While at SuperZoo back in July, I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of very nice peeps from The Pet Poison HELPLINE.   Recently going through papers from the pet expo, I discovered a fridge sticker they had handed out, listing the Top 10 Toxins for Cats.   Due to allergies, I have never had cats, so I have never had to look into what items were dangerous for feline family members.    I know a lot of my readers are cat lovers and I am glad to pass this information along, in hopes that it will avoid a scary situation. 

So if you have cats in your house, you'll want to be aware of these things.

1. Topical spot-on insecticides
2. Household cleaners
3. Antidepressants
4. Lilies
5. Insoluble oxalate plants (e.g. Dieffenbachia, Philodendron...)
6. Human and veterinary NSAIDS (aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen)
7. Cold and flu medication
8. Glow sticks
9. ADD/ADHD Medications
10. Mouse and rat poison

The Pet Poison HELPLINE website is definitely a great resource for educating oneself on the topic of pet poisoning.  From creating a pet poison first aid kit to knowing the signs of poisoning in cats and dogs.  They even have suggestions on how to poison-proof various rooms in your home.   Fortunately Oscar has never ingested anything poisonous.  He has however eaten non-edible tidbits like orange foam ear plugs and a couple of beads from my craftie closet.  But they too, did pass.  Phew.

(Photo credit: Pet Poison HELPLINE)

So I hope you take the time to learn what things can harm your beloved cat or dog.   Part of being a responsible pet owner for sure.