Indoor Hazards for Cats

Our homes can contain a wide variety of potentially harmful compounds. The following is not a complete list, but indicates some of the most common problems.

Foods to Avoid

• Onions, onion powder
• Chocolate (baker's, semi-sweet, milk, dark)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Yeast dough
• Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
• Tea (caffeine)
• Salt
• Macadamia nuts
• Hops (used in home beer brewing)
• Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
• Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
• Rhubarb leaves
• Avocados (toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle, and dairy goats)
• Moldy foods

Medications
Because they are so much smaller than we are, our companion animals need to be kept away from all medications. Do not give any of your medications to a pet. That includes over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, cough or cold medicines, and decongestants. Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, anti-depressants, vitamins, and diet pills are all examples of human medications that can be lethal to animals, even in small doses. Please consult your veterinarian.

Household Items
Common household items that can be lethal to an animal are mothballs, potpourri oils, coffee grounds, homemade play dough, fabric softener sheets, dishwashing detergent, batteries, cigarettes, and alcoholic drinks.