Over the counter and prescription drugs It is advised not to give your cat any medications without first consulting your vet.
The signs of aspirin toxicity in cats are dose-dependant and can include anorexia, vomiting, gastric haemorrhage, anaemia and hyperthermia. Paracetamol : Cats are extremely sensitive to paracetamol toxicity. One regular strength tablet may be toxic to a cat, and a second ingested 24 hours later can be lethal.
The signs of toxicity are brown gums, difficulty breathing, blood in the urine, jaundice and swelling. Ibuprofen : Cats are very sensitive to ibuprofen toxicity. The signs of ibuprofen toxicity in cats are vomiting, depression, anorexia and diarrhoea. Human topical pain medication containing the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAID for example ibuprofen, Diclofenac and flurbiprofen.
People using these medications should take care when applying them in a household with pets. Even very small amounts can be dangerous. Cats can come in contact with creams by rubbing up against their humans, or by licking the area the cream was applied to. They could also come in contact if humans pet their cats after applying the cream to themselves. Other medications that should not be given to your cat as they can be potentially lethal, even in small doses, include: Antidepressants — can cause vomiting and lethargy with certain types leading to serotonin syndrome ADHD medications — act as a stimulant and dangerously elevate heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature Anti-cancer drugs Anti-diabetics — cause a major drop in blood sugar levels causing disorientation, lack of coordination and seizures Cold medicines — acts as a stimulant causing elevated heart rates, blood pressure, body temperature and seizures Vitamin D derivatives — cause life-threatening spikes in blood calcium levels in pets that can lead to kidney failure Diet pills Muscle relaxants — can impair the central nervous system and lead to death Household hazards Ant baits : These contain boric acid which is toxic to cats if eaten in a large amount.
Ant baits have a sweet smell and taste to attract ants. They also appear to attract cats. Antifreeze ethylene glycol : Antifreeze is a common cause of poisoning in small animals. Cats will seek out antifreeze as they find its smell and taste appealing. The sooner veterinary treatment is received, the better their chances of survival. If left untreated pets can suffer, and will die. Always ensure that any of these products are stored safely and spillages clean up immediately and carefully.
When using sprays of pesticides or herbicides in the garden keep the cat in until they have dried. Permethrin is found in many spot-on preparations for dogs used for the control of fleas, biting flies and lice also in some ant powders.
Poisoning can arise when cats are accidentally treated with such dog flea products or where they groom themselves or other animals treated with the product. Cats may salivate a great deal, be thirsty and have a high temperature and tremors or convulsions — urgent veterinary advice is essential. Across the world, there is a huge range of biting and stinging animals or insects which could injure a cat. In some cases where these are not rapidly fatal, treatment or an antivenom may be available.
Check with your vet. There are many commonly-grown plants, both houseplants and garden plants, that are toxic or can cause skin irritation.
Most cats that go outside do not eat poisonous plants but will nibble grass and other herbs, perhaps as a remedy for digestive problems. However, if cats are kept permanently indoors they may not have access to grass and may try eating other things either out of boredom or to try and access some plant material. Curious kittens may also sample foliage and because they are small, do not need a great deal to suffer the consequences. The simple answer is to provide a supply of growing cocksfoot grass for the cat, which can readily be grown in a pot or seed tray.
Some houseplants, such as the Dumb Cane Dieffenbachia are so poisonous that it is unwise to grow them where there are small children or pets in the house. It is not just growing plants that can be a problem — cut flowers such as lilies plants of the Lilium species are highly toxic — not just the leaves but the flowers and the pollen as well.
Less than one leaf ingested by a cat can cause kidney failure and urgent veterinary treatment is required to prevent death. Check flower labels for warnings of toxicity to animals. For full details see our information on cats and poisonous plants.
All our advice is freely accessible to everyone, wherever you are in the world. However, as a charity, we need your support to enable us to keep delivering high quality and up to date information for everyone. Please consider making a contribution, big or small, to keep our content free, accurate and relevant. Your purchase directly supports the leading global cat welfare charity, International Cat Care. They provide cat owners, veterinary professionals and those who live and work with cats the resources, support, and advice they need to better care for cats.
We use cookies to improve our website to make sure you have a better browsing experience. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. Click Yes to help us continue to make these improvements. Our Other Sites Close. Our Other Sites. How can a cat become poisoned? Cats can be poisoned in a number of ways: Directly ingesting a toxic substance either by eating it or by eating poisoned prey.
Swallowing poisons while grooming contaminated fur. All Rights Reserved. Managed with Tymbrel. Facebook Twitter Instagram.
Pet Care Blog. Has my cat been poisoned? Cat Poisoning Due to their compact size, when cats encounter even small amounts of poisonous substances they can quickly become very ill. If your cat is displaying symptoms of poisoning, or if you see your cat consuming a toxic substance, come to our clinic right away.
0コメント