It's no secret that cats' curiosity knows no bounds. Exploring an unknown space, examining what you do, rummaging in everything that catches their attention is a completely normal behavior for them, but sometimes it brings them negative consequences.
This curiosity can lead the cat to ingest substances or objects that are highly dangerous for him, which in certain cases require him to vomit to preserve his life while you take him to the vet. If you want to know how to make a cat vomit, keep reading this article on our site.
Is it necessary to help a cat vomit?
Before teaching you the best technique to make your cat vomit, you should know that it is not recommended in all situations to induce this reaction, and that if you try it without knowing if the time is right, the consequences can be negative, and even fatal.
Vomiting should be induced only when you are very sure what the cat has ingested. In this sense, it is recommended only in cases where they have eaten a toxic plant for cats (such as poinsettia, ivy or lily among others), a plant that you know has had recent contact with pesticides or artificial fertilizers.
Conversely, vomiting should not be induced when:
- It has been 2 hours or more since the feline ingested the poison.
- The cat has ingested some sharp object that could pierce its stomach or esophagus: needles, small pieces of metal, toothpicks, among others sharp Objet.
- You have taken tranquilizers or other medication.
- You have ingested flammable substances, compounds alkaline,acids, corrosive orpetroleum derivatives:chlorine, fuel oils, gasoline, car care products, household cleaners, some poisons, etc.).
- The cat is unconscious or semi-conscious.
This is very important, because if you make the cat vomit in situations in which this is contraindicated, you could cause an internal injury, generate second degree burns, etc.
Before you make a cat vomit
Before you make your cat vomit, you must make sure that the product it has ingested and that you are trying to expel is not among those mentioned above. The best thing you can do is call the emergency vet to ask for advice on your performance.
Other pre-vomiting tips:
- Never try to make a cat vomit that is faint, unable to swallow, has convulsed or is having an epileptic seizure.
- There is no point in making him vomit if 2 hours have passed since ingestion of the substance, since it will already be in the small intestine and it will not be possible to extract it from there.
- Never try to make him vomit if what he has swallowed is a sharp object.
- With regard to tranquilizers, one of their effects is to prevent vomiting, so if this is what he has ingested, the only thing you can do is take the cat to the vet.
- Never use milk, water with vinegar, alcohol, ether or any other substance (other than those recommended below) to induce vomiting in a cat.
- When the cat vomits, immediately clean the surface, to prevent it from ingesting the substance again (it's more common than you think).
Whether you manage to make him vomit or not, you'll need to go to the vet to have him assess the feline's condition. Even if you have managed to expel most of the ingested product, many poisons are lethal in small doses.
How to make a cat vomit with hydrogen peroxide
Warning: Hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide) is a toxic substance but useful for inducing vomiting, so when administered your cat you should carefully follow the instructions regarding the recommended dose.
Recommended dose: 5 milliliters for every 2.5 kilograms of weight. For a 5-kilogram cat, which is the average weight of house cats, 10 milliliters will suffice, which is about two teaspoons. Use only 3% peroxide, otherwise the result could be lethal.
Administration: Ideally, you should use a small-sized syringe; if you don't have it handy, use a small teaspoon. Take the milliliters of hydrogen peroxide according to weight. Hold the cat on your lap or wrap him up in a towel with only his head sticking out. Position the syringe towards the cheek, between the teeth, and slowly let out one milliliter at a time, allowing the cat to swallow; remember not to aim directly at the throat, as the sensation will startle the feline.
If instead of a syringe you have a teaspoon, follow the same procedure, dropping the liquid between the teeth on the sides of the snout.
When you are done with the contents of the syringe, wait 10-15 minutes for your cat to vomit on its own. If he doesn't, repeat the operation up to a maximum of 3 doses
Whether he vomits after these doses or not, you should take him to the vet for a check-up: if he manages to vomit, you can go to a calmer specialist, to assess his general he alth; if it doesn't, the cat will need immediate and urgent medical attention.
How to make a cat vomit with s alt
Warning: It is not recommended to include s alt in the cat's diet, however it is one of the most recommended mineral s alts used for induce vomiting, both domestic and veterinary.
Recommended dose: You will need to mix between 1 and 3 teaspoons of s alt for every 250 ml of water. Then you must homogenize the mixture and absorb it in a syringe, small or large, depending on the size of the cat.
Administration: You must pour the s alt water solution down the cat's throat with pressure. At first you will observe salivation, discomfort and an attempt to vomit. If nothing happens, it is best to repeat the process after 10 minutes up to a maximum of 3 doses.
After vomiting, it is essential to go to the vet to rule out poisoning or damage of any kind to the cat's body.
What else can we do?
As well as causing vomiting, there are some products that will allow us to prevent the toxin from being absorbed and passing into the blood:
- Activated carbon: among its qualities is the ability to absorb impurities, poisons and toxic substances, so it makes it perfect in case of ingestion of any of them. It is a fairly fine black powder that can be found in he alth food stores and other drugstores. It is also possible to find it in the form of capsules, for sale in pharmacies. We recommend offering 1 gram of activated carbon for each kg of the cat's weight.
- Enema: Enemas are liquids that are introduced through the rectal tract and help the animal to evacuate easily.
- Laxatives: laxatives speed up intestinal transit and thanks to this you can avoid the absorption of part of the toxic product that may have eat the cat Although there are many types, we recommend using sodium sulfate, using 1 gram for each kg of the cat's weight.
Don't forget that these are first aid tips that you should only use in case of emergency In any case, if you notice that your cat has been poisoned, you should call your veterinarian to follow their instructions and go to the veterinary center as quickly as possible.
