Accidents in the house are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of cats each year, as well as the illness and injury of many more. These can happen for a variety of reasons, such as owners being well-intentioned yet mistakenly administering or feeding their cat something that is hazardous to them. For example, owners may miss household chemicals and risks. The likelihood of having an accident in one’s own house can be reduced significantly by increasing awareness of the dangers present and eliminating any and all potential threats. However, it is impossible for anyone to anticipate every risk, and regardless of how careful one is, accidents might still take place.
Be sure to maintain the phone number of both your veterinarian and an emergency clinic that is open after hours near your phone at all times. In addition, make sure you have the contact information for at least one of the Animal Poison Control Centres that serve your region. These 24-hour services are available to provide professional assistance over the phone in the event that you are unable to get in touch with anyone in your immediate area. (It’s important to note that these services all demand a price.)
Bear in mind that although it is clear that immediate assistance is required when a cat displays signs of being in discomfort, cats are by nature quite stoic and can effectively hide illness. Don’t take any risks or try to figure out what to do by guessing. Make an emergency call to the office of your veterinarian or to an emergency clinic as soon as possible for professional assistance and guidance.
How Do I Introduce A New Cat To My Home?
Some cats have a difficult time adjusting to new environments, including new homes. First things first, enclose the cat in a confined space that is isolated from the rest of the house’s activities. In the event that you do not really own a separate room, the bathroom is an acceptable alternative (or your bedroom). Proceed inside and spend some time with the kitten so that it may get familiar to you.
Place the food and water bowls at one end of the room, and the litterbox at the other end of room. As soon as you let the kitty out of the container, show the kitten where its litterbox, drink dish, and food bowl are located. Place a towel or other comfortable bedding material inside a box or pet bed for your cat to sleep in. When a cat first moves into a new house, it may take some time (it is not uncommon for it to take several weeks) for the cat to feel at ease there.
Check to see that the food is still fresh. If it is kibble, which is dry food, you should always leave it out. If it is food that gets moist, just put down a very tiny quantity at a time. In point of fact, you may want to put some dry food down in addition to the wet food (smelly wet food would tempt the appetite). Do not combine the two different types of food. After your cat has adjusted to their new environment, you may switch to feeding them dry food.
However, if your feline friend prefers wet food as well, you may certainly give it both types. When the cat starts to feel at ease while you are there, you should open the door for him or her so that they may explore the rest of the home. Make sure that the door is left ajar so that the cat may enter its “safe” room in the event that it feels the need to make a hasty escape. You will eventually be rewarded for your patience.
If you have children, remind them to remain extremely quiet while the cat is adjusting to the presence of other people in the house. This will prevent the kitten from seeing them as a danger to her safety.
If you have screens on your windows or a screen door, you should check that the screens can’t be removed easily and don’t have any holes. This will ensure that even if the window or door is open, the screen won’t fall off and the cat won’t be able to escape.
If you’re planning on introducing a new kitten into the house, check to make sure none of the following potential hazards are lying around: Any form of chemical, as well as string, rubber bands, and other tiny items that it may mistakenly consume and choke on. Don’t forget to close the washing, dryer, and dishwasher after you use them. Check before you lock the dryer or the dishwasher’s door. Kittens and adult cats like going inside them. Make sure that the blind cords and drapery cords are secured so that they are not dangling down. It is quite simple for cats and kittens to get entangled in them and then suffocate as a result.
Cats of all ages, including grown cats and kittens, as well as small canines, like lounging in confined areas like recliners. It is simple for a cat, a kitten, or a dog to climb into the chair when it is in the reclined position; however, if the chair is then returned to its normal position, the animal runs the risk of being crushed to death or suffering injuries so severe that it must be euthanized (put to sleep) because it can no longer be treated medically.
NOTE OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE: PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE TOILET LID IS ALWAYS LOWERED WHEN IT IS NOT BEING USED. If a kitten were to fall in by accident, it would be trapped and unable to escape; as a result, it would drown. This has happened to other people’s kittens, as we know from personal experience. If you have guests, you should make sure that they have closed the cover on the pot. It just takes a few seconds for a kitten to pass away after being submerged in water. This should continue to be done even after the kitten has reached its adult size.
Toxic Materials
Ant sprays and other pesticides are harmful to cats and should not be used around them. If you have a problem with ants, use Grants Ant Stakes. Make sure they are stored in a location that is inaccessible to canines, humans, and other animals, especially youngsters.
There are a number of common cleaning products that may potentially be harmful to cats.
Toxic Plants
The following plants may cause regurgitation, diarrhea, and vomiting if consumed.
- nausea, as well as stomach discomfort
- Dieffenbachia/dumbcane
- The lily of the valley
- Mistletoe
- Mushrooms
- The morning glory
- Oleander
- Philodendron
- Poinsettia
- Rhubarb
- Tomato plants
WATCH OUT FOR LILIES!! From the acquaintance of a volunteer who works in rescue: On Saturday, our nine-year-old cat Gaby, who we fondly called Weasel, was diagnosed with severe renal failure, and she passed away early on Sunday morning.
The emergency veterinarian was not exactly certain what caused the renal failure, but she felt that the lilies may have been the source of the toxin. Weez was an indoor cat, but she would sneak out of the house on occasion. When she did, she would normally eat grass for her meal. We have daylilies around our driveway and worry that she may have eaten them on her previous illegal departure. Weez had a few bouts of vomiting, but we didn’t think much of it since cats sometimes get sick, so we didn’t pay it any attention.
It wasn’t until she got sluggish and dehydrated that we realized something was really wrong, and we took her to the veterinarian as soon as we could. We are very devastated by the news that Weez passed away, and I felt compelled to talk about flowers in the event that another cherished animal may be spared. In addition to their popularity as garden plants, lilies are often used as cut flowers in a variety of different kinds of arrangements.
Here’s an article from the Cat Fanciers’ Association with further information:
Easter Lilies Can Be Deadly For Your Cat!
Kindly forward this critical information to the people on your contact list who are passionate about cats. Click on the following URL to see a list of plants that cats should avoid at all costs:
The Cat Fanciers’ Association Web Site.
Visit your veterinarian or the nearest emergency room as soon as possible if you even have the slightest suspicion that your cat may have ingested anything that might be harmful to its health.
