My cat ate kerosene – 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. The thinner that hydrocarbons are, the more likely they are to get into an animal’s lungs if vomited.

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Note what, 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

Kerosene is a hydrocarbon that may commonly be found in garages.^[1] Thinner hydrocarbons are more likely to get into an animal’s lungs if vomited.^[1]

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Drooling
Coma
Skin irritation

Where it is found

Garages

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 kerosene is dangerous?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

Which signs should I look for?

Check the signs listed above and call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

What should I do now?

Note what, how much and when; bring the packaging; keep your cat calm; and remove what is left.

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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