My cat ate zinc – 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. Zinc can poison cats after they ingest metal pieces, certain topical ointments, or coins.

What to do now

What to do right now

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

Zinc poisoning can occur in cats after they ingest metal pieces, certain topical ointments, or coins.^[1] Metal pieces linked with zinc poisoning include nuts, bolts, hardware, and other galvanized metals.^[1]

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Weakness
Collapse
Kidney failure
Anemia
Pale gums
Jaundice

Where it is found

Metal pieces
Nuts
Bolts
Hardware
Galvanized metals
Coins

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 zinc is dangerous?

Zinc poisoning can occur after a cat ingests metal pieces, certain topical ointments, or coins.^[1]

What signs should I watch for?

Possible signs include vomiting, weakness, collapse, kidney failure, anemia, pale gums, and jaundice.

What should I do now?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

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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