This is a recognition list, not a treatment list. If your animal has eaten any of these, the right response is a phone call, not a home remedy. Bring the packaging with you.
Kitchen
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate and cocoa powder
Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants, including in baked goods
Onions, garlic, leeks and chives, raw or cooked
Xylitol, a sweetener found in sugar-free gum, sweets and some peanut butters
Cooked bones, which splinter
Alcohol and raw bread dough
Bathroom and bedroom
Any human medication, including everyday painkillers
Vitamin and mineral supplements, particularly anything with iron
Nicotine products, including patches and vape liquid
Essential oils, especially around cats
Garage and garden
Antifreeze, which is sweet and extremely dangerous even in tiny amounts
Rodent and slug bait
Lilies, which are severely toxic to cats: pollen on the coat is enough
Daffodil and tulip bulbs, foxglove, yew and azalea
Compost, which can grow moulds that cause tremors
If you think they’ve eaten something
Call us straight away, even if they seem completely well. Do not try to make them sick: doing that at home is dangerous and can cause more harm than the original substance. Tell us what it was, roughly how much, and when. With antifreeze, lilies and human medication, the difference between calling now and calling in the morning is very large.
Not sure whether this needs a visit?
Call us on (555) 018-4400 and describe what you’ve noticed. Our nurses triage these calls all day and there’s no charge for asking. If it’s outside our hours and you’re worried, call [emergency hospital name] on [number].
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Nothing here replaces examining your specific animal.
Related service
Urgent care