My cat ate a tick collar – 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. A swallowed tick collar can be dangerous because it contains insecticidal chemicals.

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 any collar pieces left within reach.

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

Tick collars contain variable insecticidal chemicals that kill fleas and ticks.^[1] Ingestion of a flea and tick collar is improper use.^[1]

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Drooling
Lethargy
Collapse
Death

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 of a tick collar is dangerous?

Treat any ingestion as improper use and call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.

What signs should I watch for?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

How soon should I act?