Keep your cat safe from the risk of poisoning — but know the signs, just in case.

By Tom Ewing

Don’t let curiosity kill the cat. Mop up any spills of antifreeze — or any toxic substance — before giving animals access to the area.

Antifreeze in your car radiator is good. It will help keep the engine purring nicely during cold winter weather. But antifreeze in your cat is bad. Indeed, it is apt to put an end to her purring forever. Without emergency veterinary care, she could very well die within hours after ingesting as little as a teaspoonful of the stuff. Even with prompt treatment, says Larry Thompson, DVM, PhD, a cat’s chances of surviving antifreeze poisoning are doubtful.

The active ingredient in most brands of antifreeze is ethylene glycol, a sweet-smelling and presumably sweet-tasting liquid that may attract a cat that lacks ready access to her water bowl. According to Dr.…

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