No matter how safe we try to keep our cats, their curious nature can predispose them to getting into things they shouldn’t, and this increases their risk of poisoning.
Signs of poisoning in cats vary depending on the contacted or ingested toxin, but generally include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Agitation
- Muscle tremors
- Incoordination
- Seizures
- Collapse
- Trouble breathing
- Death
- If your cat is showing any of these signs, you should seek emergency veterinary care right away.
Common Feline Toxins
Among the most common toxins encountered by cats are: - Lilies
- Canine flea/tick topicals containing permethrin
- Essential oils
- House cleaning agents
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
- Rat poison
- Antifreeze
- Vitamin D pills or cream
- Nicotine (vape juice)
If You Suspect Poisoning
The first thing you do if you know your cat has ingested something toxic is to call a poison-control helpline at the numbers provided below. If available, you should have the label of the potential toxin and a credit card ready for this fee-for-service resource: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, Center 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661.Do not try to make your cat vomit. While you might be directed to use hydrogen peroxide to make dogs vomit if they’ve ingested something bad, don’t try it with cats! Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to cats and can cause damage if ingested.
After talking with poison control, call your veterinarian and go to the clinic. Have your poison-control case number with you. Your veterinarian will provide the necessary care based on the poison.
If vomiting must be induced in your cat, be aware that it’s not easy. Additionally, success rates vary from 50% to 80%. Dexmedetomidine, xylazine, and hydromorphone are examples of the drugs your veterinarian may reach for in this situation. The use of these drugs to induce vomiting in cats is considered off-label. Since these are powerful medications typically used for sedation and pain relief, side effects include sedation and harmful effects on blood pressure and heart rate.
