My cat ate flea and tick medicine—what should I do?
Call a vet todayCall your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. These medications are toxic to cats and can cause vomiting, drooling, seizures, weakness, agitation, or difficulty breathing.
What to do right now
- Call your vet or nearest emergency vet.
- Note what, how much, and when was eaten.
- Bring the packaging and keep your cat calm.
- Remove any medication left.
Don't
- Don't make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Don't give any human medicine.
Why it can be dangerous
Most common flea and tick medications are topical drugs applied to the skin over the neck or back and contain pyrethrins or pyrethroids.[1] Pyrethrins come from the Chrysanthemum flower or plant, while pyrethroids are synthetic derivatives.[1]
Signs to watch for
Where it is found
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 is dangerous?
Call your vet today for advice about how much was eaten.
Which signs should I watch for?
Vomiting, drooling, seizures, weakness, agitation, and difficulty breathing.
How soon can signs start?
Call your vet today rather than waiting for signs.
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