My cat ate matches – what should I do?
Call a vet todayCall your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Match heads contain potassium chlorate, an oxidizer that encourages rapid burning.
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
Match heads contain potassium chlorate, an oxidizer that encourages rapid burning.[1] Ingesting a few match heads can cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, drooling, and vomiting in pets.[1] Ingesting a large number of match heads can lead to kidney damage.[1]
Signs to watch for
Not sure how serious it is?
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Common questions
How much is dangerous?
A few match heads can cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, drooling, and vomiting, while a large number can lead to kidney damage.[1]
Which signs should I watch for?
Possible signs include nausea, drooling, and vomiting.[1]
How soon should I act, and what should I do now?
Do not wait until signs appear: call your vet or the nearest emergency vet, note what was eaten, how much, and when, and bring the packaging.
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
Nicotine
Onion