Knowing how to induce vomiting in cats can save your cat's life if he eats something toxic. You should be aware that inducing vomiting in cats can be dangerous and should only be done under a veterinarian's advice. Before you induce vomiting in your cat, speak to your vet and tell him specifically what toxic substances you have seen your cat ingest. Only your vet can tell you if inducing vomiting is a good idea.
When to Induce Vomiting in Your Cat
You should only think of inducing vomiting in your cat if you have seen him ingest the toxic substance and know exactly what it is. Consult your vet before inducing vomiting. Tell your vet exactly what your cat has eaten, how much he has eaten, and what the ingredients of the substance are. Inducing your cat to vomit up some substances may be dangerous.
When Not to Induce Vomiting in Your Cat
Do not induce vomiting if:
- Your vet tells you it's a bad idea.
- Your cat has already vomited.
- Your cat has eaten a household cleaning product, petroleum product, or product containing acids or alkalis.
- Your cat has swallowed a sharp object.
- The poison was ingested more than two hours before.
- You did not see what your cat ingested or how much of it he ingested.
- Your cat is unconscious or having convulsions.
Inducing Vomiting in Your Cat
The only safe and reliable way to induce vomiting in cats is with hydrogen peroxide. Syrup of ipecac, salt water and mustard water may not be safe for use in cats and should be avoided unless your vet specifically recommends it. If your vet recommends inducing vomiting with one of these two methods, he'll give you specific instructions to follow.
To induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide, use a three percent solution. (Don't worry if the label says "toxic." Hydrogen peroxide is considered toxic because it induces vomiting). Give your cat one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide for every five pounds of his body weight, but don't give more than three teaspoons per dose. On a liquid syringe, one teaspoon equals 5 ml or 5 cc.
Once you have given your cat a dose of hydrogen peroxide, force him to walk around. Gently pat or shake his abdomen to mix the hydrogen peroxide with the contents of his stomach. Your cat should vomit within 15 to 20 minutes. If your cat doesn't vomit, you may safely administer one more dose of three percent hydrogen peroxide, then repeat the process of walking your cat around and palpitating his abdomen to help induce vomiting.
Even if you manage to induce vomiting in your cat, you should still see a vet. Take along a sample of your cat's vomit so that your vet can evaluate its toxicity. If possible, take along a sample of the toxic substance or the container it came in. These will give your vet the information he needs to treat your cat.
If your cat doesn't vomit, seek emergency veterinary treatment.