Poisons, especially insecticides or rat poisons, are fast acting as the molecules attach to the blood cells and spread throughout the body. Poisons affect the body in different ways depending on the active ingredient. Some toxins attack the blood cells, causing internal bleeding, others target the central nervous system, affecting the brain and the heart, whereas other poisons target the organs, slowly shutting each vital organ down. Poisoning in cats is always an emergency situation that must be treated as soon as possible by a veterinary professional. Cat owners that wait to seek medical attention or attempt to treat the poisoning at home without veterinary consult risk the possibility of sudden or long term death.
Poisoning in cats involves the ingestion, absorption, or inhalation of a toxic substance. Plants, medications, insecticides, chemicals and even human food products can poison cats. If you witness your cat coming into contact with or ingesting a product you know to be toxic, you can find medical care before the poison spread throughout the body. Unfortunately, the majority of cat poisoning cases occur when the owner is not present and the only way a pet owner would be alerted is with the exhibition of signs of toxicity. Cats who have been poisoned will likely begin to salivate profusely from the mouth, its behavior may change from calm to anxious or excited, and the cat may begin to vomit. Depending on the type of toxin, a cat could quickly go into shock, seizing and losing consciousness within a few hours.
