Paracetamol poisoning in cats – signs and treatment

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: International Cat Care (iCatCare)

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your cat has this – it can become serious. Paracetamol poisoning is when a cat is poisoned by paracetamol, a painkiller.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet today
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet
  4. Keep fresh water available

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine
  • Do not wait if it gets worse

What it is

Paracetamol is a painkiller found in almost every household and comes in tablets, capsules, liquid suspensions and powder preparations.[1] It can cause brown gums and tongue, weakness, tiredness, increased heart rate, fast laboured breathing, depression, vomiting, going off food and crying out.[1]

Signs

  • Gums and tongue turning brown
  • Weakness
  • Lethargy or tiredness
  • Increased heart rate
  • Fast, laboured breathing
  • Depression
  • Vomiting
  • Going off food
  • Crying out

Causes and risk factors

  • A cat being given paracetamol
  • Paracetamol kept in the household

How vets treat it

  • Decontamination to try to remove the drug from the stomach, depending on when your cat was exposed
  • Medication to counteract the effects of the drug
  • Fluids or a drip
  • Hospitalisation
  • Medication

What the experts say

“Treatment for paracetamol poisoning includes: Decontamination (trying to remove the drug from the stomach, depending on when your cat was exposed). Medication to counteract the effects of the drug.”

— International Cat Care (iCatCare) [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.

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Common questions

What is paracetamol?

Paracetamol is a painkiller that comes in tablets, capsules, liquid suspensions and powder preparations.[1]

What should I do if I have given my cat paracetamol?

Contact your veterinary team immediately.[1]

How may a vet treat paracetamol poisoning?

Treatment may include decontamination to try to remove the drug from the stomach, depending on when your cat was exposed, and medication to counteract its effects.[1]

Sources

  1. International Cat Care (iCatCare)

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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