My cat ate benzodiazepines—what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. A toxic dose can cause central nervous system agitation or depression in cats.

What to do now

What to do right now

Note what was eaten, how much and when.
Bring the packaging.
Keep your cat calm.
Remove what is left.

Don't

Do not make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Benzodiazepines are drugs used in human and veterinary medicine as sedatives, anti-anxiety medications, anti-convulsants and muscle relaxants.^[1] When cats ingest a toxic dose of benzodiazepines, central nervous system agitation or depression can occur.^[1]

Signs to watch for

Liver failure
Agitation
Depression

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much benzodiazepine is dangerous?

A toxic dose can cause central nervous system agitation or depression in cats.^[1]

What signs should I watch for?

Agitation and depression can occur after a toxic dose.^[1]

What should I do now?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

Sources

Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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