Animal Kingdom USA’s Critter Chatter

For more information, you may post questions on Facebook at www. facebook.com/AnimalKingdomUSA. Animal Kingdom USA is located at 100 Independent Way in Brewster. I own both cats and dogs and with the tough economy I was looking to save a little money. Is there really a difference between products that are made specifically for each pet?

Dear Mark:

That is a great question and one that I get all the time. But a very safe rule is, never mix products that are specific. These pets have very different needs both nutritionally and particularly when it comes to products such as flea and tick items. You could potentially kill your cat if you were to give them a dog flea and tick product. Both the potency and the insecticide used in a dog flea product can be lethal for a cat. Remember that cats groom themselves on a regular basis and therefore the chemical requirements are very different. Please be sure to read all labels very carefully to insure whatever product you are giving to your pet does not exclude them.

Janet from Poughkeepsie asks:

I own several cats and have been told that plants can be poisonous to them. Is this true?

Dear Janet:

Yes it is. As a matter of fact there are plants that can cause significant illness and even fatalities to most pets and especially birds. The following is not a complete list but certainly will give you examples of what can cause significant harm to your cat. Fig – Creeping & Weeping, Motherin Law’s Tongue (Snake Plant), Bird of Paradise, Boston Ivy, Dieffenbachia, Lily – Calls and Peace, Silver Pothos, Aloe Vera, Chrysanthemum, Asparagus, Philodendron, Fern, Amaryllis, Azalea, Daffodil, Elephant Ear, English Ivy, Ferns, Mistletoe, Poinsettia, Rubber Plant, Schefflera, and Umbrella Plant. For more information please check out our care sheets at our Web site, www.AnimalKingdom-usa. com or Google “toxic plants for cats/ birds.”
Patrick Yates
President/CEO
Animal Kingdom USA