— By Dr. Hemant Jain
It’s uncommon, as cats are extremely careful and selective about what they eat, and they vomit if they’ve ingested any harmful material. But sometimes your pet may ingest poison accidentally by eating plants, catching a mouse, or even inhaling insecticides. It may also end up licking its coat contaminated by harmful substances.
- Arsenic, strychnine, thallium, and warfarin poisoning cause vomiting, bleeding, abdominal pain, and if not treated, they may prove fatal.
- Antifreeze agents may cause lack of coordination, convulsions, coma, and vomiting. In such cases, consult your vet immediately.
- Alcohol poisoning can cause vomiting, depression, dehydration, collapse, coma, and death in extreme cases.
- Drugs like aspirin, disprin, and paracetamol may cause lack of coordination, loss of balance, and blue gums. It may become fatal if not treated in time.
- Household cleansers may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and nervous signs.
- Insecticides and pesticides cause drooling saliva, muscle twitching, and convulsions.
- Many plants are toxic to cats, which include Christmas cherry, spotted dumb cane, sweet pea, azalea, oleander, lupin, Christmas rose, rhododendron, clematis, and delphinium.
(Dr. Hemant Jain – Veterinary Surgeon M.V.Sc. (Surgery), Nagpur)
