My cat ate opioids or opiates – 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. Opioids are rapidly absorbed by all routes of administration and can cause severe poisoning.

What to do now

What to do right now

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

Opioids and opiates are rapidly absorbed by all routes of administration, so accidental ingestion can result in severe poisoning.^[1] Opioids and opiates are drugs designed to provide pain relief for both animals and humans.^[1]

Signs to watch for

death
coma
dilated pupils
sedation
depression

Opioids are rapidly absorbed by all routes of administration, so signs may develop rapidly.

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 or the nearest emergency vet right now after any suspected ingestion.

What signs should I look for?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now if your cat may have eaten it.

How soon could signs start?

Opioids are rapidly absorbed by all routes of administration, so signs may develop rapidly.^[1]

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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