Salt lamps are both relaxing and beneficial for humans to have in their homes, but are salt lamps bad for cats, and do they put their lives in jeopardy?
There are so many questions surrounding the topic of cats being around salt lamps, and we aim to answer all of them for you.
How Much Salt Is Too Much For A Cat?
According to the Journal for Nutrition cats should get the following:
- Minimum of 21 milligrams of salt each day
- Maximum of 42 milligrams of salt each day
So by understanding how much salt your cat’s food and treats have you can determine if they are in a safe zone so to speak. Hard food typically has more salt than wet food so that is something to consider.
But 42 milligrams is a lot of salt – and they would have to lick that salt lamp an awful lot to get too much salt in their system.
So, generally speaking – salt lamps are only going to be harmful to your cat if they are constantly licking it – thereby increasing their daily salt intake. If your cat already has a high salt intake because of their food and treats – you may want to make sure the salt lamp is not accessible to them.
And – of course, ALWAYS make sure your cat has plenty of fresh water!
What is a Salt Lamp?
These lamps are made of large chunks of salt from the Himalayas and help to improve sleep, ease allergies, help to control asthma, and aid in increasing the blood flow – to name a few benefits.
They are a massively popular negative ion generator that purifies the air around you, which are said to help in preventing cancer. Japan uses these lamps quite frequently to purify and cleanse the air around them, which is mainly why they are so popular across the globe in today’s society.
While humans can benefit greatly from these salt lamps, having them in a home where a cat is living could cause health issues. If you decide to bring a salt lamp into your home it is important to monitor your cat closely to ensure they are not showing overwhelming interest or are licking it.
Why Are Salt Lamps Bad for Cats?
There are two major problems with these salt lamps: they are extremely dangerous – can even be deadly for a cat if they lick it repeatedly, and often they are easy for the cats to get to.
Cats can only have 42mg of salt each day at the very maximum. Any more and it could then become a poison issue and can result in dire consequences.
While both dogs and cats need salt in their diets for proper bodily function, increased intake from licking the salt lamps can be extremely dangerous. More often than not, humans keep their salt lamps on tables, dressers, and other places that cats can easily gain access to which increases kitties interest!
Though cats usually get dehydrated after a couple of licks, some cats do not know when to stop and will continue to do so – this is when it becomes more toxic to them. Other cats will continue to lick the lamp because their salt count is already pretty low, so there are a number of reasons as to why a cat is licking a salt lamp in the first place.
There is an interesting thread about salt lamps and cats on the Cat Site that has some interesting cat owner stories.
Salt Poisoning in Cats
When cats have salt poisoning a number of things can happen. Vomiting, seizures, diarrhea, lethargy and even deaths are the most common serious symptoms and end results that occur when a cat is affected by salt poisoning.
Signs of Salt Poisoning to Watch
If you see your cat experiencing any of the following signs of salt poisoning that are listed below, you should bring your cat to see your vet immediately for the proper treatment needed:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Drunk-like movements
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating
- Seizures
- Coma
- Tremors
- Excessive urination or thirst
If you are unable to immediately see your cat’s vet, but there are more than one of the above signs present, take your cat to an emergency vet clinic as soon as possible.
If salt poisoning is left untreated your cat could pass away rather quickly. If you are really desperate and cannot get in touch with your vet or an emergency vet clinic, you can call the 24/7 Animal Poison Control Center to get help for your cat right away.
Where to Keep a Salt Lamp in Your Home
If you do have a salt lamp in your home and want to keep it for the benefits that they offer, you will need to ensure that it’s kept far away from your cat. Unfortunately, cats are known as jumpers and climbers, so this part can be tricky.
You must place the lamp up as high as possible from your cat to make sure that it is completely out of a cat’s reach. For example, if there is a desk that your cat never goes on, you could try putting the salt lamp there.
However, salt lamps are known to pique the interest of both cats and dogs alike, so having it somewhere safe is definitely a challenge. If your cat jumps to new heights, literally, to reach the salt lamp, you will need to move it.
Keep moving the salt lamp around until your cat stops going for it and ensure that you put it away for safekeeping, and the safety of your cat, whenever you are not home. This will ensure that they are not getting at it in secret while you’re out.
Keeping Your Cat Safe
No one likes having a cat become direly ill or pass away because of a household item that we weren’t aware could fatally harm them. Ergo, keeping your salt lamp away from your cat, or getting rid of it after finding out the answer to “are salt lamps bad for cats”, is the best way to ensure they are safe.
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