24/7 Animal Poison Hotlines — save these numbers now
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (about a $65 consultation fee)
- Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (about an $89 per-incident fee)
Both lines are staffed around the clock by veterinary toxicology teams. There is a fee, but the call can save your cat's life — and their case number helps your veterinarian treat your cat faster. Fees change from time to time; the amounts above were current as of July 2026.
The ten poisons, most dangerous first
1. True lilies — the one every cat household must know
- What it is
- Easter lilies, tiger lilies, Asiatic and Oriental lilies, daylilies — the classic bouquet and garden flowers. These are different from "peace lilies" or "calla lilies," which cause mouth irritation but not the danger described here.
- Why it is dangerous
- Every part of a true lily can cause fatal kidney failure in cats — petals, leaves, stems, pollen, and even the water in the vase. A cat does not have to chew the plant: brushing against a bloom, getting pollen on the fur, and then grooming it off counts as an exposure.
- What to do
- Any exposure means call now and go now. Call a poison hotline or your veterinarian immediately, even if your cat seems completely fine — early treatment is what protects the kidneys, and waiting for symptoms can close that window. The safest choice for a cat household is simply never to bring true lilies inside.
2. Dog flea and tick products (permethrin)
- What it is
- Spot-on flea and tick treatments, sprays, and shampoos made for dogs. Many contain permethrin or related pyrethroids at concentrations cats cannot tolerate.
- Why it is dangerous
- Cats lack the ability to break these chemicals down. Even a small amount can cause tremors, drooling, and seizures. This happens two ways: applying a dog product directly to a cat, or a cat grooming or snuggling a dog that was just treated.
- What to do
- Never use a dog flea product on a cat, even "just a little." After treating a dog, keep the cat separated until the product is fully dry (check the label — often 24 hours or more). If a cat is exposed, call a hotline or veterinarian right away; tremors and twitching mean go to an emergency hospital now.
3. Human pain relievers
- What it is
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol and many cold medicines), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve).
- Why it is dangerous
- Acetaminophen is uniquely toxic to cats — even part of one tablet can be fatal, damaging red blood cells and the liver. Ibuprofen and naproxen can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure at very small doses. Cats sometimes chase a dropped pill across the floor like a toy.
- What to do
- Never give a cat any human pain medicine for any reason. If a pill goes missing or you suspect a cat ate one, call a poison hotline immediately — this is one of the most time-sensitive poisonings there is.
4. Human prescription medications
- What it is
- Antidepressants, ADHD stimulant medications, heart and blood-pressure pills, sleep aids — everyday prescriptions kept on nightstands and counters.
- Why it is dangerous
- These are among the most common reasons people call animal poison control. Doses made for an adult human can overwhelm a cat's body, and some medications (certain antidepressants in particular) seem oddly attractive to cats.
- What to do
- Store all medications in closed cabinets, not in bags or pill organizers a cat can knock over. Take your pills over a counter or sink so a dropped one is easy to find. If a cat may have eaten any human medication, call a hotline with the drug name and strength in hand.
5. Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks
- What it is
- The whole onion family, in every form: raw, cooked, dried, and — easy to miss — onion or garlic powder in broths, soups, gravies, and even some baby foods.
- Why it is dangerous
- These damage cats' red blood cells and can cause anemia. The powdered forms are more concentrated than fresh, so a little broth-soaked treat can deliver a surprising dose. Signs may not show up for days.
- What to do
- Check ingredient lists before sharing any human food — if broth, sauce, or baby food lists onion or garlic in any form, do not offer it. If a cat has eaten a meaningful amount, call a hotline; do not wait to see if the cat seems tired or pale.
6. Chocolate and caffeine
- What it is
- Chocolate in all forms (darker and baking chocolate are the most concentrated), plus coffee, coffee grounds, tea, energy drinks, and caffeine pills.
- Why it is dangerous
- Chocolate and caffeine contain stimulants that cats cannot process well, affecting the heart and nervous system — racing heartbeat, agitation, tremors, and in serious cases seizures. Cats are less likely than dogs to raid the candy bowl, but curious sips of a mocha or licks of frosting do happen.
- What to do
- Keep chocolate, grounds, and caffeinated drinks out of reach and clean up spills promptly. If a cat ingests any, call a hotline with an estimate of what kind and how much.
7. Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
- What it is
- Standard automotive antifreeze and coolant. The danger spot is not the bottle — it is the small green or orange puddle under a car in the garage or driveway.
- Why it is dangerous
- Ethylene glycol tastes sweet, so cats will lap it up or lick it off their paws. Even a teaspoon can cause fatal kidney failure, and cats can look deceptively normal or just "a bit drunk" in the first hours while the damage is happening.
- What to do
- Clean up drips immediately, store antifreeze sealed and up high, and consider propylene-glycol-based products, which are less dangerous. If there is any chance a cat licked antifreeze, this is a true emergency: call and head to a veterinary hospital right away — the antidote only works early.
8. Rat and mouse poisons (rodenticides)
- What it is
- Bait blocks, pellets, and place packs used indoors and out — and also the poisoned rodents themselves, which a hunting cat may catch and eat.
- Why it is dangerous
- Depending on the type, rodenticides cause internal bleeding, brain swelling, or dangerously high calcium. Signs can be delayed for days, and secondhand poisoning through an eaten rodent is a real route for outdoor and indoor-outdoor cats.
- What to do
- If you must control rodents, use snap traps inside secured stations rather than poison, and ask your neighbors and pest company what they use. If a cat eats bait or a rodent that may have been poisoned, call a hotline with the product name if you have it — treatment differs by type, and early care matters.
9. Cannabis and THC products
- What it is
- Edibles, oils, tinctures, vape cartridges, and plant material containing THC.
- Why it is dangerous
- Cats are especially sensitive to THC. Ingestion can cause wobbliness, dilated pupils, low heart rate, low body temperature, and in serious cases seizures. Edibles carry a double risk when they also contain chocolate.
- What to do
- Store all cannabis products securely, the same way you would medications. If your cat ingests any, call a hotline or your veterinarian and tell them honestly what it was — they are not there to judge, and knowing exactly what the cat ate leads directly to faster, better treatment.
10. Essential oils and liquid potpourri
- What it is
- Concentrated oils such as tea tree (melaleuca), eucalyptus, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, and wintergreen — in bottles, liquid potpourri warmers, and diffusers.
- Why it is dangerous
- Cats absorb these oils through the skin and cannot break them down well; grooming droplets off the fur adds an ingested dose. Effects range from drooling and wobbliness to liver damage. Diffusers running in a closed room count — the fine mist settles on fur, and cats with asthma can react to the vapor itself.
- What to do
- Never apply essential oils to a cat, even in products marketed as natural remedies. Run diffusers only in ventilated rooms your cat can leave, and keep bottles capped and put away. If oil gets on your cat or your cat seems unwell around a diffuser, call a hotline before bathing or treating anything yourself.
When in doubt, call — do not wait for symptoms
With most cat poisonings, the cat looks fine at first. By the time symptoms show, treatment is harder. A phone call is never a wasted step.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (about a $65 consultation fee)
- Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (about an $89 per-incident fee)
Not sure whether what you're seeing is an emergency? See our companion guide: Signs your cat needs emergency care right now.
Want to learn more? These national organizations publish detailed, veterinarian-reviewed toxin information: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the Pet Poison Helpline, and the Cornell Feline Health Center.