Melamine Symptoms in Cats

On March 15, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) learned that pet foods containing melamine and melamine-related compounds--an industrial chemical that the FDA has not approved for use in animal or human food in the United States--caused sickness or led to the death of cats and dogs. While melamine presents a very low risk to human health, animals who eat the tainted feed may fall ill or die. If your pet shows symptoms of melamine poisoning or kidney failure, consult your veterinarian immediately.

  1. Invisible Symptoms

    • FDA laboratories and scientists from Cornell University found melamine in the kidneys and urine of dead cats, as well as in the tainted food they ate. Melamine alone may not cause feline-related illness or death, however melamine-related compounds, such as cyanuric acid, present higher levels of toxicity. Crystals in feline urine and kidney tissue are the first, albeit invisible, symptoms of melamine poisoning in cats. These melamine-induced crystals can result in feline renal failure.

    Symptoms of Melamine Poisoning

    • After consumption of tainted feed, the visible symptoms of melamine in cats usually take a few days to materialize. If you think your cat may have eaten contaminated pet food, the FDA recommends monitoring your pet for a sudden onset of lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting; these are typical symptoms of melamine poisoning in both cats and dogs.

    Symptoms of Feline Renal Failure

    • Because melamine poisoning often leads to kidney disease, you should also monitor your cat for symptoms of chronic renal failure (CRF). These symptoms may include a sudden change in urination patterns. Your cat may also change its water consumption habits. For instance, you may notice it drinking too much water or not drinking any water at all. If your cat has melamine poisoning, it may also appear disoriented or adopt a sudden change in personality. The sudden onset of bad breath is another symptom of CRF, although it may be hard to recognize if your cat has chronic halitosis.