9 Common Types of Toxicosis in Cats Explained By a Vet & What to Do
Your cat may have access to toxins you didn’t even know existed in the house. There are many hidden dangers that can cause toxicosis in your cat and this is why it’s vital to be aware of signs as well as potential causes.
Read below to find out the 9 most common types of toxicosis we see in cats, and what you can do if your cat has been exposed.
The 9 Types of Toxicosis in Cats
1. Over the Counter (OTC) Medications
OTC medications can include anything from pain medications such as Ibuprofen and acetaminophen to cold medications or salves and ointments. You may drop a few pills out of the container and not realize it. Ointments and salves may have an enticing smell to your cat that will cause them to want to taste it. You may think you’re helping your cat by putting ointment on a wound or injury when in reality, it may be extremely toxic to your cat if they groom it off.
What to do:
2. Food
While this is more common in dogs than cats, cats may steal food that contains high levels of garlic, onions, xylitol, or grease. Cats may also be more prone to stealing seafood such as shrimp, oysters, or fish from your plate or the counter because it smells like their food.
What to do:
3. Human Prescription Medications
As with OTC medications, you may accidentally drop a pill or two, or leave your pill container out on the counter without thinking. Your cat may see the pill container and/or the medication and bat it around to play with it. Some curious cats may even ingest the dropped medications. The most common medications that can cause issues are anti-depressants, diabetes medications, anti-convulsants, cardiac medications, and blood pressure medications. Even a single pill can have a serious effect on your cats’ health.
What to do:
4. Plants
Lillies and several other common household plants are severely toxic to cats. Every part of the lily plant, including the pollen, is severely toxic to your cat. If your cat nibbles on a leaf or part of the flower, it’s obvious they have ingested the toxin. However, even if your cat just rubbed their face against the vase of flowers and then groomed itself, they may have ingested a toxic amount of pollen.
What to do:
5. Household Toxins
This can include any type of cleaning product such as bleach or cleaning wipes. Your cat may physically ingest the toxin, or at other times they may run through a room where the floor was just cleaned, or jump onto the counter and knock off cleaner, getting the product on their fur.
What to do:
6. Veterinary Products
Many veterinary products are flavored nowadays to make them more palatable for your pet to eat. This is especially dangerous if you have a curious cat who likes to eat anything. NSAIDs and antibiotics for your dog can be extremely toxic to your cat, especially at high doses. Other pain medications may not necessarily be toxic, but due to a high dose, they may cause significant sedation in your cat.
What to do:
7. Rodenticides
Unfortunately, rodenticides are formulated to be extremely tasty and attractive to rodents. Other animals may also find them tasty and attractive. Also, your cat may have ingested a rodent that has ingested rodenticide. These products are highly fatal, as that is what they are formulated to do.
What to do:
8. Insecticides
This can include products used in the house, your yard, or even some products that are marketed for pets. Dog flea/tick medications are toxic to and can even be fatal if put on your cat. There are also many over-the-counter flea preventatives marketed for cats that can cause tremors, seizures, and skin irritation.
What to do:
9. Recreational Drugs
With the legalization of marijuana in many states, there has been an uptick in both cats and dogs ingesting these products and suffering toxicoses. However, other drugs which are left out can cause far more severe side effects and oftentimes be fatal.
What to do:
Conclusion
Cats, especially kittens, can be very curious and try to get into everything. This may lead to an increased risk of toxicosis. Some toxins are obvious, such as ingesting recreational drugs. Other times you may not even realize that your cat rubbed against the lilies sitting on your table or licked a small amount of wound ointment.
With any type of exposure, contact, or ingestion, the first step is always to remove your cat from the situation and try to determine how much exposure your cat had. You should then always contact your veterinarian, a local emergency veterinarian, or the ASPCA Poison Control Center to determine if your cat needs veterinary care or not.
See Also:
Can Cats Have Pepto Bismol? Vet-Approved Safety Tips & FAQ Explained
Pet Poison Prevention Week: When It Is & Vet Approved Safety Tips
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Prystai, Shutterstock
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Dr. Kim Podlecki DVM (Veterinarian)
A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Podlecki has more than 12 years of experience working with small animals in the United States. Dr. Podlecki worked almost exclusively in emergency and specialty medicine for more than 10 years before transitioning to relief in both general practice and ER. Dr. Podlecki also owns her own consulting company (renewvetconsulting.com) with the focus of helping veterinary hospitals prioritize their staff to promote a healthier internal culture.
