#Middlebury #Cats #HouseholdCleaners
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I saw a warning circulating on social media that said many household disinfecting cleaners are toxic to cats. Is this true? I’ve been spending extra time cleaning my apartment with germ-killing cleaners, and I’m worried that I’ve poisoned my two cats. – Beth in Providence, Rhode Island
DEAR BETH: It’s true, to an extent. Household cleaners containing phenol, like Lysol and Pine-sol, are widely used to disinfect surfaces that would not respond well to bleach, like wood floors and furniture. Phenol can irritate the nasal passages and cause breathing problems in pets.
If your cats are not wheezing or showing other unusual behaviors, they’re probably fine, but you can always call their veterinarian to make sure.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine last year wrote an informative post on how to safely use phenol-containing cleaning products as well as alternative products.
It’s a good idea to put your cats into a different room before using any kind of cleaning product. Spray cleaners can linger in the air for a few minutes, and heavily scented cleaners, even when diluted in water, can irritate pets until the scent clears. Keep them out of the room for an hour after using any disinfectant product.
Even in this time of heightened anxiety about sanitizing our homes against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the best cleaning protocol is the one your parents and grandparents used. Dust, sweep and vacuum, and then pick up or wash away organic materials (dirt, food, messes) using unscented dish soap and warm water. Spot-clean furniture with a mild soap-and-water mixture. Open the curtains to let in sunlight (a natural disinfectant).
Send your tips, questions or comments to ask@pawscorner.com.
© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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