Flame Retardants Endangering Cats

According to top government scientists, flame-retardants commonly found in couches and other furniture could be killing housecats. Cats spend hours per day on household furniture and the floor. Couches, appliance cords, foam padding, carpet pads, electronics, children’s clothes and more can all include flame retardants. And scientists say they have found a significant association between certain types and hyperthyroidism in cats.

Hyperthyroidism causes cats’ thyroid glands to go into overhaul, speeding up their metabolism and essentially making cats feel ravenous. But because their bodies are working so hard, they continue to lose weight and essentially waste away.

Cats and kittens spend many hours per day sleeping on the couch, beds, or carpet.
Image: Shutterstock

Flame retardants first became common practice in the 1970s and 1980s, which aligns with the exact same time cats began dying from thyroid issues in larger numbers. But some early flame-retardants (like PCBs) were banned as early as the late seventies when they were found to be toxic. Their health effects on adults and children are still not completely understood, and it remains a controversial topic.

And if there are health concerns for humans, the negative effects on cats would be even worse. “It’s time for the toxic treadmill to stop,” said Senator Sharon Nelson of Washington State.

“If you get ‘XYZ chemical,’ it proves toxic. Then you can’t just replace it with another one, you know, ‘Flame Retardant 1000,’ which is just as bad or almost as bad for our kids,” said Nelson.

Hyperthyroidism has also been steadily rising for humans, a problem that some believe can be at least partially attributed to the use of toxic flame-retardants in the home. The problem isn’t incurable—regular medication or radiation injections can get things back to normal—but without removing the cause, it will continue to plague both humans and cats.