It's pretty much every cat owner's worst nightmare: your cat has eaten something poisonous! Now you need to act fast—take them to the vet immediately.
The symptoms of poisoning can vary greatly—unfortunately, they are not always immediately recognizable. The type of poisoning plays a role here. This refers not only to the substance your cat has ingested, but also to how it came into contact with the poison. For example, did it nibble on the leaves of a poisonous plant or lick antifreeze? It may also be that your cat has run through a freshly sprayed field, causing toxic pesticides to get onto its skin through its fur.
As a cat owner, you need to be able to interpret the signs correctly. The sooner you recognize poisoning and act, the greater the chance of a positive outcome. If your cat has eaten something highly toxic, the substance must be removed from its body as quickly as possible. Poisoning that occurs in small doses over a longer period of time can cause permanent damage to the kidneys. These are particularly sensitive in cats.
Here is a list of symptoms that can be caused by poisoning:
You know your cat best. If you feel that something is wrong because they are noticeably withdrawn, lethargic, or sleeping a lot, don't hesitate to seek veterinary advice. It is better to raise a false alarm and have your veterinarian determine that it is nothing serious than to fail to act in time.
The cause of poisoning is always the ingestion of a substance that is harmful or even fatal to the body. Toxic substances can be eaten, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin by your cat. Since cats are very curious and like to move around freely, the risk of poisoning is relatively high for them.
What we owners often underestimate is that substances that are food or luxury items for us can be toxic or incompatible for cats. These include, for example, all allium vegetables such as garlic or onions, rhubarb, grapes, raisins, nuts, chocolate, moldy cheese, salt, sweeteners, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Even milk is incompatible for adult cats and can lead to digestive problems such as diarrhea, flatulence, or vomiting. Raw pork is dangerous because it can transmit Aujeszky's virus. Cooking destroys the virus.
Various home remedies, such as tea tree oil, are also toxic to cats. Never use flea medication for dogs on your cat or try to relieve your cat's pain with paracetamol or aspirin. This can have fatal consequences for them. Prescribing medication is the responsibility of your veterinarian. Always store all medications, as well as cleaning products, locked away and out of reach of your cat.
Cats have a natural urge to eat grass. Indoor cats in particular like to help themselves to houseplants. However, a large number of plants that grow outdoors are also poisonous to cats. These include: aloe vera, arum, dieffenbachia/silver ear/poison arum, dragon tree, spider plant, monstera, ficus benjamina, flamingo flower, lucky feather, orchids, amaryllis, pine branches/Christmas tree, poinsettia, yucca palm, cyclamen, azalea, begonia/skewed leaf, ivy, angel's trumpet, laburnum, hyacinths, cherry laurel, lilies, oleander, rhododendron, horse chestnut, thuja, tulip, and rowan. If you are not familiar with plants, it is best to use a plant identification app, such as Flora Incognita (https://floraincognita.de), and relevant books or websites about poisonous plants.
Do you enjoy gardening and does your cat go outdoors? Then make sure you don't use lawn fertilizer. It is toxic to your cat. Slug pellets and rat poison can also be fatal to cats very quickly.
Take a look around your cat's territory: where can you minimize dangers? How can you protect your cat?
In the event of poisoning, swift action is required. The primary objective is to remove the toxin from the body, maintain your cat's circulation, and prevent organ problems or even organ failure.
If you know what your cat has ingested, it is best to bring the substance with you to the vet. This will allow your vet to initiate the correct treatment even more quickly. Depending on the type of poisoning, they may induce vomiting by administering medication. Your cat's stomach may also be pumped. Painkillers, circulatory agents, infusions for dehydration, liver protection, respiratory support, and possibly sedatives—all of these may be used to stabilize your cat and avert the worst.
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