Top ten reasons cat owners call the Pet Poison Helpline

If your pet ingested a substance and you’re unsure if it’s toxic (e.g. if your pet ate a household plant and you’re unsure of its safety), call your veterinarian or an organization like the Pet Poison Helpline immediately to get your questions answered.       

It’s no secret that both dogs and cats are curious creatures. And no one knows that better than the folks at the Pet Poison Helpline, whose job it is to field calls from worried owners after their pet gets into something. One of the things the organization does that can help you be aware in your own practice is publish a list of the most “popular” calls they get around stuff pets ingest.  

Knowing what pet owners are calling en masse about can help you be prepared at your own practice and even create resources around those items to help pet owners be more aware. So, when it comes to cats, what are the top ten? 

The top 10 calls for cats 

Of all the calls Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, the Director of Veterinary Medicine and Senior Veterinary Toxicologist for the Pet Poison Helpline says they get – there’s one that is clearly the most popular. Lillies are the number one forbidden fruit for felines, but cats also have a sweet tooth. The number one call for dogs is number two for cats: it turns out that cats crave chocolate, too. Roughly 16% of calls from owners are concerns about their cats or dogs eating chocolate. 

“Chocolate every year takes the cake. It always wins. And it makes sense because who doesn’t love chocolate? There’s always a lot of chocolate in the household,” Schmid said.  

Here are the top calls for cats:  

1. Lilies (Lilium species) 
2. Chocolate 
3. Onions/Chives/Leeks/Shallots (Allium species) 
4. Garlic 
5. Ibuprofen 
6. Alstroemeria, Peruvian Lily 
7. Vitamin D3 (overdose) 
8. Amphetamine Combos 
9. Carprofen 
10. Tulips 

Lilies are the top calls they received for cats in 2024. However, Schmid notes that although many plants have “lily” in their name, not all of them can cause kidney failure in cats. 

“Lilies are a big concern in cats. And when we talk about lilies, those are really the lilium and those Hemerocallis species lilies. So, your Asiatics, your oriental, rose lilies, Easter lilies,” she added. “As Easter gets closer for us, those are going to be ones that can cause kidney failure to occur in cats.” 

She also adds that spreading awareness about sending flowers and plants is important. If you’re sending flowers or plants to someone as a gift, it’s always a good idea to ask if they have pets in the house.  

Keeping an eye on Amphetamines 

At number eight for cats is Amphetamine combos, which Schmid notes is something to keep an eye on. When we talk about those combos, we’re talking ADD medication, ADHD medication, and others. 

“We all know that mental health is so important for us as humans, and there’s a lot of different pharmaceuticals that are used to help with mental health. For some reason, cats, while they’re typically more discriminant eaters, love the smell and the taste of amphetamine combos,” she added.  

Ingesting these sorts of pharmaceuticals can cause an array of symptoms from vomiting to seizures in cats. So be sure to store these (and other potentially dangerous) medications in a high cabinet, shelf, or safe out of reach of your cats. 

Next month, we’ll look at the top ten things dogs ate that pet owners called about in 2024. While there are some repeats (like chocolate), there are also multiple different items on the list as well. Keep an eye out for our next installment of “My Pet Ate,” as well as an eye on your furry friends whose curiosity keeps the Pet Poison Helpline in business! 

Our “My Pet Ate” series is done in collaboration with the Pet Poison Helpline. You can learn more about the services they offer on their website or by calling (855) 764-7661. 

Photo credit: © masary78 via iStock / Getty Images Plus

Disclaimer: Trends content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.