Three Potential Household Dangers Faced by Cats

Are you fond of cats but have never owned one before? Have you been thinking about getting a cat and want to make sure that you're prepared for this new endeavor? Owning a cat can be a lot of fun, but it can also be quite a bit of work. Before you go out and adopt one as a pet, it's a good idea to educate yourself on potential issues. Although most cats are happy and healthy and won't need medical care aside from preventative vaccinations, they can face potential issues. Read on to learn about some of the common household dangers faced by cats.

Kidney stones: Some cats are prone to getting kidney stones unexpectedly. Until this happens, you have no way of knowing whether it's true of your cat or not. If your cat suddenly seems to be having problems urinating and/or they are avoiding their litterbox, it's important to take them to an animal hospital, such as Cats Only Veterinary Hospital, to get checked out as soon as possible. Unlike human kidney stones which are often painful but otherwise relatively harmless, untreated stones can kill a cat that seemed healthy just a short time ago. Because cats can be all too good at masking their discomfort and pain, a cat can quickly go from seemingly healthy to dead if not seen by a vet.

Holiday food: The fall and winter months are full of things that can injure or kill an inquisitive cat. For instance, cats should never be fed the bones of turkeys or other poultry. Cooked bones can shatter into needle-sharp fragments, resulting in choking and internal bleeding. The skin of the bird, whether raw or cooked, can also be a hazard. You should never feed your cat large chunks of poultry skin they may have a hard time processing food with that kind of texture. In order to avoid emergency trips to the animal hospital, always avoid allowing your pet to eat anything besides his or her normal food. If you can't resist giving your kitty a holiday treat, consult with your vet about suitable options.

Holiday decorations: Cats are well-known for getting into places and things that they shouldn't. They may attempt to eat fake spiderwebs due to the interesting texture and they may decide that the tinsel on the tree looks particularly fun and delicious. As humans, we know that eating these non-food items is a bad idea and will result in a trip to the animal hospital. A new cat should always be supervised around any new holiday decorations to see how they react. Some cats will excitedly try to play with and taste anything new while others will simply look at you disdainfully for "ruining" their view. To be extra safe, ask your vet for a list of potentially problematic decorations and avoid using them around your home.


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