Poison and Cats

From LoveToKnow Cats

Visitors often have questions about cat symptoms that point to the cat getting into a toxic substance, or about what products are toxic to cats.

Many substances that are fine for humans can be toxic to felines.

Visitors Ask Questions about Poisons and Cats

Was Cat Poisoned

My two-year-old cat came in today and lay down and was sluggish. He looked like he had vomited, as there was some on his head. He usually naps all day, after being out all night. Tonight, he had a half hour of convulsions, and foaming at mouth (after a couple seizures) and then died. There was no time to get him to the vet, once he started convulsing. Could he have been poisoned? This was so quick and sudden. Or would this be Distemper? He had his shots. Help! We have another cat - what should we do for him?

~~Maureen

Expert Reply

Hi Maureen,

I'm so sorry to hear this. How horrible for you and the cat. The symptoms for Distemper usually show up slowly, over time, and are a bit different than what you describing. Plus, he had been vaccinated and was not a kitten or elderly cat. That leads me to believe it wasn't distemper in this case, although only an autopsy would show for certain. It does sound a lot like some type of poisoning, because of the convulsions. Is it possible he got into antifreeze or mouse poison? This is often unintentional on a neighbor's part. They don't realize the cat will get into antifreeze that has leaked onto the ground. Or, if they put out poison, and the cat eats the mouse, the cat can be poisoned.

I would probably go ahead and take your second cat to the vet and have him checked over, just to be on the safe side. He will likely check out fine, but it will give you some peace of mind that you need right now.

Please check back and let me know if the other cat is okay.

Sending some cyber-hugs your way.

~~Lori

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Comments

Hi Wendy,

I'm so sorry to hear that this happened to your cat. Is it possible she could have been bitten by a snake? Other possibilities with her being outdoors include things like antifreeze or accidentally getting into some rat poison someone has left out. However, you likely would have noticed symptoms earlier if it was a poison. I suspect something poisonous may have bitten her, but again it is impossible to say without an autopsy. So sorry for your loss.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

a little feral cat which adopted me a month ago died suddenly last nite. she ate her food, went out. about 1hr she bolted back in, running disorientated, not sure if she vomited or was foaming at mouth cos i tried to catch her but she was running from room to room and hiding, she was kicking & splaying and then very quickly defecated then collapsed. she was gagging and chomping like she had something nasty in her mouth. she tried to get up but couldnt and died a few minutes later. from the start to finish was 20 minutes. we live in egypt. anyone any ideas what could have caused this so fast.there is hardly any vet support here and none are fully qualified

-- Contributed by: wendy

Hi Serena,

Distemper can show up at any age. Has your kitten been vaccinated? This lessens the risk. Young cats and elderly cats are typically more at risk. You can read more about Distemper and its signs in our articles on Distemper and Kitten Questions.

Signs of poisoning can vary, depending upon the cat and type of poisoning, but can include:

  • Tremors
  • Seizures
  • Extreme thirst
  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Trouble breathing

Some cats have a combination of signs. If you have any suspicion whatsoever that your cat may have been poisoned, you should take him or her to the vet immediately. The sooner the poison is treated and the cat's system cleared of the toxin, the better the cat's chances for survival and safety from long term side effects. Check back and let me know if your kitten is okay.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard
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