Cat Health & Safety
Pyrethrin/permethrins — the dose makes the poison
Pyrethrins, and their stronger cousins, permethrins, are flea-killing chemicals used in some flea (and flea + tick) collars, spot-ons, and shampoos for pets. Cats are extremely sensitive to the toxic effects of these compounds. Cats most often suffer toxicity when people use a dog product on their cat — either intentionally in an effort to save money, or by mistake when they don’t read the label carefully. Problems can also arise when a cat rubs against or grooms a dog that has been treated with one of these products. There are many safe and effective flea products specifically for cats, as well as dog products that are safer to use around cats. Ask your vet for help deciphering what’s best for your kitty and household situation.
three littermate cats just over a year old, were brought into their vet’s office twitching, salivating, and tremoring. Their family had noticed a bad flea problem and, in an effort to save money, borrowed a tube of dog flea medication from a friend, splitting the tube among their three cats. The salivating and twitching began shortly after the medication had been applied. Making the connection, their owners bathed them to get the medication off, but things didn’t improve. All three needed to be admitted to the hospital for treatment and monitoring. Porsche and Alfred were able to be discharged three days later. Unfortunately, Jinx wouldn’t go home for another four days, because he had also developed aspiration pneumonia from the bathwater that had gotten into his lungs at home.
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