My cat ate topical flurbiprofen – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine

Call a vet today

Call your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Cats became ill or died after their owners used prescription-strength topical medications containing flurbiprofen.

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.
Keep your cat calm and remove what is left.

Don't

Don't make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Don't give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Reports to the FDA describe cats in two households that became ill or died after their owners used prescription-strength topical medications containing flurbiprofen.^[1] Reported signs include lethargy, lack of appetite, and vomiting.^[1]

Signs to watch for

Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Vomiting

What the experts say

“This advice follows reports made to the FDA of cats in two households that became ill or died after their owners used prescription-strength topical medications containing flurbiprofen”
— 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

Which signs should I watch for?

Reported signs include lethargy, lack of appetite, and vomiting.^[1]

Sources

US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine

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