Poisoning in Cats: Signs, What to Do and How to Prevent It

Cats are naturally curious, and a moment’s carelessness can lead to serious consequences. Cats can be poisoned by toxic plants, household chemicals, garden products, medicines (especially human ones) and certain foods. Because cats groom themselves constantly, they can also be poisoned by anything that gets on their fur.

How can you tell if your cat has been poisoned? Which substances are most dangerous? What should you do? Here’s what every cat owner needs to know.

Poisoning often develops quickly and can be fatal, so it’s vital to recognize it early and get veterinary help as fast as possible.

Signs of Poisoning in Cats

The signs depend on the substance, how much your cat was exposed to and how it entered the body. Common signs include:

• drooling or foaming at the mouth;
• vomiting (sometimes with blood);
• diarrhea (sometimes with blood);
• loss of appetite;
• lethargy, weakness or wobbliness;
• fast, shallow or difficult breathing;
• drinking and peeing more, or peeing less, than usual;
• pawing at the mouth, or swelling of the face or mouth;
• unusually pale, red, yellow or bluish gums;
• dilated or very small pupils;
• restlessness, agitation or hyperactivity;
• tremors, twitching or seizures;
• collapse or loss of consciousness;
• a high or low body temperature.

Some poisons, such as lilies, antifreeze and rat poison, may cause no obvious symptoms for hours or even days, while serious damage is already happening. That’s why you should never wait to see whether symptoms develop.

The Most Common Poisons for Cats

• Lilies. All true lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are extremely toxic. Eating a small part of a leaf or flower, licking pollen off their fur or drinking water from the vase can cause sudden kidney failure. Read more about plants that are poisonous to cats.
• Dog flea treatments containing permethrin. Spot-on flea treatments for dogs are one of the most common causes of poisoning in cats, causing tremors and seizures. Never use a dog product on a cat, and keep cats away from recently treated dogs.
• Human medicines. Acetaminophen (paracetamol), ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, antidepressants, ADHD medications, cold and flu remedies and many others can be deadly to cats, even in small amounts. Never give your cat any medicine that hasn’t been prescribed for it by a vet.
• Antifreeze (ethylene glycol), which tastes sweet and causes kidney failure. Even a few licks can be fatal.
• Rodent poisons, which can cause internal bleeding, seizures or kidney failure. Cats can also be poisoned by eating a poisoned mouse or rat.
• Household chemicals, such as bleach, drain cleaners, disinfectants (especially those containing phenols), and liquid potpourri.
• Essential oils, such as tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, citrus and many others, whether swallowed, applied to the skin or used in diffusers.
• Garden products, such as slug and snail pellets, fertilizers, weed killers and insecticides.
• Toxic foods, such as onions, garlic, leeks and chives, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, grapes and raisins, raw bread dough and xylitol.
• Glow sticks and jewelry: the liquid inside tastes very bitter and makes cats drool and froth, although it’s usually not seriously toxic.

What to Do If Your Cat Has Been Poisoned

1. Stay calm, and move your cat away from the source of the poison. Put on gloves if needed, and stop other pets from getting to it.
2. Call your vet, an emergency clinic or a poison hotline immediately. Tell them what your cat was exposed to, how much and when, your cat’s weight and any symptoms. Follow their instructions exactly.
3. Don’t try to make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to. Never give salt water, hydrogen peroxide, mustard, ipecac, milk, oil or other home remedies: they don’t work reliably in cats and can cause serious harm, including dangerous salt poisoning, stomach ulcers and inhaling vomit into the lungs. If vomiting is needed, your vet will give a safe medication.
4. If a substance is on your cat’s fur or skin, stop your cat from grooming (wrap it in a towel if necessary) and ask the vet or hotline whether and how to wash it off before you travel.
5. If your cat inhaled fumes or smoke, move it into fresh air, keeping yourself safe.
6. Keep your cat warm and quiet, and take it to the vet as quickly as possible in a secure carrier.
7. Bring the evidence: the packaging, label or container, a sample or photo of the plant or product, and, if your cat has vomited, a photo or sample of the vomit. This helps the vet choose the right treatment.

Don’t try to treat poisoning at home using advice from the internet, and don’t give your cat any medicines, “antidotes” or supplements yourself. The right treatment depends on the poison, and some well-meant remedies can make things much worse.

Treatment at the Clinic

Your vet will examine your cat and may run blood and urine tests. Depending on the poison and your cat’s condition, treatment may include safely inducing vomiting, giving medicine to absorb remaining toxins, specific antidotes where they exist, intravenous fluids, medication to control seizures or vomiting, and close monitoring in the hospital. The sooner treatment starts, the better the chances of a full recovery.

After Poisoning

Recovery can take days or weeks, depending on the poison and which organs were affected. Follow your vet’s instructions carefully on medication, diet and follow-up checks. Your vet may recommend a special prescription diet to support the kidneys, liver or digestive system for a while. If your cat refuses food for more than a day after coming home, tell your vet.

How to Prevent Poisoning

1. Keep all medicines, for people and pets, in closed cabinets or containers. Don’t leave pills on counters or bedside tables, and pick up any dropped tablets immediately.
2. Never give your cat human medicines, or medicines prescribed for another pet.
3. Use only flea, tick and worm treatments made for cats, at the dose for your cat’s weight, and follow the instructions exactly.
4. Don’t keep lilies in your home or garden, and check that any plants or bouquets you bring home are safe for cats.
5. Store cleaning products, garden chemicals, antifreeze and rodent poisons securely, and wipe up spills immediately.
6. Keep cats out of rooms while floors are wet with cleaning products, and rinse surfaces well.
7. Don’t use essential oil diffusers or scented oils around your cat.
8. Keep trash cans closed, and don’t let anyone feed your cat from the table.
9. Store glow sticks, batteries and other small household items out of reach.
10. If your cat goes outside, ask neighbors to let you know if they use slug pellets or rodent poison.

Read also: first aid for cats and what to keep in your cat’s first-aid kit.

Sources:

• PetMD: Poisoning in cats
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control
• Pet Poison Helpline