Herbicide Effects on Cats

People apply pesticides, insecticides and herbicides on lawns to improve the health and look of their yards. Keep in mind the effect that these chemicals have on pets. There is little worry for the strictly indoor cat. However, if the cat loves the great outdoors, caution needs to be exercised regarding the safety of that cat and knowing how chemicals and herbicides affect it.

  1. Herbicides

    • When purchasing an herbicide for use in the yard, it is imperative to read the label regarding the ingredients. Some of the ingredients are more toxic to cats than others. Herbicides that include ingredients such as a chlorophenoxy type component (2, 4-D, MCPA) can result in a good prognosis through treatment once a cat is affected. If the herbicide contains a dipyridyl type element (paraquat, diquat) and metaldehyde, the prognosis through treatment is not as good. Despite the choice of herbicide, care should be taken to keep cats out of the treated areas.

    External Effects

    • Herbicides can have an effect on a cat externally through the skin, fur and paws. These products can get absorbed through the paws as a cat walks on a treated area, especially if the area has not had time to dry. Herbicides can have an adverse influence on the cat if it gets on their fur and the cat licks it off, as they often do.

    Internal Effects

    • Herbicides do have an effect on the cat if any of the treated grass or plants are consumed by the animal. Some of the notable signs that your cat may exhibit are vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, anorexia, gastrointestinal distress and depression. In serious situations where immediate treatment has not been administered, the cat may experience tremors and/or seizures. Early detection and care is the key. Induce vomiting immediately and call your cat's veterinarian, as advised by the Cornell University Department of Animal Science.

    Prevention

    • Keep cats away from areas that are being treated with herbicides. Also, be sure cats do not have access to open containers of herbicides or other poisons. If the cat has been exposed to an herbicide outside, clean the cat's coat of any of these compounds, taking care to also wash off any detergent used to remove the toxin because of the licking habits of cats. Seek immediate veterinary advice if you suspect your cat has been exposed to any herbicide.