But according to Dr. Melanie McLean at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Easter lilies can be deadly to your pet cats. This is also true for Asiatic, Day, Japanese Show, and Tiger lilies.

The whole lily plant is poisonous to your housecat.

If the cat ingests just a couple leaves or licks any pollen off its fur, this can quickly cause kidney failure in the animal.

Dr. McLean says if untreated, a cat that ingests the lily will die within 4 to 7 days.

If your cat does happen to eat a lily or part of the common Easter plant – early treatment is very important.

Take your animal to your trusted veterinarian where the cat can be treated promptly and correctly to prevent dehydration and maintain the kidney function.

If you have cats in your home, Dr. McLean recommends not having any type of lily plants, especially not in reach of your cats. Dogs are not seriously threatened by lily plants but it can still cause some stomach issues if they ingest them, but not life threatening.

The Humane Society has more about plants that may poison your pets.

If you have any questions about lily plants or their effects on your pets, Powell Veterinary Service can help. Our services provide specialized care to treat various conditions, and we use state-of-the-art equipment to give each pet the most reliable and safest care.

Contact us today at 970-352-9164 today for more information.

The post FDA Warns Popular Easter Plant Can Be Dangerous To Your Pet Cats first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Something as simple as 20 minutes a day of your undivided attention can help keep a cat healthy.

It’s also a good idea to brush or comb your cat’s hair daily. This helps decrease the amount of hair they swallow, which means they won’t be as likely to seemingly choke on hairballs they’d be forced to cough up.

Make sure your pet cat gets an appropriate amount of food and water often enough so they’re not hungry or thirsty for long periods of time.

A well-hydrated cat is a healthy cat. Choose to give them high-quality cat foods filled with nutrients they need.

Attend to your cat’s litter box often. Look to see whether or not they’re eliminating on a regular basis. If you don’t notice any evidence of urine for quite some time, your cat might have feline lower urinary tract disease and need medical attention.

Also, if you notice blood in your cat’s urine or stool, they should be examined by a vet and treated as needed. If and when a cat has diarrhea that doesn’t seem to be going away, even after a week, he or she might have intestinal parasites, which requires a trip to the vet.

It’s best if you’re around your cat such that you keep a keen eye on them and they don’t get into things that could hurt them. In other words, supervising their whereabouts is a smart idea.

Some cats have been hurt by playing with string, needles, yarns and other string-like items that accidentally get swallowed. Other cats have unintentionally fallen from high windows that weren’t kept closed or lacked screens.

In many ways, you should treat a cat like you’d treat a child. They need supervision. They need to be fed. Instead of changing their diapers, you have to change out their dirty litter box.

Finally, above all, they are healthiest when they’re consistently cared about and loved.

Welcoming a new pet into your life, or your cat or dog is in need of medical care then please make an appointment at Powell Veterinary Service. Contact us at 970-352-9164 today!

The post Tips For Keeping Your Cat Healthy first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.