Are you celebrating one of the National Cat Holidays? For your next Cat Party why not give everyone a welcome gift that lists all the plants harmful to cats? It's valuable information and cat lovers would appreciate it. It's a great gift!
How are Plants part of a Cats Diet?
"Despite the cat's meat-oriented physiology, it is still quite common for a cat to supplement its carnivorous diet with small amounts of grass, leaves, shrubs, houseplants, or other plant matter. One theory suggests this behavior helps cats regurgitate if their digestion is upset; another is that it introduces fiber or trace minerals into the diet. In this context, caution is recommended for cat owners because some houseplants are harmful to cats. For example, the leaves of the Easter Lily can cause permanent and life-threatening kidney damage to cats, and Philodendron are also poisonous to cats."
"Avocado plant parts are toxic, but the fruit (minus the pit) is an ingredient in AvoDerm cat food. However, the ASPCA has declined to say whether this food is safe or not without knowing the details of how the avocado is processed."
"There are several vegetarian or vegan commercially available cat foods supplemented with chemically synthesized taurine and other added nutrients that attempt to address nutritional shortfalls."
"Cats can be selective eaters (which may be due in some way to the aforementioned mutation which caused their species to lose sugar-tasting ability). However, cats generally cannot tolerate lack of food for more than 36 hours without risking liver damage."
"Cats have a fondness for Catnip, which is sensed by their olfactory systems. Many enjoy consuming catnip, and most will often roll in it, paw at it, and occasionally chew on it."
"Cats can also develop odd eating habits. Some cats like to eat or chew on other things like plastic, paper, string, wool, or even coal. This condition is called pica and can threaten the cat's health depending on the amount and toxicity of the non-food items eaten. The condition's name comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird which is reputed to eat almost anything."
Further information: Feeding and Diet
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- Cherry (pits, seeds & wilting leaves)
- Cherry, most wild varieties
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See Also:
Resources: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses some material from Wikipedia/article cat / and other related pages. Top Photo: homestead
Poison Help Line
"The Animal Poison Control Center is a unique, emergency hotline providing 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week telephone assistance to veterinarians and animal owners. There is a $? consultation fee paid by the animal owner, veterinarian or product manufacturer."
Animal Poison Control Center
1-888-426-4435.
