Fire Retardant Chemicals & Cat Safety

The presence of fire retardant materials in your household furniture can pose a health problem to your cat.

Research makes evident that fire retardant chemicals are hazardous to a cat's health. Exposure to the chemicals can cause hyperthyroidism in cats, a condition that most cats didn't have prior to the use of the fire retardant chemicals in upholstered household furniture, beds and some types of carpet. Cat beds, blankets and even cat food could also contain PBDEs. The list of chemicals used may not be listed on the white label that is embedded in the furniture's seam. The toxic condition is caused by dust particles from the fire retardant chemical called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDE.

Fire Retardant Material Contamination

A cat can breathe dust particles from fire-retardant materials in the carpet or furniture. Since cats lick their fur to groom themselves, they are also ingesting large amounts of dust particles on a daily basis, which can cause hyperthyroidism.

Chemical Waste and Fish

The industrial dumping of fire-retardant chemicals into rivers and oceans has caused the fish to become contaminated. Cat-food manufacturers use the contaminated fish to make seafood flavored cat food. Salmon in particular, as well as some types of seafood giblets, may contain the toxic chemical PBDE, which slowly poisons cats.

Polyurethane Foam Toxicity

Some types of polyurethane foam also contain the fire-retardant chemical that will make your cat sick. Polyurethane foam pieces are attractive to cats; they will play with them and walk around with the pieces in their mouths, ready to bat the foam around the floor. When a cat rolls around on polyurethane foam pieces, the dust particles will stick to its fur.

PBDE and Hyperthyroidism

Cats with symptoms of hyperthyroidism may have extreme opposite reactions, such as increased or decreased appetite, excessive water intake, frequent urination, vomiting or diarrhea. The fur may start to shed excessively or the fur may start to look dull. Older cats may have some of these symptoms due to old age, particularly decreased appetite, dull fur and lethargy. Only a blood test done by a veterinary epidemiologist can diagnose hyperthyroidism in your cat.

Testing for PBDE

PBDE from the flame retardation treatment is a poisonous neurotoxin, possibly fatal to your cat. The only recourse is to remove the treated articles, clearing your home's air of dust and particles that contain the PBDE. Have your furniture tested for the chemical's presence with an X-ray fluorescence analyzer.

References

• Environmental Working Group: Pets
• College of Veterinary Medicine; Washington State University: Hyperthyroidism in the Cat

Resources

• Detox Metals: Animals and Pets
• Foe: Killer Couches
• Durisol Build: Fire Retardant