Yes, You Read That Correctly! Cats Love to Play with Small Fluffy Toys That Remind Them of Small Animals, Especially If Those Toys Have a String Attached. Unfortunately, Tampons Fit That Description. If Your Cat Manages to Sneak into Your Bathroom and Pull out a Tampon, the Situation Could Quickly Turn from Amusing to Deadly.

Oh No! You Didn’t Tightly Close the Container of Dried Cat Food Last Night. but Stale Food Isn’t All That Bad, Right? Actually, Cat Food Oxidizes When Exposed to Air and Loses Its Nutritional Value. It Will Go Bad with Time (Whether from Oxidation, Excess Moisture, or Bugs That Get into It) and Eventually Cause Your Pet to Get Sick. What’s Worse, Large Bags of Cat Food Are Cheaper in Bulk but Not That Great for Sealing out the Elements.

Did You Know That the Odor of Your Ear Wax May Actually Attract Your Cat? This Is Why Loose Ear Plugs (And Q-Tips) Pose Such a Risk. While Consuming Ear Wax Is a Little Stomach-Turning, It Isn’t Necessarily Bad for Your Cat. However, Accidentally Ingesting an Ear Plug Could Cause a Wealth of Problems.

Certain Household Plants

While It Might Be Tempting to Buy the First Attractive Houseplants You See — Especially If They Are a Good Price — You’ll Need to Pause and Keep Your Furry Friend in Mind. Cats Love to Bat at Houseplants, Play with Them, and Even Try to Eat Them. Unfortunately, Many Common Indoor Plants Are Toxic to Pets.

Laundry Detergent Doesn’t Seem Like a Huge Risk to Pets Because It Has a Lid. However, Even If the Lid Is Tightly Shut, Your Cat Could Experience Serious Health Issues If It Ingests Just a Small Amount That Dripped Down the Side of the Bottle.

5 Surprising Things That Are Harmful to Cats

By Sarah Jenkins

• Oct 8, 2026 • 5 min read

5 Surprising Things That Are Harmful to Cats

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

We All Have a Weak Spot for Videos of Cats Discovering Unlikely Toys. from Laser Pointers and Cardboard Boxes to the Odd Sock, Cats Can Make a Game out of Just About Anything. This Makes for Countless Good Laughs, but Unfortunately, the Fun Is over When a Cat Reaches for Something It Shouldn’t.

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.

Tags: household items harmful to cats