A cat behaviour specialist has urged cat owners to remove five common household items that are extremely toxic to cats, warning that many everyday products can be fatal if ingested or absorbed.
Essential oils and hair growth products
Taking to TikTok, cat behaviour specialist Khris, who shares videos about cat care with her 94,800 followers, listed the dangers of essential oils. She said: "A lot of people think essential oils are natural, so they're just fine for cats. But, that's actually not the case, and most of them are toxic to cats – including some of the ones that are in our candles, cleaners, and air fresheners."
Most essential oils are toxic because cats lack specific liver enzymes needed to break down plant compounds. The most dangerous include tea tree, peppermint, and citrus oils, with toxicity occurring through skin absorption, ingestion, or inhalation from diffusers.
Khris also warned against minoxidil, a hair growth medication found in products like Rogaine. Even a single drop or residual contact can cause severe heart failure, low blood pressure, and fluid in a cat's lungs, according to Cats Protection. "Even having it on your pillow can be toxic to your cat," she explained.
Plants, flowers, and pain creams
Many plants and flowers are also toxic, including lilies, tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils, and palms. Toxins can cause mouth irritation or severe internal organ failure. Khris advised keeping plants "up high or behind closed doors" and doing research, as "a lot of plants are toxic to cats."
Topical pain creams are another hazard. Cats lack liver enzymes to break down these drugs, and even microscopic amounts can cause organ failure or death. This includes anti-inflammatory gels like ibuprofen, hormone replacement therapy gels, psoriasis creams with vitamin D, and anticancer treatments such as 5-fluorouracil.
Khris urged owners: "Make sure that you are doing your research, keeping those things away from your cats."
