Holiday Safety Tips for Cats: Dangerous Holiday Food and Plants

Last week, I discussed the holiday dangers that household decorations and gift wrapping pose to cats.  Now I'd like to discuss which holiday foods and plants are dangerous for kitties.

FOOD

Chocolate: Chocolate is toxic to cats.  Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is used medicinally as a blood vessel dilator, heart stimulant, smooth muscle relaxer, and a diuretic, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.  According to their website, one or two dark chocolate or baking squares is enough to be fatal for an adult cat who ingests it, and as little as one ounce of milk chocolate can kill a kitten if ingested.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in cats include vomiting, hyperexcitability, nervousness, and diarrhea.  In severe cases, the only sign may be sudden death.  It's very important that you call your veterinarian, a local emergency veterinary hospital, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline for advice if you think your cat has ingested chocolate.

Onions and Garlic: Onions and garlic are not good for cats as they can cause gastrointestinal upset and red blood cell damage, according to the ASPCA.

Xylitol: Xylitol is a sweetener used in many products, such as baked goods and candy.  Xylitol can lead to the release of insulin in cats, which leads to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and can potentially lead to liver failure.  Initial signs of xylitol poisoning include vomiting, loss of coordination, and lethargy.  Seizures and recumbancy may also occur.  Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure may occur within a few days of ingestion.

Grapes and Raisins: According to the ASPCA, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in pets who have ingested them.

PLANTS

Amaryllis: Amaryllis is also known as St. Joseph lily, Belladonna lily, Naked Lady, and Cape Belladonna.  When eaten, Amaryllis may cause hypersalivation, depression, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, and tremors.

Mistletoe: Mistletoe or American Mistletoe is also toxic to cats.  When ingested, mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal distress, breathing difficulties, low heart rate (bradycardia), erratic behavior, vomiting, diarrhea, and cardiovascular collapse.  Low blood pressure can also occur when cats eat this plant, but it is rarely seen. 

Poinsettia: Poinsettia may cause mouth and stomach irritation as well as vomiting for cats who ingest it. 

Please note that this list of food and plants is not all-inclusive.  There are many other human foods and plants kitties should not eat.  

If you know that your cat has ingested any of these foods or plants, please contact your veterinarian, local emergency veterinary clinic, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline for advice on how to handle the situation.  There is a $65 consultation fee the ASPCA Poison Control Center hotline.  Their number is 888-426-4435.

Preparing for Cat Emergencies

As much as we may not want to think about it, occasionally cat crises happen.  In order to take the best care of our furry friends in emergencies, we need to be prepared.  Here are some tips for making sure you're ready if a cat emergency arises.

1. Post Numbers on the Fridge: Post the ASPCA's Poison Control and your nearest after-hours vet on your fridge.  It's also a good idea to program these numbers into your cell phone if you have one.

Open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, the ASPCA is a fantastic resource if you think your pet has eaten or ingested something toxic.  Their number is: 888-426-4435.  There is a $65 consultation fee.

To find a local after-hour vet clinic or hospital, do an Internet search, and call the vet to ensure they're still open.  I've found that the Internet sometimes lists businesses that no longer exist.  You don't want to go to the address of an after-hours vet clinic only to find out they are no longer there!  Alternatively, ask your vet for an after-hours clinic recommendation.

2. Have Enough Accessible Carriers: If you have to evacuate your home for any reason, you'll want to have a carrier for each of your cats in an easily accessed place, such as near your door.

3. Have a First Aid Kit: Caring for Your Aging Cat by Janice Borzendowski suggests making a first aid kit for your cat or dog.  She asserts it should include the following items:

• Gauze pads and medical paper tape.
• Rolled cotton and cotton balls.
• Tweezers, scissors, and nail clippers.
• Muzzle to prevent biting.
• Pillowcases or towels (to wrap kitty up in for treatment).
• Latex gloves.
• Ear cleaning solution.
• Sterile saline solution.
• Wet wipes.
• Syringe and plastic eye dropper.
• Hydrogen peroxide.
• Nonstick bandages.
• Ice pack.
• Rectal thermometer.

4. Learn Basic First-Aid: It's important to learn basic first-aid procedures so that you can care for your pet until you reach your local animal hospital for further treatment.  Organizations like the American Red Cross offer pet first aid classes for the public.  You could also ask your vet to teach you how to do basic first aid and CPR.

5. Keep Medical Files: Make a medical file for each of your cats, and keep it somewhere easily accessible in an emergency.  Keep vaccination records, test results, and medication lists (including dosages) in the file.  When your usual vet isn't open, the vet treating your cat will need to know this information to help you make the best care decisions for your pet.

6. When You're Traveling: Make sure your pet sitter, close family, and friends - anyone who takes care of your cat regularly - has a copy your kitty's medical file, veterinary contact information, and the ASPCA Poison Control number.  Ensure that your pet sitter also has the contact information of a close family member or friend whom you trust to make medical decisions for your pet if you cannot be reached.  

Help Homeless Cats and Dogs Find New Forever Homes: ASPCA $100K Challenge

Fifty great dog and cat shelters have just started competing for more than $500,000 in grants from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) through this year's ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge.

The goal of the contest is for the competing shelters to get at least 300 more cats and dogs adopted this August, September, and October than were adopted in the same time-frame in 2011.  The grand prize of $100,000 will go to the shelter who is able to increase their adoption numbers the most from last year to this year.

In addition, the shelter who does the best job engaging the people in its community and the second place shelter will also receive $25,000 each from the ASPCA.  CatChannel also reports that shelters who do the best in each category will be eligible to receive grants worth $5.000 to $40,000.

Bert Troughton, vice president of community outreach for the ASPCA stated, "In this competition, everybody wins - especially the animals!"

Many of the participating organizations are holding events during the competition.  A few of the events taking place include:

• City of Bloomington Animal Shelter: ASPCA $100K Kickoff Adopt-A-Thon. This event will take place from August 1-5 at the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter located at 3410 S. Walnut, Bloomington, IN 47401.  The shelter will be open extended hours and reducing adoption fees during this time.  The shelter will be open from noon to 7pm from Wednesday to Saturday and from 1 to 4pm on Sunday.  All dog adoption fees will be reduced to $40 per dog and all cat adoption fees will be waived!
• Rainy Days at PHS: Located at 4022 Seaboard Court, Portsmouth, Virginia 23701, PHS will offer FREE adoptions from August 1 through October 31 on ANY DAY IT RAINS!!  As long as rain is falling when you begin your adoption process, you will have your cat or dog adoption fee waived. 
• Name Your Own Adoption Fee: Located at 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato, California 94949, the Marin Humane Society wants to adopt out 1,200 cats and dogs during the months of August, September, and October.  During the entire month of August, the Marin Humane Society is allowing pet adopters to name their own adoption fees for cats and dogs! 
• "Priceless" Cat Adoption Special: HALO Animal Rescue, a no-kill shelter, is offering waived adoption fees for all adult cats from August 1 through October 31, 2012.  Any cat one year old or older is eligible for waived adoption fees during this time.  HALO Animal Rescue is located at 5231 N 35th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85017.  You can also take advantage of the waived adoption fees on HALO Animal Rescue adult cats in Petco and PetSmart stores in the area.
• Halloween Spooktacular: Halloween Spooktacular will be held by the Bay Area Humane Society, located at 1830 Radisson St., Green Bay, Wisconsin 54302.  From October 24 through October 31, 2012, the adoption fee on any cat or dog containing orange and/or black fur will be reduced by half.  This reduction will apply to any cat or dog of any age at the main shelter and to any cat or dog of any age at the PetSmart adoption center located on Pilgrim Way.  

You can see a full list of the events shelters are using during the ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge by going here.  You can help homeless cats and dogs find good and loving forever homes by helping promote your local shelter's events. :)

Sources:

CatChannel: Shelters Vie for $500,000 in Dog and Cat Adoption Contest

ASPCA $100K Challenge: Events

700 Cats Rescued in Florida

The ASPCA reports they have recently rescued 700 cats and kittens from a Florida sanctuary known as Caboodle Ranch.  Madison County Animal Control and Madison County's Sheriff's Office asked the ASPCA to join the effort.  The Madison County Sheriff's Office attained a search warrant for the property after a thorough investigation of Caboodle Ranch, which took more than a year to complete.

The cats found at the sanctuary appear to be suffering from severe neglect, living in dirty, overcrowded conditions.  Many of the felines are also suffering from eye infections, upper respiratory problems, and other medical conditions.  The ASPCA reports that while some of the sick felines were housed together, they were not separated based on their illnesses, which allowed for transmission from cat to cat.

Unfortunately, multiple felines have also been discovered deceased and their bodies decomposing.  Multiple shallow grave sites have also been discovered at the sanctuary.

Hundreds of rescued kitties have been placed in a temporary emergency shelter in Jacksonville where they are receiving shelter, veterinary care, and behavioral evaluations.

Craig Grant, the founder and operator of the sanctuary, has been charged with three counts of cruelty to animals, one count of felony animal cruelty, and one count of scheming to defraud.

Efforts to find and rescue all of the kittens and cats at Caboodle Ranch are ongoing.  If you would like to donate to the ASPCA to help these Florida kitties, you may do so here.  You may also view a short video of the rescue efforts here.

We are sending purrs and prayers to all the kitties who have been rescued, the kitties who are awaiting rescue, and to the kitties who went to the Rainbow Bridge.


Please like the Fur Everywhere Facebook page.  


Source:

700 Cats Pulled from Florida "Sanctuary" This Week

Top 10 Cat and Dog Toxins of 2011

In 2011, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, located in Urbana, IL, received more than 165,900 phone calls regarding pets being exposed to toxic substances.  The 10 most common toxic substances pets were exposed to are as follows.

1. Prescription Human Medications: The Animal Poison Control Center reports it received nearly 25,000 calls regarding pets ingesting prescription human medications last year.  ADHD and heart medications were among the most commonly swallowed prescription drugs.

To prevent your pet from swallowing any prescription medication, take your pills in the bathroom or another room containing tile or non-carpeted floor.  This way you can hear it more easily if a pill happens to fall on the floor.  Being aware that a pill has fallen will give you a chance to search for and pick up the medication before your pet has a chance to ingest it.

2. Insecticides: Eleven percent of calls last year concerned pets being exposed to insecticides.  These products included those utilized in the home, on pets, and on the lawn.  The ASPCA reminds pet owners it is essential to read a product's directions before using it around a pet.  Only use products that are safe to use around pets in your home and on your lawn.  Finally, do not use a product specifically made for a dog on a cat or vice versa.

3. Over-the-Counter Human Medications: Over-the-counter human medications are also toxic to pets.  Common over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen (found in Tylenol) or ibuprofen, often found in the home, can actually kill your cat or dog if he or she ingests them.  Always check with your veterinarian before you give any type of over-the-counter medication to your furry friend.

4. People/Human Food: As much as you might want to share your food with your furry friend, you must be careful what you feed your pet.  Several human foods can cause severe damage to your cat or dog if he or she eats them.  Chocolate, for instance, may cause diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, and increased heart rate in pets who have ingested it, according to the ASPCA.

You may find a list of common toxic foods to cats in my earlier posts - Toxic Food to Cats Part 1 and Part 2.  Please note that these are NOT complete lists of all the foods toxic to cats.

5. Household Products: The household products ingested were not specified by the Animal Poison Control Center.  Be sure to keep all small items, such as rubber bands, staples, needles, thumb tacks, and so forth put up in containers where pets cannot access them.  These products may cause dangerous intestinal blockages or tares if ingested.  Likewise, keep all string, streamers, tinsel, yarn, thread, etc. out of your furry friend's reach.  These items can also have fatal consequences if ingested.  Finally, keep all chemical cleaners out of your pet's reach.

6. Veterinary Medications: Some chewable pet medications may taste good to your furry friend.  If he or she ingests more than he or she is supposed to at one time, it may result in poisoning.  Be sure to keep your pet's medication out of reach, such as in a secure medicine cabinet in the bathroom, so that he or she cannot gobble all of his or her pills at once.  If your furry friend eats more medication than your vet recommends per dose, call your veterinarian immediately.

7. Rodenticides: Use rodenticides with extreme caution around pets.  Bait to trap mice may be especially attractive to dogs as it is grain based.  According to the ASPCA, ingesting rodenticides may cause kidney failure, internal bleeding, and/or death.

8. Plants: Cats seem to find chewing on plants irresistible.  There are hundreds of plants toxic to cats and dogs.  For instance, lilies can lead to kidney failure and death for cats who ingest them, according to the ASPCA.  You may reference their list of toxic and non-toxic plants here.  You may also view my list of some safe plants to keep around cats if you enjoy having plants in your home.

9. Lawn and Garden Products: According to the ASPCA, lawn and garden fertilizers may be made of bone meal, dried blood, and/or poultry manure, which attract pets.  If you utilize lawn and/or garden products, it is a good idea to only let your pets roam outdoors when you can supervise them.

10. Automotive Products: Antifreeze, brake fluid, and so forth can be fatal if ingested by your furry friend.  Thankfully, the number of automotive product poisonings has decreased as more people choose to keep their cats indoors, according to the ASPCA.

Taking some simple precautions and pet-proofing your home, lawn, and garden can go a long way in preventing your pet from accidentally ingesting a poisonous substance.

If you believe your pet has been exposed to a toxic substance, please call your veterinarian immediately or contact the Animal Poison Control Center 24 hours a day at: 888-426-4435.

Source:

ASPCA: Top 10 Pet Toxins of 2011

Foods Toxic to Cats - Part 1

Veterinarians always encourage pet owners not to feet their cats food from the table. This is partly because a lot of the food we consume is toxic to cats. These are some known foods that are toxic to felines and how your kitty may react if he or she ingests them. Please do not use this list as a complete list of toxic foods to your pet.

Apples, apricots, peaches, cherries and plums: If your kitty ingests apples, crab apples, apricots, peaches, cherries, or plums, he or she may experience panting, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, and/or panting.

Avocado: The fruit, seeds, bark, and leaves of avocados are all likely toxic to pets. If your pet ingests any part of an avocado, he or she may vomit and/or have diarrhea.

Garlic and leeks: Garlic and leeks can cause serious symptoms if ingested by your cat. These include: the breakdown of red blood cells (which may result in Heinz body anemia or hemolytic anemia), vomiting, panting, a high heart rate, blood in the urine, and/or weakness.

Corn plant and cornstalk plant: Corn plant and cornstalk plant are both toxic to kitties as well. If your pet ingests these planets, he or she may experience vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, depression, excessive salivation and/or dilated pupils.

Fig: If ingested, your pet may salivate, vomit, or experience irritation in his or her mouth. If your pet's skin comes in contact with fig, he or she may develop dermatitis.

Chamomile: Chamomile can cause contact dermatitis where your cat's skin came in contact with the plant. If your feline ingests chamomile, he or she may experience an allergic reaction, loss of appetite, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

Coffee: Coffee can increase a cat's heart and respiratory rates, can affect the central nervous system, and cause restlessness.

Grapefruit, lemon, and lime: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and possible photosensitivity are the clinical signs you may notice if your kitty has ingested grapefruit, lemon, or lime.

Grapes: diarrhea, lack of appetite, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, lethargy, and kidney damage may all occur as a result of your kitty ingesting grapes.

If you believe your cat has been in contact with or has ingested a toxic food or plant, please call your veterinarian, local veterinary/animal hospital, or the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 right away. It is important to note that a $65 fee may be charged to your credit card for utilizing the ASPCA's National Animal Poison Control Center.

Reporting Animal Cruelty

If you witness an animal being abused or suspect an animal is being abused or neglected, you should report it to the proper officials in your state so that they may investigate what is happening.

To find out who you need to report animal cruelty to in your state, please visit this page and select your state from the list. Alternatively, call your local animal shelter or veterinarian and ask to whom you should report animal cruelty.

When you report animal cruelty, you will want to write up a statement of exactly what you witnessed. Be as detailed and specific in your statement as possible and name the other witnesses who saw the act or acts of animal cruelty if any others were present. Be sure to include the date and approximate time of the incident as well. If you have any photos of the abused or neglected animal or perpetrator, be sure to include copies of these photos with your written statement.

Make copies of any written statements and/or photos you hand over to the investigating officials.

The officer should follow-up with you as to the outcome of the case. If you have not heard from the officer you reported the case to in a reasonable amount of time, it is ok to give him or her a follow-up phone call, e-mail, or letter. You may even wish to contact the officer's supervisor if he or she does not respond to your follow-up contact in a reasonable amount of time. Following up with the officer and/or supervisor ensures that animal cruelty is not ignored, is investigated, and that appropriate consequences are suffered by the perpetrators of animal cruelty.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bracelet

Hello everyone!

I am feeling better, and I have some news.

I made a bright orange bracelet that is intended to raise awareness and help prevent cruelty to animals. You can purchase this bracelet for $3.50 (which includes the shipping charge) on my blog Bead Paradise at: www.beadparadise.blogspot.com. I will donate $1.00 of each bracelet purchase to the ASPCA.

Please hop over and take a look, and please tell all of your human and kitty friends about this bracelet! Thanks so much!

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty month. This month I will be discussing how you can recognize signs of animal cruelty, what to do if you suspect an animal is being hurt or neglected, and how you can help prevent cruelty to animals.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a great organization that strives to prevent animal cruelty all over the United States. I encourage you to visit their website to learn more about animal cruelty and how you can help prevent it.

I want to remind you that I sell beaded bracelets in my Bead Paradise blog, and that a portion of each sale goes directly to the ASPCA. I plan on putting up new items at lower prices, so I encourage you to visit often.

Need a blogger? Contact me at: miniemedia@gmail.com.

Help Pets, Florida

I received a newsletter today from the ASPCA, alerting me that the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine is currently considering a measure that will deny animal shelters the right to microchip pets.

The ASPCA says, "In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters, microchipping has been identified as one of the most effective methods for reuniting pets with their owners. Microchipping by animal shelters is standard practice across the United States, and it’s especially important in Florida--perhaps the state most vulnerable to devastating hurricanes. This vital service that shelters provide to Florida residents and their pets must be protected.

The Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine needs to be reminded that the leading cause of death among pets is not disease, parasites or injury. Sadly, it's the euthanasia of lost pets who cannot be identified."

I agree with the ASPCA, wholeheartedly. Denying shelters to microchip pets will reduce the number of pets that can be reunited with their families.

The ASPCA has prepared a letter you can e-mail to the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine, and you may do so by visiting: https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2331.

Helping homeless animals this Valentine's Day

While browsing the ASPCA website today, I discovered that if you order flowers through 1-800-FLOWERS this Valentine's Day, you can help homeless animals.

Use the promo code: ASPCA when ordering your flowers. 10% of your purchase will go to aiding homeless animals.

New items in Bead Paradise

Bead Paradise has been updated with a couple of new items.

As always, $1.00 of each sale will go to the ASPCA, an organization that aids homeless cats and dogs.

Beaded bracelets now help homeless cats!

I am starting a bead bracelet selling business, which may sound like nothing out-of-the-ordinary, except that $1.00 of every purchase will go directly to the ASPCA, an organization that helps homeless cats and dogs.

I'm very excited to be starting this business and to be donating to such a worthy cause!

I encourage you to check out my selling blog at: http://www.beadparadise.blogspot.com/ often as I will add new items regularly!

Please tell all of your cat-loving friends about Bead Paradise and the great cause it supports!

I will be adding a link to this blog in the "Sierra's other blogs" as well.

ASPCA Newsletter

For anyone who's interested, the ASPCA has just published their latest newsletter. There's a sweet story about a cat in there as well as a very sad one about animal abuse.

To read the newsletter, please go here.

For blogging services, please contact me at: miniemedia@gmail.com.