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Common Household Chemical Kills Cats

Matt Van Hoven

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BY CATEGORY:
BY PET:

November 13, 2007

LONDON – Vets warn that a common household chemical used to repel insects can kill your cat - and you may be surprised where you'll find it.

Permethrin is used primarily as a broad spectrum insect repellant. Thanks to it's chemical makeup, the chemical can be used for multiple applications.

Many household bug treatments contain Permethrin - names you'll recognize include:

Repel Permanone, Permethrin Tick Repellent, Bonide Ant Dust, Nix, Elimite, Adams, Bio-Spot, K9-Advantix, Cutter, Dragnet, Raid Ant and Roach killer, Cutter Bug Free Backyard, Raid fumigator (Be sure and check your flea and tick repellants for Permethrin, or consult your vet for the best option).

Vets from Veterinary Poisons Information Service Exposure in London say the greatest danger for cats comes from Permethrin used in flea treatments for dogs.

They recommend keeping your dog away from the cat for at least 72 hours after the treatment – that means using different brushes, too.

Exposure to cats manifests within three hours – violent tics, convulsions and hard breathing are the most common symptoms. Get your cat to the vet right away if you see any of this going on.

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health, chemical, kill, cats, alerts & notices

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Katie M.
Katie M. (katielynn7)
5 months ago
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This is helpful information to know.
 
Cindy C.
Cindy C. (ladyboarder9669)
7 months ago
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Good information...
 
Robyn
Robyn (robyn101)
7 months ago
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I hope there are large enough to read warnines on these products.
 
karin d.
karin d. (Kdamon)
8 months ago
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There are so many items in our houses that we use on an everyday basis that could prove to be toxic to our pets in certain quantities. Some common like cherry pits, grapes, pennies (zinc) and some a little more uncommon like permethrin. The more educated we become the safer it is for our animals.
 
cjm2008
cjm2008
8 months ago
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This really makes you think about trying to go chemical free in every aspect of your life!
 
izzypawprint
izzypawprint
8 months ago
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Wow! Why isn't this more widely known? While all responsiblepet owners are careful about chemicals,I'm not sure many know about this.
 
Laura J.
Laura J. (LAJess)
8 months ago
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Most people remember to kid proof their houses but a lot of folks never even think of pet proofing.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
8 months ago
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Renee M.
Renee M. (rap7176)
8 months ago
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I try to avoid chemicals when I can, but never would have thought something for fleas/ticks in dogs would be so harmful to cats!
 
natalie
natalie (natalie13)
8 months ago
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I hope most cat owners will receive this info.
 
Jan P.
Jan P. (lakewoodliz)
8 months ago
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Most of us have this stuff at our houses and need to know this! I hadn't heard of this before! Yikes!
 
Jeff K.
Jeff K. (jkruser)
8 months ago
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Great information, we need all the help we can get protecting our pets.
 
susie
susie (susieall)
8 months ago
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I'm grateful I read this so I can be aware. Can't be too careful. susieall
 
buckking
buckking
8 months ago
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I read labels as to not harm my animals and I try not to use things like this
 
Sheryl J.
Sheryl J. (sheryl59)
8 months ago
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Great article. I am always checking labels, if it can kill something you do not need a degree in science to figure out it is probably not good for pets!
 
MICHELLE G.
MICHELLE G. (CHELLEO543)
8 months ago
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Very informative. Read the labels from the food you eat, half of these words which we can't even pronounce were eating in our foods. Who even knows what they are. I read the package from care free gum once and it states has been known to cause cancer in lab. animals! But yet its out there for consumers.Very scary.
 
lruder
lruder
8 months ago
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We do have the house sprayed by professionals--I'll have to inquire what the product is that's used--despite there assurance it's safe.
 
Edie Jo N.
Edie Jo N. (enorman)
8 months ago
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Thanks. I didn't know all that
 
EddieWayne
EddieWayne
9 months ago
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I'm always nervous when weh have to have house sprayed for insects. EVen though the extreminator says its safe. I will now ask him if it contains this ingredient.
 
jbobstep
jbobstep
9 months ago
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Knew someone whose cat died because of a insect spray. The can even had on it that "no harm to animals".
 
J O.
J O. (cloudy18)
9 months ago
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Yikes! I avoided Advantix bc I didn't want this stuff on my dogs!
 
Cindy R.
Cindy R. (crzyblu)
9 months ago
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Very good, important information.
 
Richard
Richard (RichardM)
9 months ago
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very important information thanks
 
Praisethekitty
Praisethekitty
9 months ago
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We have a whole cabinet full of these things! Haven't used them in over 15 years (I know because they moved with us and we've never moved them since) and now won't. Very good information
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
9 months ago
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Michele C.
Michele C. (pattimichele)
9 months ago
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This is IN YOUR FACE PROOF. Chemicals and insecticides can cause harm. Common sense would go a ong way here. Let's me more diligent with our furry valentines
 
bonzosmom
bonzosmom
9 months ago
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It's very important for people to pay attention to labels. Just because something is safe for dogs does not make it safe for cats.
 
Daniel S.
Daniel S. (dannhl)
9 months ago
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Scary how these things can benefit one pet, yet be lethal to another.
 
chitown
chitown
9 months ago
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I just checked the dog flea treatment I keep in the 'fridge and saw the permethrin ingredient and the warning not to use on cats. I wish I had some cat flea treatment on hand for comparison. This article makes me very chary of using chemicals on my pets.
 
Rhonda T.
Rhonda T. (MrsRLT)
9 months ago
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I wonder about things like Bio spot. If this is a danger to cats, why wouldn't it be a danger to the dogs too. They even injest the stuff. Makes you wonder about the chemicals we use.
 
HomePro
HomePro
9 months ago
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We never use these kinds of repellents for insects in the house because of their dangers. We try to go natural...for instance, cayenne pepper to get rid of ants.
 
jello1
jello1
9 months ago
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Wow, we have some of these in the cabinet. Haven't used them for years, but now won't.
 
Jessica T.
Jessica T. (jwaltri)
9 months ago
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This is great to know, and I wish I had been given the information sooner, especially by my vet. I am so careful about chemicals and my pets. We even started buying specific cleaners, despite the price, to protect our dog.
 
Tom F.
Tom F. (TZF)
9 months ago
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This is really good information to know. I've always made sure my animals can't get into any household products, but I didn't know the cats should stay away from dogs for 72 hours after applying Frontline, Advantage, etc.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
9 months ago
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Janet R.
Janet R. (janetrussell)
9 months ago
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Good information to know and have.
 
Elizabeth L.
Elizabeth L. (truffles2)
9 months ago
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We will all have to be careful what we use so our babies will be ok
 
Pia S.
Pia S. (GuinnieGirl)
9 months ago
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I think common household products are killing more than cats - - they are probably killing us as well.
 
ihatesnow
ihatesnow
10 months ago
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We're always careful to keep the cats away from any chemicals. Try to avoid their use, in fact
 
Melanie
Melanie (mfqz)
10 months ago
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I have not heard of this before and although I don't think these are products my cats would be exposed to in my household it is good information to keep in the back of my head.
 
DEREKDEMANE
DEREKDEMANE
10 months ago
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Good info to know.
 
Lee M.
Lee M. (gridmonkey13)
10 months ago
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Oh my goodness. I am happy I read this article. There should be some kind of warning label on their products so that people are aware.
 
VKiggins
VKiggins
10 months ago
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I am glad I looked at this article - you never know about over the counter products and their effects on the entire household. Hope they add this to their warning label
 
Terry F.
Terry F. (TZFitch)
10 months ago
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Am I glad I read this article! We have to use Bio-Spot on our dogs to keep the tips of their ears from getting some sort of mites. I would certainly hate for the kitten to get deathly ill just from being near them after it is applied.
 
Allison M.
Allison M. (meyera26)
11 months ago
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Hmmm, interesting. Luckily I don't use any of these!
 
Missy M.
Missy M. (Mshan)
11 months ago
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oh geez. what common household stuff can harm dogs???
 
SJL78
SJL78
11 months ago
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exactly. scary story
 
John H.
John H. (JohnH)
11 months ago
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Scary stuff.
 
L.H.S.
L.H.S. (libertyshelter)
11 months ago
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Wow, this is great to know. Scary what they will put on the market these days.
 
Heather E.
Heather E. (heatherzilla)
11 months ago
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Thanks for posting this! I knew not to ever use dog flea treatment on cats, but I did not know that cutter insect repellent was poisonous to cats. We use that when we are working in the yard. I will have to find something else ASAP!
 
Stacy M.
Stacy M. (csmatheson)
11 months ago
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that is good information I had no idea about this. There is some good info on this site.
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