I recently looked through the book Why Paint Cats, by Burton Silver and Heather Busch. Is paint toxic to cats?
Ruby
Gridley, CA
About 15 years ago a book entitled Why Cats Paint was released with much fanfare and no small amount of controversy. The book featured and discussed artwork (paintings) created by cats.
Evidently the authors are gluttons for controversy. In 2002 they released a sequel, entitled Why Paint Cats. The second book features cats as artwork, and it definitely got people stirred up. The book has many photographs of decoratively painted cats. Plenty of people questioned the ethics of using cats as accessories and ornaments. I have not read the book, but my understanding is that the authors intended for it to be satirical and comical. Therefore, some of the controversy may be unfounded.
The cats in the book were painted with non-toxic vegetable dyes. So, to answer your question Ruby, the paints used in Why Paint Cats are not poisonous. However, most other types of paint can be very dangerous to cats. And paint thinner is extremely toxic when applied to cats’ skin.
In my opinion painting cats is a bad idea. Fortunately, cats are amazingly beautiful in their natural state. They don’t need to be painted.
Image source: costumecats.com
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I have heard from several cat folks who felt that my recent post on common poisons in pets didn’t really apply to them. I see their point. The poisons mentioned in the post (chocolate, rodenticides and xylitol) most often affect dogs.
It is no secret that cats are quite selective about what they consume. That makes them less likely to suffer adverse effects from the poisons in the previous post. But there are plenty of hazards out there for cats. So let’s give cats their due.
Here are some hazardous items that, in my experience, commonly cause trouble for feline companions.
Cheap flea control products. Many topical flea preventatives found in grocery stores and drug stores have low margins of safety. If you apply too much, or if you apply a canine product to your cat, you may see trembling, drooling, disorientation, staggering or even death. High quality flea preventatives do not generally cause these reactions. (Photo credit: CDC)
String, thread and yarn. Norman Rockwell loved to paint pictures of kittens playing with balls of yarn. But if a cat swallows yarn, string or thread it can lead to a life-threatening condition in which the intestines bunch together. Surgery may be necessary, and some cats do not survive. The situation is even more serious if a needle is attached to thread that a cat swallows.
Household chemicals. Cats don’t often consume chemicals straight from the bottle or the floor (an exception is radiator antifreeze–and it’s highly toxic). But if chemicals contaminate a cat’s skin, he or she will lick them off and swallow them in the course of normal grooming.
Houseplants. Many cats love to nibble on houseplants. Unfortunately, many houseplants are poisonous to cats. Lilies and Dieffenbachia species are two of the most common. For a more comprehensive list, click here.
Human or canine medications. Many well-meaning people inadvertently poison their cats with human or canine pain killers, anti-anxiety drugs or other medications. Never give medicine to a cat without consulting a veterinarian.
Please remember that the above list is not comprehensive. However, if more people take care to protect their cats from the hazards in this post, fewer cats will end up in emergency rooms.
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My very good friend Buster, who never misses an opportunity to watch me in the kitchen, was observing me make breakfast this morning. He showed special interest in the raisins that I put on my cereal.
Raisins and grapes are believed to be toxic to dogs. I use the word believed because it has not been proven conclusively that grapes and raisins themselves are toxic. Some scholars suspect mold or fungus present on the fruits is what causes kidney damage in some dogs that eat them.
Regardless of the toxin’s identity, you should not let your pet eat grapes or raisins.
What truly strikes me is not that grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs. Plenty of human foods should not be eaten by pets (chocolate is another example). The interesting thing, to me, is that nobody thought that grapes or raisins were dangerous before 1999. Before that, many vets recommended grapes as a healthy, tasty dog treat.
Our understanding of the world and its systems is continually evolving. Accepted truths are upended regularly. The body is very complex. There will be more surprises in the future.
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I recently looked through the book Why Paint Cats, by Burton Silver and Heather Busch. Is paint toxic to cats?
You have questions. 