Poisoning and your cat

Overview

Toxic substances, or poisons, can cause your cat to become ill and can be fatal in some instances. Unfortunately, many substances you are most likely to keep in your home are poisonous to cats. These may include household chemicals, food, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications.

Seek Immediate Attention

If you suspect your cat is poisoned, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Symptoms

Cats that have come in contact with a poisonous substance may become:

• Agitated
• Excited
• Aggressive
• Depressed

Other possible clinical signs include:

• Seizures
• Tremors, or uncontrolled movements that usually involve the head or legs
• Walking as if they were drunk
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Frothing at the mouth
• Difficulty urinating or complete lack of urine production
• Bruising
• Nose bleeds

These symptoms can occur if your cat has swallowed a potentially poisonous substance, such as a pesticide, herbicide, drugs (prescription or over-the-counter), or chocolate. Ingestion of toxic plants like lilies, aloe, and philodendron can also cause similar symptoms.

Prevention

Many common medications that are beneficial to you can be of significant danger to your cat. Be sure to keep all medications, including vitamins, securely stored. In addition to swallowing a poisonous substance, your cat may come in physical contact with or inhale a poison. Just as with humans, fumes, vapors, or gases in the air may result in an accidental poisoning.

Items you should consider dangerous to your cat include:

• Certain foods such as chocolate, avocado, raisins, onions, and some nuts
• Spoiled food
• Alcoholic beverages
• Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
• Rat poisoning
• Antifreeze and deicing salt
• Mothballs
• Cleaning products such as bleach, ammonia, and toilet bowl cleaner
• Oil and gasoline
• Acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol)
• Lilies, aloe, and philodendron along with many other household plants

Treatment

If you think your cat has been poisoned, try to determine the source of the poison. This information will be valuable in allowing your veterinarian to determine the proper treatment as it will vary according to the type of poison. Call your vet immediately for instructions if you suspect your cat has been poisoned. Do not give your cat medication or attempt to induce vomiting unless instructed by your vet.

Depending on the poison your cat ingested and how poisonous it is, your cat may require hospitalization and aggressive treatment. Vomiting may be induced and products like activated charcoal may be given by mouth to decrease the amount of the poison that is absorbed by the body. Intravenous (IV) fluids may be required if your cat ingested certain poisons. Your veterinarian will know how to best handle the poisoning situation and will do what is best for your cat.