Paracetamol in cats

 Paracetamol is extremely dangerous for cats and should never be used to treat cat pain.

We’ve all been there, your cat comes in having had a scrape and you think ‘ouch, where are the painkillers?’ However, don’t ever be tempted to give your cat paracetamol as it will do a lot more harm than good

Unlike humans, cats aren’t able to break down paracetamol safely, and so dangerous toxic compounds are rapidly formed in their body.

This causes irreversible damage to their red blood vessels and causes a syndrome called ‘methaemaglobinaemia’ where the tongue and gums turn chocolate brown and this, together with liver damage, is often fatal.

If your cat takes paracetamol accidentally:

Call your vet immediately or, out of hours, your nearest vets or vet clinics as no dose is too small. There is an antidote called acetylcysteine, which may save your cat’s life if it is given to them early enough. Taking quick action is paramount to your cat’s health.