Household dangers
Household dangers for cats
From paracetamol to essential oil diffusers, many everyday household items are dangerously toxic to cats. This page covers medications, cleaning products, and other hazards.
Cats lack the liver enzyme glucuronyl transferase that processes many common drugs and chemicals — including paracetamol and many essential oils. Products that are safe for humans or even dogs can be lethal to cats.
The most dangerous single household hazard is permethrin, found in some dog flea treatments. Never apply a dog flea product to a cat or let a recently-treated dog groom a cat.
Medications and household hazards (67 entries)
ADHD medications (methylphenidate, amphetamines)
no
Antidepressants (SSRIs)
no
Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
no
Aspirin
no
Batteries
no
Bleach
no
Broken glass
no
Calpol
no
Cannabis / CBD / edibles
no
Cigarettes and nicotine
no
Cocoa butter
caution
Coins
no
Diclofenac (Voltarol)
no
Diffusers
no
Dog flea treatment
no
Drain unblocker
no
Essential oils
no
Eucalyptus oil
no
Fertiliser
caution
Fireplace ash
caution
Glow sticks / light-up toys
caution
Glue / adhesives
no
Gorilla Glue (polyurethane adhesive)
no
Hair dye
no
Hair ties and hair bobbles
no
Hand sanitiser
no
Ibuprofen
no
Incense / scented candles
caution
Iron supplements
no
Laundry pods
no
Lavender oil
no
Liquid potpourri
no
Mascara / eye makeup
caution
Mothballs
no
Nail polish / nail polish remover
no
Naproxen
no
Nurofen
no
Oven cleaner
no
Paracetamol
no
Peppermint oil
no
Permethrin
no
Petrol, diesel and motor oil
no
Plastic bags
no
Play dough and modelling clay
no
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
no
Rat poison
no
Rubber bands / elastic bands
no
Savlon
caution
Silica gel
caution
Slug pellets
no
String, ribbon, and thread
no
Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
no
Sunscreen (human)
no
Superglue
no
Swimming pool and hot tub chemicals
no
Tea tree oil
no
Tinsel
no
Toothpaste (human)
no
Topical creams (5-FU, calcipotriene, hormone creams)
no
Tramadol
no
Tree water (Christmas)
no
Vitamin D supplements (cholecalciferol)
no
Washing powder / liquid detergent
no
Wax melts and reed diffusers
no
Weed killer (glyphosate)
no
White spirit / turpentine
no
Zoflora
no
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