Cat owners urged to remove 5 items from home – they're toxic
A cat behaviour expert has shared five common household items that most people might have in their home, but that's extremely toxic to cats.
It's only natural for pet owners to want to keep their furry friends safe and healthy. This often includes making sure you meet their various needs, feed them high-quality food, and give them all the love and attention that they'd want from you.
But now, one cat expert has urged all cat owners to think twice about the various items they have around their homes, as many things might be fatally toxic to your cat without you even realising it's dangerous.
Taking to TikTok, cat behaviour specialist Khris, who often shares videos about various cat topics and how to make sure they live the best lives possible, has warned her 94,800 followers about five common items most people might have lying around their homes that could have tragic consequences if your cat gets to them.
So here's everything you need to know...
1. Essential oils
"So one of the other things that is toxic to cats is essential oils," Khris said. "A lot of people think essential oils are natural, so they're just fine for cats.
"But, that's actually not the case, and most of them are toxic to cats – including some of the ones that are in our candles, cleaners, and air fresheners."
Most essential oils are toxic to cats because felines lack specific liver enzymes needed to break down plant compounds. The most dangerous essential oils to avoid include tea tree, peppermint, and citrus oils, but most variations could be toxic to them.
The toxicity occurs through direct skin absorption, ingestion (often when they groom oil off their fur), or inhalation of concentrated particles from diffusers.
"So anything that has essential oils in it should not be around your cat," Khris added.
2. Hair growth products
"Number two is medication like minoxidil hair growth medication like Rogaine," she continued.
The primary human hair growth product toxic to cats is minoxidil, commonly known by brand names like Rogaine. Even a tiny, single drop or residual contact from pillows, hands, or clothing can cause severe, life-threatening heart failure, extremely low blood pressure, and fluid in a cat's lungs, the Cats Protection has warned.
"So if you have a cat in the household, you should not be using any kind of hair growth medication. Even having it on your pillow can be toxic to your cat," Khris explained.
3 & 4. Plants and flowers
For her next point, Khris warned that many varieties of plants and flowers are toxic to cats, including lilies and many others.
She explained: "There are a whole bunch of different kinds of plants and flowers that are toxic to cats. So tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils, palms."
Toxins cause local mouth irritation or severe internal organ failure. So, the expert added: "If you're gonna have something growing in your house, the best thing to do is to keep it either up high or behind closed doors so your cat just can't reach it at all.
"But do your research, because a lot of plants are toxic to cats."
5. Topical pain creams
For her final point, Khris said: "So a lot of the topical pain creams that are available are also toxic to our cats."
Topical human pain creams are extremely toxic to cats because felines lack specific liver enzymes (glucuronyl transferases) needed to safely break down these drugs. Even microscopic amounts absorbed through grooming or skin contact can cause severe organ failure or death.
Cats groom themselves frequently, so any product that remains on human skin can potentially be ingested. This includes anti-inflammatory gels, such as ibuprofen, Hormone Replacement Therapy gels, and other dermal medications that are highly toxic to cats.
Also of concern are psoriasis creams or ointments containing potent forms of vitamin D, and anticancer treatments such as 5-fluorouracil (eg Efudix), all of which can be lethal even in minute quantities.
"So make sure that you are doing your research, keeping those things away from your cats," Khris urged viewers.
