posted by fmoore on Oct 25
As you care for your cat, you will find out that taking care of it is much like caring for a child. There are things that you must keep out of their reach for their safety and your sanity. More importantly, if your cat does get into something it cannot talk to you to tell you that it may be lethal. Let’s discuss some simple ways to keep this from ever becoming an issue in your home.
Many pet owners have yet to realize that even the cleaning products that they use on their floors can have quite an effect on their cat. As they pick them up on their paws and fur, they proceed to ingest the particles themselves when grooming. As all the grooming is done with its tongue, any foreign matter that comes in contact with its paws or fur can end up in its digestive system and create health problems.
There are many different products that can make your cat feel ill including insect sprays and air fresheners, even though the manufacturers claim that they are “pet friendly”. These types of irritations can cause runny eyes, a lack of energy, and a very unhappy cat. Always shop for household products that have “all natural” on the labels. The best rule of thumb is the fewer ingredients on the label, the better for the health of you and your cat.
Sneezing and coughing are other signs of irritation that can be brought on by household products that are not fit for pets. However, this can also be brought about if the cat has been lying in a draft, or where there have been rapid changes in the weather conditions, or the temperature within the house changes from hot to cold and vice versa. Always consider what the conditions might be down at floor level as these are the conditions that your cat will be experiencing for much of its life.
Cleanliness in the house will assist your cat’s health even though in its natural state, a cat will be lurking about in the dirt and the garden. Because all cats are inquisitive, it is important that you don’t leave any medication or supplements, or other types of medicine or products that can be swallowed. This mistake could prove fatal for your cat.
Generally cats are very careful in what they will eat but there is always the possibility that they will be unsure whether a particular product is dangerous or not and end up swallowing it. Usually a cat will vomit if it has eaten anything that isn’t agreeable, but if you are sure that it has eaten something that could cause health problems, get it to your vet immediately. Toxicity levels are much lower due to their size and problems can occur more rapidly in them than in humans.
One thing that many people are unaware of is the danger of engine coolant, better known as antifreeze. This could leak from the hoses or the radiator on your car. Antifreeze can kill a cat very rapidly. This can happen just from having your cat walk through a puddle of radiator fluid that has spilled onto the driveway and then it begins to groom itself. So be sure to take the simple precaution of having no leaks from your car that your cat can get near, as this may prove fatal.
If you want to find out what products are safe in and around your home for your cat, be sure to check out Fur, Jaw, and Claws: The Definitive Guide to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. This guide will tell you everything you will need to know when it comes to the safety and comfort of your cat without introducing it to harsh medication or harsh chemicals. Your cat will thank you for it.