My cat ate fertilizer – what should I do?
Call a vet todayCall your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Some fertilizer ingredients may be toxic in large concentrations.
What to do right now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
- Note what was eaten, how much and when.
- Bring the packaging.
- Remove what is left and keep your cat calm.
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
Most fertilizers contain varying amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (potash), shown by three numbers on the packaging.[1] Some fertilizers may also contain iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, boron, manganese and molybdenum, and some of these may be toxic in large concentrations.[1]
Signs to watch for
Signs may have acute or delayed onset.
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.
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Common questions
How much fertilizer is dangerous?
Some fertilizer ingredients may be toxic in large concentrations.[1]
Why can fertilizer be dangerous?
Some fertilizers may contain iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, boron, manganese and molybdenum, and some of these may be toxic in large concentrations.[1]
What do the three numbers on the packaging mean?
The three numbers indicate varying amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (potash).[1]
Sources
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
Garlic
Grapes and raisins