Oops! My cat drank the eggnog. What do I do?
The holidays are a great time to kick back, relax and enjoy some eggnog with your family. While you’re busy preparing the drinks and snacks, your feline family member may decide it’s a great time to try some eggnog, too. Unfortunately, eggnog isn’t safe for our cats!
What’s so dangerous about eggnog?
- Alcohol: Your cat can’t hold their liquor! Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a drunken gait and even coma or death.
- Raw eggs: Raw eggs could mean food poisoning for cats and humans alike.
- Milk or heavy cream: Your cat is lactose intolerant, so dairy products might lead to diarrhea and upset stomach.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is mostly made from alcohol. Remember that your cat is a lightweight!
- Sugar: A little sugar isn’t bad for most cats, but if your feline friend has diabetes, this could impact those sugar levels you’re working so hard to maintain.
- Spices: Spices in eggnog, such as nutmeg or cloves, could have toxic effects in large quantities.
Steps to protect your cat from drinking eggnog include:
- Keep a lid on the eggnog.
- Keep drinks up high and out of reach.
- To avoid temptation, consider putting your cat somewhere safe while the eggnog and other holiday favorites are out.
- For homemade eggnog, keep your recipe handy. For eggnog that you bought at the store, make sure to save the ingredients label or take a picture of it. This information can help your veterinarian determine if there is cause for concern in case your cat gets their paws on some eggnog.
If you think your cat drank eggnog, you should contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 right away!
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