Based on data from the Pet Poison Helpline, nearly 10% of incoming calls are from pet owners whose cats have been poisoned. Since cats are naturally curious and obsessed with cleaning themselves, they often get into big trouble. Some of the poisons that commonly poison them are insecticides, human drugs, poisonous plants, and human food that contains chemicals that cats can't digest. Start with step 1 below to learn how to deal with a poisoned cat.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Giving Help
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of poisoning
A cat can be poisoned if it experiences any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Blue gums and tongue
- Faint
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Stomach irritation
- Cough and sneeze
- Depression
- Excessive salivation
- Convulsions, shaking and involuntary muscle twitching
- Looks weak and unconscious
- Dilated pupils
- Frequent urination
- Dark urine
- Shivering
Step 2. Take your cat to a well-ventilated area
When you see the possibility of your cat being poisoned and your cat is lying unconscious or weak, immediately take him to a place with good ventilation and lighting.
- Wear long sleeves and/or gloves to protect yourself from toxic substances. Sick and injured cats bite and scratch more often because they are irritated and frightened.
- When a cat feels unwell or agitated, it usually goes into hiding. If your cat is poisoned, you need to keep an eye on it and don't let it hide somewhere. Pick up your cat gently and carefully then take him to a safe room. Ideally you take it to the kitchen or bathroom because there is access to water.
- If poison is nearby, remove it from the reach of other pets or humans.
Step 3. Call your vet right away
A veterinarian or emergency services operator can help calm you down and give you clear directions on what to do or what treatment to give your poisoned cat. Keep in mind that your cat's chances of recovery are higher if you call early. So, this step you should do the first time after your cat is stable.
- Alternatively, if you are in the United States, call the Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) or the ASPCA Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435). Unfortunately, emergency assistance services for pets are not yet widely available in Indonesia.
- Animal poisoning assistance services are not covered by the state. So you may have to pay some fees.
Part 2 of 3: Providing First Aid
Step 1. If possible, try to identify the poison
This can help you decide whether or not to make your cat vomit. If the package of the poison is still on, note the following information: brand, active ingredient, and strength. Also, try to estimate how much your cat is consuming. (Was the box just opened? How much was swallowed?)
- First of all, you should contact your veterinarian, the telephone number for the animal poisoning service, and the product manufacturer.
- If you can access the internet, try doing some research on the active ingredients of the poison. Try entering these words into a search engine: "Is [product name] toxic to cats?" or "[product name] poisoning in cats"
- Some products are harmless when ingested and if that's the result of your search, you shouldn't have to go any further. But if the product is toxic, the next step is to decide whether or not you should help your cat vomit.
Step 2. Do not attempt to treat your cat without trusted medical instructions
Do not give food, water, milk, salt, oil or other home recipes unless you know exactly what poison your cat is ingesting and what medication to administer as first aid. Giving medication without consulting or instructions from a veterinarian or operator from the Pet Poison Helpline can make your cat's condition worse.
The vet or helpline operator has more knowledge and expertise to figure out what to do or what to give to a poisoned cat. You are not wasting time but doing the right thing
Step 3. Seek advice from a veterinarian before triggering vomiting in cats
Don't make your cat do anything without instructions from your vet or emergency phone operator. Some types of poison (especially corrosive acids) can be made worse if the cat is made to vomit. Only spur the vomiting response in a cat if:
- The poison was ingested by the cat within the last 2 hours. If it has been ingested for more than 2 hours, the poison has been absorbed, so vomiting is useless.
- Your cat is conscious and can swallow. Never put anything in the mouth of an unconscious or barely conscious cat, or a cat who is having a seizure or has a mental disorder.
- The poison is NOT a strong acid, base or petroleum product
- You are 100% sure that the cat has swallowed poison
Step 4. Know how to handle acids, bases, and petroleum products
Acids, bases and petroleum products can cause burns. No matter how long the poison has been ingested, never try to make your cat vomit as it can hurt the throat, esophagus and mouth when it comes back out.
- Strong acids and bases are found in rust removers, glass etching liquids used to texture glass or glass, and cleaning products such as bleach. Petroleum products include lighter fluid, gasoline and kerosene.
- As mentioned earlier, you shouldn't make your cat vomit, instead try making him drink high-fat milk, or eat raw eggs. If he doesn't want to drink on his own, try using a syringe to give up to 100 ml of milk. Milk can help dilute the acid or base and neutralize it. Raw eggs also give the same effect.
Step 5. Make your cat vomit, if recommended
You will need 3% hydrogen peroxide (DO NOT use the higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide available in curling irons or hair dye boxes) and a teaspoon or syringe. It is easier to administer hydrogen peroxide with a syringe than a spoon. Here is some information you should know:
- The dose for 3% hydrogen peroxide is 5 ml (one teaspoon) per 2.27 kilograms of body weight per administration. The average cat weighs 4.52 kilograms, so you will need about 10 ml (two teaspoons) of hydrogen peroxide. Repeat every 10 minutes for a maximum of three doses.
- The way to insert it is to hold it tightly and then gently insert the syringe behind its upper fangs. Gently squeeze the syringe to inject about one milliliter per stroke. Give your cat time to swallow and never press the entire contents of the syringe directly as the liquid will flood its mouth and your cat will inhale the peroxide into its lungs.
Step 6. Use activated charcoal
After vomiting, now your task is to reduce the absorption of toxins that have entered the intestine. Therefore you need activated charcoal. The dosage is 1 gram of powdered activated charcoal for 2.27 kilograms of body weight. An average cat needs about 10 grams.
Dissolve the powder with a very small amount of water and then put it into the cat's mouth with the help of a syringe. Repeat every 2 to 3 hours for 4 doses
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Cats
Step 1. Check for traces of toxic material on the fur
If there is poison in his fur, when the cat licks himself, he will swallow it so that it will be poisoned even more. If the poison is in the form of powder, clean it by brushing it. If the poison is sticky, such as tar or oil, you may need to use a special hand sanitizer product such as Swarfega Hand Cleaner (used by mechanics) that is applied to your cat's coat and then rinsed thoroughly with water.
If that doesn't work, try clipping the hairs that have been exposed to a lot of poison with scissors. It's better for you to take a safe path than sorry
Step 2. Give your cat plenty of water
Many toxins are harmful to the liver, kidneys, or both. To reduce the risk of organ damage from the absorbed poison, make sure your cat is willing to drink on its own. If he doesn't want to, you can add water with a syringe. Gently press down on the syringe, about 1 milliliter of water at a time and make sure your cat swallows it.
The average cat needs 250 ml of water per day, so don't be afraid to inject water into your cat's mouth as often as possible
Step 3. Take a sample of the suspected poison
Don't forget to collect labels, packaging and bottles so that all the information can be given to the veterinarian. Your efforts can help other cat owners (and their cats!) if they are experiencing the same thing.
Step 4. Take the cat to the vet
Your cat should be examined by a veterinarian. That way, you can be sure that your cat is making a full recovery. A veterinarian can help make sure all the venom has been removed and that there are no long-term problems to worry about.
Tips
- The dose for activated charcoal for acute poisoning is 2 to 8 grams/kg body weight once every 6 to 8 hours for 3 to 5 days. This activated charcoal can be mixed with water, and given using a syringe or stomach tube.
- Kaolin/pectin: 1 to 2 grams/kg body weight every 6 hours for 5 to 7 days.
- Hydrogen Peroxide 3%: 2 to 4 ml/kg body weight immediately after exposure to poison.
- Milk can be diluted with water in a 50/50 ratio, or it can be given directly to treat some of the toxins mentioned earlier. The dose is 10 to 15 ml/kg body weight or as much as your pet can eat.
- In any case, seeking medical assistance from a veterinarian or calling emergency services for animal poison is the best course of action.
