@GemmaJF OK, assuming you are right, what do you suggest as a solution? Not having any poisonous plant (any plants?). A cat will find them elsewhere. Not letting the cat outside? Yes, it's a solution but controversial one and has its pros and cons... better not start that here.
Not leaving antifreeze where a cat can get it? I assume nobody leaves it like that. Knowing symptoms of poisoning? I would agree pet owners should know them but even if they don't, one usually notices if something isn't right with a pet and do something about it.
For me, it's more about living with it. Yes, my cat can go out and die. I can go out and die.
@GemmaJF OK, assuming you are right, what do you suggest as a solution? Not having any poisonous plant (any plants?). A cat will find them elsewhere. Not letting the cat outside? Yes, it's a solution but controversial one and has its pros and cons... better not start that here.
Not leaving antifreeze where a cat can get it? I assume nobody leaves it like that. Knowing symptoms of poisoning? I would agree pet owners should know them but even if they don't, one usually notices if something isn't right with a pet and do something about it.
For me, it's more about living with it. Yes, my cat can go out and die. I can go out and die.
People will make their own decisions, it is just better when it based on fact not fiction.
Any pet owner should know the symptoms of poisoning in their pet.
Cats are much smaller creatures than they appear under all that fur and it is biological fact that their metabolism is not well suited to dealing with toxins.
Time is everything if you suspect a cat has been poisoned, don't delay one minute, take it to a vet immediately.
It doesn't seem like a huge ask for pet owners to protect their pets from possible poisons, I think in all honestly many are educated on the topic and do.
Ultimately if a cat does die because the owner chose to let it free-roam, well it is the owners' decision, not the cat's. The cat wasn't to know all the hazards it could encounter. Owners ought to though.
@BenDover I'm not sure what your concept of 'hysterical' is. I rather thought OP might care about the welfare of their cat, rather than anecdotal opinion.
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Knowing symptoms of poisoning? I would agree pet owners should know them but even if they don't, one usually notices if something isn't right with a pet and do something about it.
Any pet owner should know the symptoms of poisoning in their pet.
Cats are much smaller creatures than they appear under all that fur and it is biological fact that their metabolism is not well suited to dealing with toxins.
Time is everything if you suspect a cat has been poisoned, don't delay one minute, take it to a vet immediately.
It doesn't seem like a huge ask for pet owners to protect their pets from possible poisons, I think in all honestly many are educated on the topic and do.
Ultimately if a cat does die because the owner chose to let it free-roam, well it is the owners' decision, not the cat's. The cat wasn't to know all the hazards it could encounter. Owners ought to though.
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/health/poisoning/antifreeze