Inducing vomiting in pets when hazardous substance is ingested can be a necessary way to extract the substance from your pet’s system. Only trained medical professionals should induce vomiting in your pet. Many people are familiar with this practice, but it is important to know the potential risks before attempting to induce vomiting in any pet. There is simply no safe way to induce vomiting at home with cats. Read more below to learn about the dangers associated with inducing vomiting in cats and what to do if your cat ingested a harmful substance.  

Dangers of Administering Hydrogen Peroxide to Your Cat 

Hydrogen peroxide can be used as an effective agent in some animals, such as dogs to induce vomiting. When administered, it irritates the stomach lining and induces vomiting. Hydrogen peroxide is often used to induce vomiting in dogs, but is never safe to give to cats. Giving a cat hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting can have serious repercussions. It can cause inflammation and ulcerations to the stomach and esophagus, as well as damage to epithelial tissue, leading to intestinal bleeding. Often, the internal damage goes unnoticed until external symptoms begin to appear. At this point, the damage might already be severe, and shock or death could occur.  

What To Do If Your Cat Ate Something Toxic 

If your cat has eaten a toxic substance, it is important to take the situation seriously and contact your veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline® (855) 764-7661 immediately. Depending on what was ingested and how long ago, it may be necessary for your vet to induce vomiting. Do not attempt to induce vomiting yourself as you can put your cat in further danger. It is also important to observe your cat for any other signs of illness, such as lack of appetite, lethargy, or diarrhea. If your cat is displaying any of these signs, please contact your veterinarian for further evaluation and treatment.