Cat care basics: what is toxic to cats, and the everyday essentials
Lilies, Panadol, onion, grapes and some dog flea treatments are dangerous to cats, and a few of them can kill. Cats also need a complete cat food, fresh water every day and a clean litter tray. If a cat has eaten something toxic, call your vet or an emergency vet straight away.
For cat parents and cat sitters. Last reviewed 7 November 2026. General information only, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about a cat, call your vet.
Quick guide
| Danger | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Lilies (any part, pollen or vase water) | Can cause fatal kidney failure | Go to a vet immediately |
| Panadol (paracetamol) | Highly poisonous to cats, even in tiny amounts | Never give it. Call the vet |
| Onion, garlic, chives, leeks | Can damage red blood cells | Keep away. Call the vet if eaten |
| Chocolate and caffeine | Can affect the heart and nervous system | Call the vet |
| Grapes, raisins, sultanas | Listed as dangerous by RSPCA Australia | Call the vet |
| Dog flea treatments | Some contain permethrin, very toxic to cats | Use cat products only |
| Antifreeze, rat bait, snail bait | Deadly in small amounts | Lock away. Vet immediately |
| Cow’s milk | Upsets many cats’ tummies | Offer fresh water instead |
What foods are toxic to cats?
Onion, garlic, chives and leeks, chocolate and caffeine, and grapes, raisins and sultanas are dangerous to cats. So are alcohol, raw bread dough and cooked bones, which can splinter. If a cat has eaten any of these, call your vet or an emergency vet straight away, before signs appear.
- Onion and garlic can damage red blood cells and cause anaemia.
- Chocolate and caffeine can affect the heart and nervous system. Darker chocolate is worse.
- Fat trimmings, raw fish and liver in large amounts can also make cats unwell.
- Many adult cats cannot digest cow’s milk and get an upset tummy. Fresh water is better.
Are lilies really dangerous to cats?
Yes. Lilies are one of the most dangerous plants for cats. RSPCA Australia says they can cause acute and potentially fatal kidney failure within 36 to 72 hours. Eating a leaf or petal, licking pollen off fur, or drinking the vase water can be enough. If a cat has had any contact with a lily, go to a vet immediately.
- True lilies, such as Easter, tiger, Asiatic and Oriental lilies, and daylilies are all dangerous.
- Do not bring or leave a bunch of flowers with lilies in a home with a cat, including as a gift. Check the filler flowers too.
- Early treatment can save the cat, so do not wait for signs of illness.
What other plants are poisonous to cats?
Sago palm and other cycads, oleander, azalea and rhododendron, tulip and daffodil bulbs, cyclamen and chrysanthemums can all make cats unwell. If you are unsure about a plant, keep it away from the cat and check with your vet.
- Cat grass and catnip are safe for most cats.
- Cut flowers are the most common way dangerous plants get into a cat’s home.
What medicines are dangerous to cats?
Never give a cat human pain relief. Paracetamol (Panadol) is highly poisonous to cats, even in tiny amounts, and ibuprofen and aspirin are also dangerous. Only give medicine your cat’s own vet has prescribed.
- Some flea and tick products made for dogs contain ingredients such as permethrin that are very toxic to cats. Use only products made for cats.
- If a cat seems to be in pain, call the vet instead of giving anything.
What other things around the house can poison cats?
Rat, mouse, snail and slug bait, antifreeze and many cleaning products can poison cats. A cat can also be poisoned by eating a rodent that has taken bait. Keep these locked away, and avoid strong-smelling cleaners such as phenol-based disinfectants near cats.
- RSPCA Australia says antifreeze is deadly even in small amounts.
- Fallen fruit stones can cause an intestinal blockage.
- Wash the litter tray with warm water and mild soap, not strong-smelling cleaners.
What should I do if my cat has eaten something toxic?
Call your vet or an emergency vet straight away. Do not wait for signs of illness, because some poisons take a day or more to show. Take the packaging, plant or medicine with you if you can.
- Signs can include vomiting, drowsiness, diarrhoea or trouble breathing.
- Do not try to make the cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Tell the vet what the cat ate, roughly how much, and when.
What should I feed my cat?
A complete and balanced cat food, in the amounts on the pack or as your vet recommends. Cats are obligate carnivores, so they need a diet based on animal protein. Human food, dog food and plain meat do not give them everything they need.
- Rich, fatty scraps can cause tummy upsets and pancreatitis.
- Plain chicken breast or mince is missing nutrients cats need, such as taurine, calcium and some vitamins.
- Keep to the same food, amounts and times. Sudden changes can cause tummy upsets or put a cat off eating.
- A cat that skips meals for a day, or stops eating, can become seriously ill. Call your vet early.
Why do cats need taurine?
Taurine is an amino acid that cats cannot make enough of, so it has to come from their food. Without enough, cats can develop heart disease and eye damage, including blindness. Complete cat foods include it. Dog food and plain muscle meat do not have enough.
- Organ meats such as heart and liver have much more taurine than muscle meat.
- This is another reason to stick with a complete and balanced cat food.
How should I look after my cat’s water?
Change the water every day, wash the bowl, and keep it away from the litter tray. Some cats drink more from a fountain, which needs cleaning and a pump that stays under water. A cat that suddenly drinks much more or much less than usual should be checked by a vet.
- Ceramic and stainless steel bowls are easiest to keep clean. Scratched plastic can hold bacteria.
- Slime in a fountain or a humming pump means it needs cleaning.
- If you use an electronic feeder, check the power, that the food has not jammed, and that your cat has eaten it. Do not rely only on the machine.
How should I look after a cat’s litter tray?
Scoop at least once a day, top up the litter, and wash the tray with warm water and mild soap when needed. A good rule is one tray per cat plus one spare, in a quiet spot away from food and water. Straining or crying in the tray is a warning sign.
- A male cat that keeps going to the tray and passes nothing is an emergency. Call a vet straight away.
- Blood in the urine, or going outside the tray, can mean illness.
- Wash your hands after cleaning. Pregnant people should wear gloves or ask someone else to scoop, because of toxoplasmosis.
- Use the litter your cat is used to. Cats can be fussy.
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