Tobacco Smoke and Pets

Studies have shown pets are susceptible to disease from tobacco smoke. Secondhand smoke causes respiratory infections, lung inflammation, cancer and asthma in pets.

Cats lick their fur and in cleaning themselves ingest particulate matter from cigarette smoke. As a result, cats living in smoking households are susceptible to oral cancers as well as an increased risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Dogs suffer from nasal cancers and are also susceptible to eating toxic waste products from cigarettes.

Read more information in Smoking and Pets, a publication from the Education Department of a California-based organization, PAWS: Pets Are Wonderful Support.