Common Household Dangers for Cats: Kitchen and Bathroom

Last week, we talked about some common household dangers that can be found in your living room and home office.  This week, we'd like to discuss some of the common household hazards that lurk in your kitchen and bathroom.

Oven/Stove: Cats seem to be drawn to warm places where they can curl up and sleep.  The stove and oven are certainly warm, but they are obviously dangerous for cats.  Whenever you're using the stove or oven, please keep an eye on your kitty.  If your cat seems interested in walking on the stove, cover the burners with covers whenever they aren't in use.

Cats can also get underfoot.  Please be careful when you are transferring hot pots and pans from one place to another in the kitchen.  Locate your kitty before moving boiling water so you don't accidentally spill any on your furry friend.

My grandmother will turn on her oven and leave the door open for a while to help heat her home.  This is obviously not a good idea if you have cats in the home!

Food: Please be mindful of leaving food on your kitchen counters or on the stove.  Many human foods are dangerous for cats.  Chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, garlic, raw fish, tuna, and milk are just a few human foods that can cause health problems in cats.  When ingested, these foods can cause anything from digestive distress to kidney damage to death.  Please cover any food you leave on the counter or stove while you're eating and put leftovers away promptly.

I would also recommend rinsing off your dishes before placing them into the sink to be washed.  Some cats will lick food off dirty dishes in the sink if given the chance to do so.

Trash: Leftovers, meat bones, package wrappers...  The kitchen trash can be a very tempting place for your kitty.  Please be sure to keep a lid on your trash can so that it's harder for your cat to get into.  Alternatively, you can store your trash can in a pantry or cabinet where your cat cannot access it.

Junk Drawer: I don't know if you all have one of these, but when I was growing up, we always had a drawer in the kitchen we called the junk drawer.  The junk drawer is where we kept light bulbs for the night lights, rubber bands, paper clips, batteries, coupons, pens, tape, and other miscellaneous items.  Please keep this drawer shut when not in use.  When ingested, batteries can cause ulcers in the stomach, mouth, and esophagus.

If ingested, paper clips, rubber bands, and other small items can cause an abdominal or intestinal obstruction.  Surgical removal of the item will need to occur in order to resolve the issue.  Signs of an abdominal or intestinal blockage may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or tenderness, producing a small amount of feces or straining to defecate, lethargy, and decreased appetite.  If your kitty has ingested a foreign body, he may also growl or try to bite when you try to pick him up or touch his stomach.  If string, thread, or a rubber band has gotten wrapped around the base of his tongue, your cat may paw at his mouth or face.

Common Household Dangers to Cats: Living Room and Home Office

Indoor cats face fewer dangers than outdoor ones, but homes definitely have dangers of their own cat parents should be mindful of.  Some of these potential household dangers just might surprise you.

Small Office Supplies: Cats are curious by nature.  They like to play with things we might not think they'd enjoy, like rubber bands or paper clips.  However, cats can easily swallow small items commonly kept in a home office, such as thumb tacks, rubber bands, paper clips, and small erasers.  These objects may cause an intestinal obstruction, which requires surgery to fix.  Please keep all small office supplies in closed containers out of your cat's reach.

Electrical Cords: Even if you don't have a cord chomper, it's a good idea to invest in some cord covers or Bitter Apple to spray your cords with.  Cats who chew electrical cords risk electrocution, electrical burns in the mouth or on the tongue, seizures, cardiac arrest, and breathing difficulties.

Batteries: According to Vetstreet, batteries are toxic to both cats and dogs.  They may cause ulcers in the stomach, mouth, and esophagus.  Keep batteries in a desk drawer or a closet - somewhere your cat cannot access.

Toys: Believe it or not, cat toys can pose a hazard to your furry friend.  Toys with parts that can be chewed or torn off easily by your kitty pose a choking hazard.  Purchase toys that don't have parts that can be easily chewed or torn off them.

Additionally, it's best to keep all fishing pole type toys out of your cat's reach when you're not playing with her.  Cats love string, yarn, etc. and can chew through and swallow the string on fishing pole toys.