap
becomes adhered to their fur. Vegetable oil works better than shampoo when
removing sap from your cat’s fur.
Exposure
to plants in the Lily family is far and away the most serious holiday threat. Dr. Bailey has seen more deaths in cats due to this, than all the other toxic plants
combined.
Some non-toxic winter plants
that you can safely place in your home include: Christmas palm (Veitchia
merrillii), Christmas orchid (Cattleya trianaei), Christmas dagger
fern (Polystichym spp), and Mistletoe cactus (Thipsalis cassutha).
Foods
 |
| Cats and the onion family don't mix |
All members of the genus
Allium
(onion, garlic, leek, chives, shallots, and
scallions) can be
poisonous to both dogs and cats. Toxicity can cause damage to the red blood
cells (RBC), resulting in Heinz body anemia
. In particular, cats are 2
to 3 times more susceptible to RBC damage from these components than other
species. While specific studies have not been done with garlic as to the safe
levels of ingestion, acute onion toxicosis occurs in animals that eat more than
0.5% of their body weight at one time (less than 2 Tbsp. for a 10lb. cat).
However, smaller doses given regularly over a period of time will cause the
same problem.
Drinks with milk or cream such as
alcoholic eggnog are a concern both because most cats are lactose intolerant
and because cats are very sensitive to alcohol due to their small size.
Even small amounts of alcohol can be fatal.
 |
| Goncharoff cat-shaped chocolates |
Chocolate
ingestion can be serious, leading to seizures, if a large quantity is ingested.
Chocolate toxicity varies by type of chocolate ingested – baker’s chocolate
contains a higher concentration of Theobromine than white chocolate. Any ingestion
of chocolate should warrant a call to your veterinarian, however. This is
usually less of an issue for cats than dogs since they don’t seem to want to
eat pure chocolate, but it should still be kept out of reach.
You should refrain from giving bones
to your cats. Unlike dogs, cats do not have the instinct to gnaw on bones – and
even dogs can damage or prematurely wear down their teeth with too much
bone-chewing. Small bones can cause choking or bowel obstructions. Ingestion of
broken bones can cause perforations of the intestinal tract, so if you offer
turkey meat, make sure it is boneless.
In addition, the herbs and
spices that the turkey or chicken is cooked with can be a problem. Sage
is an herb that cats are extremely sensitive to, and can cause an upset stomach
or depression of the nervous system. Also, as above, onions and other members
of that family can cause anemia. If you want to offer your cat turkey, cook up
some unseasoned bits on the side, rather than sharing from the family’s bird. It
is doubtful that cats can taste the spices the same way humans can, anyway.
Medications
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| Many of the poisoning cases we see are due to pill ingestion |
Medications are not something that people think about as a holiday
hazard, but during this chaotic time, when many guests may be staying in your
home, be vigilant about any medications that may spill,
especially as family members that may be coming to stay may bring in
medications that aren't usually in your house.
Cats lack some liver enzymes and
metabolize many medications poorly; one
Tylenol or
Ibuprofen can
be fatal to a cat. If your cat is on medications for her own health issues,
ingesting additional human medications may interact with those she has already
taken with devastating results.
If you think your cat has ingested someone's
medication, please call a veterinarian right away. Have the pill vial handy
while you are on the phone and bring it with you to your appointment so that
you can give all the important information to the doctor about what kind of
medication it was, the dose and an estimate of how many pills were in the
bottle. Make sure that you are also aware of all the medications your cat
normally takes and when the most recent dose was given. If your cat has
ingested someone else’s medication and is due for a dose of their own
medications,
DO NOT give the normal medications until you have spoken
with your veterinarian.
Most of the poisoning cases we see at Exclusively Cats Veterinary Hospital are due to improper medication ingestion - either cats eating dropped pills from a human or other pet in the house, accidental overdoses when more than one family member gives the medication on a busy or chaotic day, or from mixed up medications such as a dog parasite product being accidentally applied to a cat.
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