My cat ate NSAIDs – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

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

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Cats may have a reduced ability to break down NSAIDs, so they may be harmful.

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.
Remove what is left.
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

Human NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen may not be right for pets and may even be harmful.^[1] Cats may have a reduced ability to break down NSAIDs.^[1] Serious side effects in cats can include stomach and intestinal ulcers, perforations, kidney failure, liver failure, and death.^[1]

Signs to watch for

vomiting
diarrhea
lethargy
seizures
abdominal pain
decreased appetite
decreased activity level
stomach and intestinal ulcers

Where it is found

human medicine
veterinary medicine

What the experts say

“Other, more serious side effects in dogs and cats include ulcers in the stomach and intestines, perforations (holes) in the stomach and intestines, kidney failure, liver failure, and even death in some cases.”
— US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine [1]

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 NSAID is dangerous?

Human NSAIDs may not be right for pets and may even be harmful.^[1]

Why are NSAIDs dangerous for cats?

Cats may have a reduced ability to break down NSAIDs.^[1]

What serious harm can happen?

Serious side effects in cats can include stomach and intestinal ulcers, perforations, kidney failure, liver failure, and death.^[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

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