Have a Happy and SAFE Holiday!
Holidays mean family, friends, celebrations, and a break from routines. This is fun, but it also exposes our cats to things they might not normally encounter. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1) Plastic/Cellophane Easter Grass
We all know that stringy things can be dangerous if eaten, and Siamese cats especially LOVE to eat things they shouldn’t! The plastic grass can get caught around the tongue or cause a bowel obstruction, so if you think your cat has gotten into some, take him to the veterinarian right away. Emergency surgery may be required. Do not try to pull any grass from your cat; this could make the problem worse.
Unfortunately, the worst case scenario can happen. One of our facebook page community members, Becky, issued this warning: Please do not buy plastic Easter grass (or similar stuff like Christmas tinsel & shaggy shiny garlands). It KILLED my cat when I didn’t know she ate some. It got tangled & stuck in her intestines causing serious infection. She died on the operating table. My veterinary friends say they see so many surgeries, and even deaths, a year from this! PASS IT ON!
Good Grass
It’s difficult to keep the grass out of reach and contained to Easter baskets since it is so lightweight, so best not to use it. Alternatives are shredded paper grass, tissue paper, or live organic wheat grass. Many Siamese love grass, so this makes a perfect holiday treat for your cat too!
As a side benefit, wheat grass can help maintain digestive health and aid with hairball issues, as well as provide a source of vitamins and antioxidants. (But this does mean that sometimes kitty will throw it up…) Wheat grass is sold in pet stores, online as seed or plants, and sometimes in the organic produce section of the supermarket. I bought some the other day and Gremlin loooooves it! That One is trying to get in on the action too – see that little orange paw? 🙂
2) Chocolate
Chocolate contains a chemical relative of caffeine, theobromine, that causes vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and death in dogs and cats. Dark chocolate contains more theobromine so is more dangerous. However, cats only need to eat small amounts of any chocolate to feel ill. This means that chocolate bits that have accidentally fallen to the floor could cause trouble!
3) Lilies
Many plants are toxic to cats, and lilies are at the top of the list! Easter is a time when beautiful plants and cut flowers are likely to be found in homes, but they can be deadly to our cats. Easter lilies, Tiger lilies, Asiatic lilies, and the Stargazer lily can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, seizures, kidney failure, and death. All parts of these plants are toxic, in just small amounts. For more details on lily poisoning, read Lilies and Kitties Don’t Mix.
Can’t We Still Have Some Fun?
So many warnings about what NOT to eat start to take the fun out of the holiday, but you all are probably like me and always have some cat-safe treats on hand. I know I hate to leave the babies out of the celebration! Here they are enjoying some Cat-Sip lactose-free milk. They go crazy over this! Happy Easter to all!
