My cat ate mothballs – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine, Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet today

Call your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Mothballs are pesticides that slowly release a gas vapor, and their chemicals can be inhaled or absorbed by animals.

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Note what, how much and when your cat ate.
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

Mothballs are pesticides that slowly release a gas vapor to kill and repel moths and other insects.^[2] Their chemicals can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or absorbed through the stomach and intestines of animals.^[2]

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Lethargy
Tremors
Seizures
Weakness
Difficulty breathing

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 is dangerous?

Call your vet for advice about the amount eaten.

Which signs should I watch for?

Watch the signs listed above and call your vet.

How soon could signs appear?

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

The same page for dogs →