Is De-Icing Salt Dangerous to Cats?

Your cat might enjoy a little romp in the snow, but it's not a good idea to let him out in the winter if the roads or sidewalks have been treated with deicing salt. This rock salt product can hurt your kitty's paws and skin, and in worst cases, it can kill him after he ingests it during grooming.

  1. Problems with Salt

    • Deicing salt is often made up of large chunks of rock salt designed to absorb moisture and lower the freezing temperature of water -- water won't turn to ice at 32 degrees Fahrenheit when combined with salt. The ice chunks provide traction for tires or for people walking on slick sidewalks. When the salt melts the ice or snow, it can leave puddles that might look tasty to a cat out on the prowl. When drinking the water, he also drinks in the salt. The ice chunks can also get caught in his paws or in his belly fur, and his favorite way to clean himself is by licking away the nastiness.

    Paws and Skin

    • Deicing salt often contains chemicals with anti-freeze properties as well as the rock salt. When the salt, covered in the chemicals, gets trapped between your kitty's paws, it can rub them raw with its jagged edges and burn away small amounts of the pad covers with the harsh chemicals and salt friction. The same goes for his skin; if he's outside often in the winter and has regular contact with deicing salt, his skin can become red and irritated where the salt normally lands. In addition to his paws, this is often on his belly or rump.

    If He Eats Deicing Salt

    • Cats typically eat small amounts of salt in their food, which helps balance their bodies' electrolytes. When they ingest too much salt, however, it can be deadly. This can happen when your cat licks his paws and fur clean of rock salt or by drinking water from salty puddles outside. In mild cases, he can experience vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and excessive thirst. In more serious cases, expect kidney damage, tremors, seizures, coma and death. Call your vet immediately if you suspect salt poisoning -- fast action can save your cat's life.

    What to Do

    • The easiest way to protect your cat in the winter is to keep him inside. Cats typically don't need outdoor time like dogs do -- everything they need, including their bathroom, is inside the house. If he must go outside, never let him play unsupervised and try to keep him away from salted areas. Wipe his paws and belly fur with a warm washcloth as soon as he comes inside, making sure to get all the salt particles off his fur. Using a pet-friendly deicing product that doesn't contain salt on your driveway and sidewalk can also help, although you can't stop your local government from using salt on your road.