Author TB Thompson DVM has been a licensed, practicing veterinarian since 2000.
Late one evening at the emergency vet clinic, I met Frodo, a black cat with severe mouth pain.
Frodo had raced through a puddle of multi-purpose cleaner concentrate in the kitchen. Unbeknownst to his owner, later the cat licked cleaning product off his coat. Within a few days, he developed red, swollen, and ulcerated oral tissues. The product contained chemicals that caused burns in the cat’s mouth.
In this article, we’ll discuss household cleaners that contain chemicals that can hurt cats when they’re exposed inappropriately.
Immediate First Aid Care
Professional veterinary care is the most important part of taking care of your cat after a chemical exposure. Here are some steps to take while you prepare to take your cat to a clinic:
- Remove and Decontaminate: If you see your cat with cleaning products on their body, take action to prevent them from licking it off. Wear gloves or use a towel to lift them into a sink or bathtub and rinse with water. If your cat won’t cooperate, don’t waste time trying to clean them.
- DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING unless instructed to do so by a professional. This may cause more harm than good.
- Call for Help: Call your veterinary clinic or proceed to the nearest 24-hour clinic. You can call Animal Poison Control for specific advice
- Monitored Transport: If you have two people, one person can watch the cat during transport to keep it from licking the product. If you have one available, put an e-collar on the cat to keep it from licking itself.
- Watch for Symptoms: Even after treatment, your cat may need time to recover. Monitor their eating, drinking and breathing closely during the days after chemical exposure. Alert your vet if the cat is having trouble.
Understanding the Danger: How Cleaning Products Harm Cats
Active ingredients in cleaners break up grease, dirt, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Some of these ingredients are corrosive. That means they are capable of gradually wearing something away by chemical action.
You’ll know your cleaner has potentially harmful chemicals in it if the label says “DANGER” or “CAUTION” as seen below.
Two common types of corrosive ingredients are acids and alkaline substances. Both can cause tissue damage but the initial results are different.
Acid ingredients cause immediate pain and tissue damage. Alkaline ingredients don’t cause immediate pain and may therefore cause widespread damage. Symptoms of alkaline ingredient toxicity often don’t show up until 24 hours after exposure.
Surfactants are another common type of chemical in cleaners. This active ingredient, sometimes known as detergent, helps water penetrate grease and grime. Surfactants can cause severe cell damage when ingested, especially in concentrated form.
Let’s look at some examples of cleaning products with these and other problematic ingredients…
Household Cleaners Toxic to Cats
You can find the ingredients of household cleaners on the manufacturer’s website. Environmental Working Group has an extensive library of cleaning products as well.
| Product | Active Ingredient of Concern |
| Toilet bowl cleaners | Alkaline or acid corrosives |
| Automatic dishwasher detergent | Alkaline corrosive, surfactant |
| Dish soap, laundry detergent | Surfactant |
| Chlorine bleach | Alkaline corrosive |
| Drain opener | Alkaline corrosive |
| Oven cleaner | Alkaline corrosive |
| Multi-purpose cleaners | Surfactants, alkaline corrosives |
| Disinfectant wipes | Surfactant |
| Lysol disinfectant | Surfactant |
| Windex window cleaner | Surfactant |
Symptoms of Cleaner Ingestion in Cats
You may notice these symptoms right away but some chemicals take up to 24 hours to cause symptoms.
- Drooling, foaming from mouth
- Shaking head
- Excessive lip licking
- Open mouth
- Red, swollen tissue on lips, mouth, skin
- Hair loss in areas of skin exposure
- Eye irritation, tearing
- Labored breathing
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Trouble eating and drinking
Your cat may show different symptoms depending on the type and quantity of chemicals they were exposed to.
[VIDEO]
Some cats seem to LOVE the smell of bleach! Be sure to rinse well if you use it.
Prevent Cat Exposure to Household Cleaners
It’s always better to prevent your cat from getting into caustic chemicals in the first place.
Close your cat in a room away from your cleaning project until you’re finished. Be sure to rinse and dry cleaned surfaces. Store cleaning products in a locked cabinet or closet that your cat can’t access.
Consider using products with less safer chemicals as discussed below.
What Cleaning Products Are Safe for Cats?
Most cleaning products are safe for cats when used as directed on the label.
But many are dangerous to cats when they lick them, swallow them or get the product on their skin. Even simple concentrated vinegar can cause oral and gastrointestinal irritation. Long-term effects of exposure to cleaning products bring up different concerns. Look for safer products on the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.
Some of the safer cleaning products EWG has graded well are
- Attitude Furry Friends All-Surfaces Cleaner, Lavender
- ECOS Toilet Cleaner, Cedar
- AspenClean Floor Cleaner
Remember, even these safer cleaning products can hurt your cat if they ingest them! You should always decontaminate them immediately, if possible. Then call your veterinarian or Animal Poison Control for further directions.
