Rodenticide poisoning in cats

What are the symptoms of rat poisoning in cats?

The symptoms of poisoning by rat poison depend on the nature of the poison. Two types of poison are available on the market: chloralose and anticoagulants (anti-K1).

Symptoms of anti-coagulant poisoning in cats

In the case of poisoning by anticoagulants, the clinical picture varies greatly and depends mainly on the site of the bleeding. Nevertheless, the following symptoms are very common:

• External or internal haemorrhages: varying degrees of bleeding may occur in the various organs. The most dangerous haemorrhages are in the highly vascularised internal organs such as the spleen and liver.
• Fatigue and lethargy are quickly observed, in relation to possible haemorrhages and the drop in temperature.
• Hypothermia: the drop in body temperature is gradual but can quickly fall below the critical level of 98°F
• Pale mucous membranes: The mucous membranes turn pale pink or even white in the most severe cases. The mucous membranes of the gums can be easily observed.
• Respiratory problems: your cat may experience respiratory distress, which can be very serious in the most severe cases.

Symptoms of chloralose poisoning in cats

Ingestion of chloralose causes similar poisoning in rodents and cats. Chloralose depresses the cat's central nervous system, causing the following signs:

• Hypothermia (temperature below 98°F)
• Ataxia (staggering gait, loss of balance)
• Central neurological disorders: spasms, convulsive seizures
• Coma, then death.

In the vast majority of cases, the poison used in London and the surrounding area is an anticoagulant. The use of chloralose remains anecdotal in the country. As soon as you notice one or more symptoms, contact our on-call veterinary service at 033 0027 0670.

What should I do if my cat has eaten rat poison?

Information about the poison concerned

If you think your cat has eaten a rat poison, you need to determine whether there is a proven risk to its health. It is essential to gather the following information:

• Nature of the rat poison: all the information on the box of the rat poison is important
• Amount of poison ingested: Refer to the instructions to find out the weight of the poisoned pellets
• Date and time of the presumed ingestion of the poison. The time of ingestion is a determining factor in emergency treatment

Once this information has been gathered, you can contact our emergency call centre to assess the toxic risk. If necessary, we will offer you an appointment with our on-call vet in London.

Treatment by the emergency vet

If less than two hours have passed since ingestion, our pets at hom vet can limit the amount of poison absorbed by making your cat vomit.

Be careful, never try to make your cat vomit yourself. This treatment requires the administration of morphine derivatives by the vet.

If ingestion occurred more than 2 days ago, a coagulation test is essential. To do this, the vet can test your cat's various coagulation factors:

• Quick's time (QT). This coagulation parameter is the first to be modified in the event of poisoning;
• the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) explores the endogenous pathway. It increases later in VKA poisoning, usually after the third day;
• the thrombin time (TT)

These additional blood tests should be carried out at a veterinary clinic or practice. As the tests need to be stored in the freezer, we cannot do them at your home.

Administering the antidote to your cat

The antidote to this poisoning is vitamin K1. This molecule must be prescribed at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day for 3 to 5 weeks. The duration of treatment is adjusted according to the evolution of coagulation, which should be tested 72 hours after the treatment has been stopped.

Intravenous treatment is for emergency use only and is only justified for an animal showing signs of haemorrhaging.

In other cases, oral treatment is sufficient, with a single daily dose.

Why rodenticide poisoning in cats is a vet emergency?

If left untreated, the poisoning can lead to the death of the animal within 1 to 6 days of the onset of symptoms. However, if the treatment is carried out correctly, the prognosis is often good, with survival rates of 80 to 100%. It is therefore essential to diagnose the poisoning quickly.

Your cat's life is in danger when:

• Internal haemorrhages affect vascularised organs
• Bleeding affects the organs of the head (e.g. ocular bleeding)
• Anaemia becomes critical, with the haemoglobin level falling below the 4 g/dl mark.
• Your cat is in a coma.

When poisoning cases are treated late, your cat is in a proven life-threatening emergency. The treatment will then be adapted:

• Antidote intravenously: Administration of vitamin K1
• Treatment of anaemia: If the haematocrit falls below 15%, a blood transfusion is necessary.
• Hospitalisation of your cat for infusion, parenteral feeding and monitoring.

The real danger of rat poisoning is its cumulative effect on your cat's body. Repeated ingestion of small doses can eventually cause poisoning. If your cat goes outside and hunts mice and rats, you need to be particularly vigilant about its health on a daily basis.

Preventing rat poisoning in cats

To prevent your cat from being poisoned by rat poison, you can apply the following measures:

If you use products in your home yourself,

• Store them out of your cat's reach, high up and in cupboards or drawers
• Place poisoned bait in places that are inaccessible to your cat
• Check regularly for dead rodents and eliminate the remains to prevent your cat from consuming them.

If your cat goes outside, you will not be able to control whether he eats contaminated rodents. Therefore, you must be vigilant and regularly monitor:

• The colour of his mucous membranes, around the gums
• His appetite and general condition
• The presence of bleeding from the nose, eyes, mouth and urine.