Easter Lily Warning!

[Pam]

I was just reading "Dear Abbey" and this letter appeared. At this time of year it is especially important.

Dear Abby: Last Easter an unfortunate incident occurred in our home. Like so many people, I bought an Easter lily for the holiday. My 6-month old kitten chewed the ends off a couple of the leaves and died on Easter morning.

A few days later, I learned from the Poison Control Center that Easter lilies are highly toxic to felines and cause acute renal failure that results in certain death. They are not toxic to dogs or humans.

Several veterinarians were unaware of this plant's toxicity to cats and my own vet has it listed as a safe plant.

The plant industry should label toxic plants as such on the care labels so pet owners won't lose a beloved member of their household in such a preventable way as we did. Your animal loving readers should write to their state represetatives and demand that these warnings be made law.---Sue in Mich.

Abbey's reply:
Dear Sue: Cat lovers, listen up!

[This message has been edited by Pam (edited April 13, 2001).]

[Ben E Gas]

that is the saddest story.

[wolflady]

What a sad Easter it must have been for poor Sue in Mich!!! I'm so nervous about having plants in the house, so we only have two and they are hanging up well out of kitties reach!!

[Kirsten]

That's heartbreaking! I'm really feeling sorry for Sue! Must be terrible to lose a cat that way!
I absolutely agree with her, toxic plants should be labelled!

BTW, here's a link that might be interesting:
http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant51.htm

Kirsten



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www.lunas-little-world.de.vu
www.cats-in-the-net.de.vu
www.pet-cemetery.de.vu

[Pam]

Kirsten...Thank you for that link! Someone posted on the dog side recently a list of plants that are harmful to dogs (mostly outside plants). I wonder if there is such a list for cats. It is interesting to me that the lily is only potentially deadly for cats. Their little systems are so different than canine systems and again we see that here.

I am unable to have very many plants inside the house at all. The cats won't leave them alone and I am always unsure which ones are safe and which aren't so I have cut way back. About all I have now are two aloe plants on the kitchen windowsill in case I burn myself while cooking! Once in a while I may get a bouquet of flowers from a family member for a special occasion and I have to place them high, high, high up with no kitty access!! My cats are drawn to them as if by a magnet!!

[wolflady]

A few years ago, I had a friend look at me wierd when I told her not to feed her dog chocolate because it is toxic. Later I came to find out that her dog had eaten a bag of chocolate bars one time and threw it all back up on the carpet!

I found this list of things not to feed a cat, so I thought I would share it here...

Chocolate
Coffee and coffee grounds
Tea
Other caffeinated beverages
Onion and onion powder (toxic to cats)
Garlic (less toxic than onion)
Bones from fish, poultry or other meat sources
Macadamia nuts
Human vitamin supplements containing iron
Fat trimmings
Meat-soaked string (from turkey or rump roast)
Moldy or spoiled food
Alcoholic beverages (including eggnog)
Citrus oil extracts
Mushrooms, unless safe for human consumption
Dog food
Tobacco
Yeast dough
Hops
Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
Rhubarb leaves

Pam, I know I've seen a list of plants that aren't good for cats in one of my Cat Fancy magazines. I will try to find it and post it to this topic

[wolflady]

Here is a link to a webpage that lists plants that are toxic to cats. The list seems a little overwhelming! There is also a link from this page to one with plants that are NOT toxic to our kitties http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html http://members.tripod.com/~Cicero/tsplants.htm

While on the topic of toxic things, here's a guide to small animal poisons... http://www.avma.org/pubhlth/poisgde.asp

[4 feline house]

If it is possible, grow some grass for your indoor kitties, and maybe they won't be so tempted to eat all the green things in the house. All pet stores carry it.

[Pam]

Karen...Thanks for the list. I am printing it out. I just realized I let my Cat Fancy subscription run out. Thanks for bringing it to mind!

[Pam]

There are so many plants at that link. Lots of them are outside plants too. It sort of makes you wonder how an outside cat avoids all of them. I see that my aloe plant is another bad one. Thank you so much for finding all of this information.

[wolflady]

Oh, I know! I was a little overwhelmed when I saw how big that list was! I might have to do what Spencer is doing and get some artificial trees and plants for inside(good idea about the Fica trees!). There's just something about having plants inside that make a home feel comfy, but I want my kitties to be safe too.
Pam, I have an aloe plant too!! I was surprised to find that one on the list, so I have it in my guest bathroom now, and I just keep the door closed.
Don't forget to renew your Cat Fancy subscription!