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Human Meds Not for Cats

Animal Radio
Human medications are a no-no for cats!  Human medications are the most common source of animal poisoning.  The most common source of these medications for cats is those that are left out on the countertop or table, or those that are accidentally dropped on the floor.  However, many times owners think that when a medication is safe for children, then it is probably safe for their cat.  This is far from true, and in fact, many of these medications can cause death in cats.

Why do various human medications, something as simple as aspirin, cause death in cats?  The primary reason is that cats do not have the necessary enzymes to metabolize these drugs.   Even small amounts can be very toxic.  Most notably are the topical flea and tick products labeled “dogs only.”  A single application of these on a cat may mean sudden or an agonizing death for a cat.  Tylenol is one of the deadliest and most common drugs that we see that causes fatalities in cats.  Second on the list of most frequent toxins in cats is aspirin.