Nutmeg

Since I don't use pesticides, I want to sprinkle nutmeg on my kitchen counter to deter ants. Will the spice hurt my cats if they lick it?

- Pam

Strange as it may seem, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) has actually gained popularity as a street drug because of the psychological effects that are produced from the spice's volatile oil.  If eaten in large amounts, this oil can cause vomiting and abdominal pain as well as central nervous system excitation. These initial symptoms are usually followed by profound drowsiness several hours after consumption.

Taking a lick or two of ground nutmeg is not likely to pose a serious problem for your cats; however, we'd still recommend using caution to prevent them from ingesting problematic quantities.

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