How dangerous is tobacco smoke for a cat?
Smokers have a significantly increased risk of cancer of the upper respiratory tract and lungs, are more likely to develop inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, such as bronchitis and asthma, and also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, it has long been known that second-hand or passive smoking (breathing air while being in the same room with smokers) is no less dangerous for everyone who is exposed to this effect. And not only people, but also pets – cats, dogs and birds.
It has also been proven that toxic substances contained in tobacco smoke settle and accumulate on various surfaces in the room: on walls, furniture, clothing, pet hair – and continue to negatively affect everyone in this room. This exposure occurs through both air inhalation and direct contact, which is known as tertiary smoking. Thus, even if the apartment is ventilated after smoking, toxic substances still remain in the room and continue their negative impact.
Tobacco smoke is just as dangerous to cats as it is to humans, and leads to almost the same set of diseases. Any chronic disease can be exacerbated by passive inhalation of tobacco smoke, and cats are no exception.
Tobacco smoke is especially dangerous for cats with respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, asthma or pneumonia.
Studies have been conducted that have proven that the risk of lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) in cats whose owners smoke is three times higher than in pets of non-smoking owners. It was and that the risk of disease increases with the duration of exposure to tobacco smoke, that is, the longer a cat lives with a smoker, the greater the likelihood of cancer.
showed a positive relationship between exposure to tobacco smoke and the occurrence of carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) of the oral cavity. It is believed that this is due to the peculiarities of cat grooming: during daily care, cats actively lick their hair, which increases the ingress of toxic substances from tobacco smoke and their direct effect on the oral mucosa.
But what if the owner of the cat never smokes in the apartment, but does it on the street or in the stairwell?
Medical studies conducted in families of smokers with young children have shown that exposure to harmful substances in tobacco smoke in this case is reduced, but still remains several times higher than in children from non-smoking families. All these data can be safely transferred to pets, including cats.
Most smokers try to give up this bad habit in one way or another – this is a rather complicated process that requires a lot of motivation. It is possible that understanding and awareness of the harm done to the health of family members, including pets, will help the smoker to increase their motivation and overcome all the difficulties associated with quitting smoking.
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