Household items toxic to cats: antifreeze, rat poison, cleaners and more

Household items toxic to cats are easy to overlook because most of them sit in garages, laundry rooms and under the sink. Cornell Feline Health Center, citing ASPCA data, lists the most common causes of cat poisoning as garden insecticides, rat and mouse poison, cleaning products such as bleach, spilled antifreeze and lead in older homes. This guide covers the chemicals and objects around the house. For foods, plants and medicines, see our guides to lilies, chocolate, onions and garlic, essential oils and human medications.

Which household items are toxic to cats?

Why is antifreeze so dangerous to cats?

Antifreeze made with ethylene glycol is one of the deadliest poisons in the home. Pet Poison Helpline says as little as one teaspoon can kill a cat. The body turns ethylene glycol into toxic by-products that form crystals in the kidneys and cause sudden kidney failure.

It also tastes sweet. US manufacturers have added a bittering agent since 2012, but Merck notes some animals will still drink it.

Sources include leaking car radiators, containers in garages and sheds, windshield de-icers, brake fluid, antifreeze poured into cabin or RV toilets for winter, and some imported snow globes. Not every antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, so bring the container to the vet.

Poisoning happens in stages:

• 30 minutes to 12 hours: walking drunk, drooling, vomiting, seizures, extra thirst and peeing
• 12 to 24 hours: the drunken signs may seem to ease, but in cats kidney failure is already developing, with severe lethargy, vomiting, seizures or coma

The antidote must be given within 3 hours of your cat drinking antifreeze to work well. Once the kidneys fail, the outlook is poor. Don’t wait for signs. Go to a vet as soon as you suspect it. Cats that survive may be left with kidney disease.

How does rat poison hurt cats?

Rat and mouse poison comes in three main types, and each harms a cat in a different way. You can’t tell them apart by color or shape, so keep the packaging or write down the product name and active ingredient.

• Anticoagulants stop the blood from clotting. They’re the most frequent cause of rodenticide poisoning in pets. Bleeding usually shows up 3 to 7 days after eating the bait. Signs include weakness, not eating, nosebleeds, trouble breathing, blood in vomit, stool or urine, and pale gums.
• Bromethalin is a nerve poison that causes brain swelling. It’s now the most common rodenticide pets get into, and cats are especially sensitive. Signs include wobbliness, tremors, seizures and weakness or paralysis of the back legs.
• Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) raises calcium in the blood and damages the kidneys. Signs usually start 18 to 36 hours after eating it, with depression, not eating, thirst and peeing a lot.

Secondary poisoning. Cats can be poisoned by eating a mouse or rat that ate anticoagulant bait. For bromethalin, this is thought to be possible, particularly in cats, but it’s very rarely reported. If your cat hunts and anyone nearby uses bait, mention it to your vet.

If you need pest control, keep bait where your cat can’t reach it, store it in a locked cupboard or shed, or choose non-toxic options.

Why are dog flea treatments dangerous for cats?

Many spot-on flea treatments for dogs contain permethrin, an insecticide that’s highly toxic to cats. International Cat Care calls it one of the most common causes of cat poisoning worldwide. A cat’s liver can’t break it down, so it builds up.

Most cases are accidental. An owner puts a dog product on a cat, thinking a smaller amount will be safe, but even a very small amount can make a cat seriously ill. Cats can also be poisoned by rubbing against a recently treated dog or lying where the dog lay.

Signs include tremors, twitching, shaking, extra sensitivity to touch and sound, wobbliness and seizures. Less often, cats have trouble breathing or become blind. Cats treated early usually recover fully, but those with hard-to-control seizures may not survive.

To prevent it:

• Buy flea products made only for cats, and read the label carefully, especially online.
• If you have a dog too, choose a dog flea product without permethrin.
• If your dog does get a permethrin product, keep your dog and cat apart for 72 hours.

Other garden and household insecticides can poison cats too, so keep your cat away from treated areas as the label directs. For safe options, see our guide to fleas in cats.

Which cleaning products are toxic to cats?

Most cleaning products are safe around cats when you use them as the label says. The risk comes from concentrated products and spills.

• Bleach. Undiluted bleach can injure the mouth and throat, especially strong or high-pH products. Diluted bleach is fine for cleaning once it’s rinsed and dried and the smell has gone.
• Laundry pods. The liquid is concentrated and under pressure, so a bite can squirt it into the mouth with force. Cats can breathe it in and develop chemical pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. Swallowing several pods can also block the gut.
• Dryer sheets and fabric softener. These contain cationic detergents that can cause severe chemical burns and ulcers in the mouth, throat and stomach.
• Other cleaners containing bleach, ammonia or quaternary ammonium compounds can cause stomach upset or burns. Injury from strongly alkaline products may not show for several hours.

If your cat licked a detergent, gently rinse the mouth, skin or eyes until the soapy feel is gone, then call a vet or poison line. Get help at once for repeated vomiting, coughing or any breathing trouble. See cat breathing fast for the signs to watch.

Is liquid potpourri dangerous to cats?

Yes. Some liquid potpourri products contain corrosive chemicals, and cats are particularly sensitive to them. Licking the liquid, or grooming it off fur after a spill, can cause chemical burns to the lips, tongue, gums and throat. Keep simmer pots well out of reach, or skip them in a home with cats. For diffusers and scented oils, see our essential oils guide.

What if my cat swallowed a battery or string?

Batteries. Chewed or swallowed batteries can leak alkaline or acidic material that burns the mouth and gut. Small button batteries can lodge in the gut and cause electrical burns. Pet Poison Helpline calls battery ingestion almost always an emergency, and mouth ulcers may not appear for hours. Don’t make your cat vomit, as this can burn the throat again. Call a vet or poison line right away.

String and thread. String, yarn, thread, dental floss, ribbon and tinsel are among the objects cats swallow most. One end can get caught under the tongue or in the stomach while the rest moves on, making the intestines bunch up. The string can then cut through the gut wall, which can be life-threatening. If you see string in your cat’s mouth, never pull it. Call your vet. Signs include vomiting, not eating, lethargy, belly pain and hiding. Most cats need surgery to remove it.

What should I do if my cat got into something toxic?

1. Move your cat away from the product and put it out of reach.
2. Call a vet or pet poison line now. Pet Poison Helpline is on (855) 764-7661 and ASPCA Poison Control on (888) 426-4435. Both charge a fee.
3. Have the label ready, with the product name, active ingredients, how much is missing and when it happened.
4. Don’t make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
5. Don’t wait for signs. Antifreeze needs treatment within hours, and rat poison can take days to show.

Find a 24-hour clinic in our vet directory, or see what to do in an emergency. Our guide to emergency vet costs explains what care may cost. If you’re unsure how urgent it is, try our should I go to the vet? check.

How do I make my home safer for my cat?

• Keep antifreeze, cleaners and pest products sealed in a closed or locked cupboard. Cats can reach high shelves.
• Wipe up car fluid leaks and spills straight away.
• Put laundry pods, dryer sheets and batteries away after use.
• Tidy away string, sewing thread, hair ties and ribbon, and put string toys away after play.
• Check new plants in our toxic plant checker and foods in what can cats eat?

Browse more in our is it safe for cats? guides.

Written by the CatsMed Team from the sources above. This guide isn’t reviewed by a veterinarian and isn’t a substitute for one. See how we research.