People wonder how I come up with ideas for my blog posts 5 days a week for the last 10-and-a-half-years. I have to stop and wonder sometimes, myself. That’s around 2,600 posts.
Well this post was born of this picture I happened to see recently in my photo file of Max and Lily with my broom. It made for a cute shot, but a broom is not something you want your cats to play with. Since Lily was a kitten, she’s had a fascination with the broom. She likes to chew the straw and I don’t think that’s good for cats—they could get it caught in their throat, then what? A trip to the vet. I image a sharp piece of straw swallowed could cause problems in the intestines if it made it that far. There’s also the chance that a broom could fall on a kitten and cause a head injury. No. I keep my brooms away from my cats. But I did stop long enough this day to snap a picture. (As an aside, this photo was taken probably eight years ago and after seeing it, I now realize I need a new broom. The straw on this one is about four inches shorter 
now.)
What are some of the other less known household dangers for cats? For kittens, one is the toilet. To this day, even though both Lily and Sophie are grown up cats, we keep our toilet lids down. It’s become a habit—and a good one to get into, in case we adopt another kitten. Also, Lily has been known to drop her toys in her water bowl. What would keep her from dropping them into the toilet?
Some cats love drinking out of the toilet. We all clean our toilets and that cleaner can be seriously toxic. At our house, we avoid using the cleaner packets that you leave in the toilet—those that fill the bowl with their cleaning agent with every flush. What if a guest leaves the toilet lid up? This could be disastrous for your cats.
Lily with battery-operated candle.
While most cats are probably not attracted to the scents of most household cleaners, disinfectants, etc., some of them might be and there’s also the chance that a cat will take a lick, rub against a dripping container and lick their fur, or step onto a floor soaking in a toxic stripper, for example. Many cats are fascinated by the flicker of a candle. Yes, the squatty candles are safer as they’re not so easily toppled, but let’s not chance a cat burning her whiskers or tail or…
Here’s a good site listing 15 household hazards for cats. We all know some of them—but it’s good to get a refresher course. It could save a life. https://www.catster.com/cat-food/household-hazards-for-cats
Some foods are toxic to cats—chocolate for one, and avocado, grapes, raisins, onions, 
garlic, caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
I know that my readers are mature, but in case someone who doesn’t know better is reading this I want to emphasize that alcohol is toxic to cats and dogs. Here’s a great article worth reading for all of us since it also includes warnings about our mouth rinse, baking ingredients that might contain alcohol, and so forth. It’s eye-opening. I recall in my younger days my mare (yes a horse) walking up behind me and lapping at a Mai Tai (cocktail) I had in my hand. It was in one of those wide mouth glasses, so she could actually take a sip. Who knew I had an alcoholic horse on my hands? https://www.natural-wonder-pets.com/how-harmful-is-alcohol-to-dogs-and-cats.html
Keep your pet safe this holiday season as you are baking or nipping. And be sure to store away any baked goods or homemade wines or kalhua someone might bring you.
