Pippo is a street cat I looked after during the pandemic. Every day I fed him, played with him, and put him to sleep. All of this in the 30 mins duration we met. Once I was off for a 4-day vacation, and when I came back I was stunned. Pippo had been attacked by an older cat, and the trauma of being attacked got his body temperature soaring up. I was told this happened a day after I left. For the next two days, he was running a fever and was in hiding. The vendors who run their shops on the same lane that Pippo lives in told me they gave him a Crocin the day before to reduce the fever. That's Pippo the day I returned and got him out of hiding.
…Trust me, my heart sank when I heard this.
Stating facts: Paracetamol is toxic to cats.
Why so?
Cats lack the enzyme needed to break down paracetamol safely. Thus, they can't efficiently metabolize it. Instead, dangerous compounds are formed within their bodies, which in turn affect the red blood cells, and stop oxygen from circulating effectively in their body. These dangerous compounds can lead to severe liver damage.
What are the signs of Paracetamol Poisoning in Cats?
Now there is a lack of oxygen in the cat's system due to the presence of those toxic compounds. The cats who have been poisoned by paracetamol struggle for oxygen. Their gums and tongue may turn blue to brown. Their hearts will beat faster. Often swelling of the face and paws can be seen. Poisoned cats usually vomit, pass dark urine, and experience difficulty in breathing. As the poisoning develops, cats may start to get a yellow tinge to their skin. This is an indication of jaundice due to liver failure. Sadly, cats who remain untreated usually die from this poisoning.
What you should do if your cat ingested paracetamol: Run to the Vet
What's up with Pippo? Ah, he is doing well. He was given half a Crocin tablet. The vendors aren't sure "how many" half a Crocin tablets" were given to him. That's outright irresponsible behavior, but on the other side, it's just misinformation or lack of information. Cats develop paracetamol toxicity at much lower doses than dogs do. So if you hear a vet treating a dog with half a Crocin, please, for the sake of that animal's well-being, do not try the same formula with your pet cat, or any cat for that matter. We have no idea how Pippo survived. I couldn't keep a check on him 24×7. He lives a little far away from my place. The moment I got to know he had ingested paracetamol, I got my cat bag and tried taking him to a vet. All in vain. Boy was too scared to get in. That's ok. Talking about today, Pippo's a father to 6 kids now. All grown up. The best part is that our small boy now fights the older cat and wins. Haha!
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