Will Cinnamon Cause Health Problems For My Cat?

Cinnamon is one of the most commonly used spices in our kitchen, and if you have a curious cat, there is a high probability that she could end up sniffing near the cinnamon you have stored. So most probably, you have wondered, "can cats eat cinnamon?". Cinnamon is not toxic for cats, but you should rather keep your cat away. Here is why.

Is cinnamon bad for cats?

If you are a responsible cat owner, you should keep cinnamon away from your cat, and here is why. This spice contains coumarin, which can cause severe and different health problems for your cat. Since cats can't break down coumarin, cats could end up with liver failure and other serious health problems.

GOOD TO KNOW: Even humans can experience health problems because of the coumarin if you consume too much cinnamon.

Besides liver failure, your cat could also end up with skin problems. Skin problems are common in the cats' world, and different triggers can cause skin problems for your cat. Often cat owners will not know what is causing skin infections for their cats, and the best thing they can do is to seek vets' help.

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Cinnamon toxicity symptoms

If you noticed or assume that your cat got her paws on some cinnamon, there are a few symptoms you should look for. Every cat is different, and the symptoms can vary from cat to cat. Also, the amount of ingested cinnamon will affect the appearance of the symptoms.

Symptoms to watch for are:

Skin problems such as rashes, irritations, red areas
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased heart rate
Wheezing
Coughing

What should I do if my cat has ingested cinnamon?

If your cat only ingested a small amount of cinnamon, in most cases, she will be fine, and you have nothing to worry about. However, you should look for any cinnamon toxicity symptoms that indicate your cat is experiencing some health concerns.

If your cat starts to show any of the symptoms listed above, or if your cat seems weird in general after she ingested cinnamon, you should immediately call your vet and rush to the clinic. Your vet will take it from there and give your cat proper treatment.

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Treatment

Cat treatment will depend on the symptoms your cat is experiencing. If your cat only has an allergic reaction, the affected area should be cleaned, and your vet will watch for any other symptoms.

If your cat shows other, more dangerous symptoms after examination, your vet needs to find out if the cinnamon caused any damage to your cat's organs. Your vet will give your cat proper care to restore damaged organs' function.

Recovery

Recovery will depend on the severity of the symptoms your cat has. For allergic reactions, your cat will fully recover very fast. If your cat has experienced organ damage, recovery will last longer, but your vet will instruct you on all the needed medications for your cat to recover faster.

Is there any prevention?

Of course, there is; you should never allow your cat to come near the cinnamon. As a cat owner, you must know all the potentially toxic ingredients cats cannot consume to protect them. If you know that you will use cinnamon for cooking or baking, ensure that you do it safely, and after usage, always remove the cinnamon from places your cat could put her paws on it.

World Cat Finder Team

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