Celebrating holidays is always fun and stressful with all it’s planning and socializing. Whether you’ve got a small family with just a few Easter baskets or you’re setting up a huge Easter egg hunt in a park, there are certain considerations to take when making sure your cats are kept safe. Many items found around Easter time can pose a dangerous threat and it’s important to know what they are so we can keep our cats safe and healthy.
#1 – Chocolate & Candy
Chocolate and other candies should be kept away from cats at all times of the year. While some candies might just cause an upset stomach, chocolate is toxic to cats and can cause severe illness and even death if ingested. If your cat has gotten into any chocolates or candies be sure to seek veterinary attention right away.
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#2 – Easter Grass
Easter grass and tinsel might seem harmless and cats certainly love to play in it, but it can be very dangerous if ingested. You might find your cat chewing on some Easter grass and it’s best to keep it out of reach. When eaten, the grass will typically ball up or wrap around the stomach and intestines leading to a high likelihood of obstruction. If not caught in time this could be fatal, so make sure you keep an eye on your cat.
#3 – Easter Lilies
Lilies are one of the most toxic plants to cats but they’re probably the most common Easter flower. If your cat ingests the plant, flowers or even the pollen they could face serious consequences. True lilies like the Easter lily cause acute renal failure in cats. Once kidneys are damaged your cat will need special care throughout the rest of their life and may not even survive the illness. The best thing to do is to keep lilies out of the house if you have cats.
Easter baskets are often filled with fun toys to play with and cats might be drawn to some of these as well. Small toys pose a choking hazard as cats may enjoy chewing on stuffed animals and tearing the eyes and noses off. Eating larger plastic or rubber toys can cause an obstruction that needs surgery to remove. So if you see your cat looking around the Easter basket, make sure you keep a close eye or move the basket out of the way.
#5 – Plastic Eggs
Plastic Easter eggs can be a fun toy for cats but can also be dangerous. Cats can easily break these into smaller pieces and choke. Pieces that are small enough to be swallowed can scratch and tear the esophagus, stomach and intestines or become obstructed. Not to mention that what’s inside the eggs is usually not something your cat should have either.