Cats | C. "A cat is not a small dog" — species specificity (this section is the top priority of this tier; read it before moving on)

FAQ

Why are human painkillers especially dangerous to cats?

Part of the feline UDP-glucuronosyltransferase family has lost gene function, so acetaminophen cannot be effectively glucuronidated; the toxic metabolites that accumulate cause hemoglobin oxidation, methemoglobinemia, and liver necrosis, and a very small amount can be lethal. Human and dog medications must not be repurposed — feline pain relief only by veterinary prescription.

ヒト用鎮痛薬はなぜ猫に特に危険なのですか？ — 猫の UDP-グルクロン酸転移酵素ファミリーは一部の遺伝子機能を欠いており、アセトアミノフェンをグルクロン酸抱合で有効に処理できません。毒性代謝物が蓄積するとヘモグロビン酸化、メトヘモグロビン血症、肝壊死を起こし、ごく少量でも致死的になり得ます。ヒト用薬・犬用薬の流用は一切不可で、猫の鎮痛は獣医師の処方のみです。

Why are human painkillers especially dangerous to cats? — Part of the feline UDP-glucuronosyltransferase family has lost gene function, so acetaminophen cannot be effectively glucuronidated; the toxic metabolites that accumulate cause hemoglobin oxidation, methemoglobinemia, and liver necrosis, and a very small amount can be lethal. Human and dog medications must not be repurposed — feline pain relief only by veterinary prescription.

How does a cat show that it is in pain?

Cats are prey animals and showing weakness means death, so a cat in pain usually does not vocalize, limp, or whine. Common signs are no longer jumping onto the windowsill, hiding under the bed, eating slowly or eating only soft food, walking away when touched, grooming less or over-grooming one spot only, plus a head-down crouch, ears rotated outward and pressed down, and eliminating outside the litter box. Owners can keep a list of "things it used to do and no longer does" and record it month by month.

猫は痛いときにどんな様子を見せますか？ — 猫は被捕食者で、弱みを見せることは死を意味するため、痛くても普通は鳴かず、跛行せず、うめきません。よくある表れは、窓台に跳び乗らなくなる、ベッドの下に隠れる、食べるのが遅い・柔らかい物しか食べない、触ると離れる・突然咬む、毛づくろいが減る／一箇所だけ過剰にする、頭を下げてうずくまる、耳が外向きに倒れる、トイレの外での排泄などです。飼い主は「以前はしていたのに今はしない事」のリストを毎月記録するとよいでしょう。

How does a cat show that it is in pain? — Cats are prey animals and showing weakness means death, so a cat in pain usually does not vocalize, limp, or whine. Common signs are no longer jumping onto the windowsill, hiding under the bed, eating slowly or eating only soft food, walking away when touched, grooming less or over-grooming one spot only, plus a head-down crouch, ears rotated outward and pressed down, and eliminating outside the litter box. Owners can keep a list of "things it used to do and no longer does" and record it month by month.

We keep a dog and a cat at home — can they share a flea spot-on?

No. Cats cannot metabolize canine synthetic pyrethroid (permethrin) spot-ons, which cause whole-body tremors, seizures, and death. In a household that also has a dog, a freshly treated dog must be separated from the cats, and as a rule the separation is lifted only once the topical product is completely dry and the cats cannot contact the dog's fur by grooming.

犬と猫を一緒に飼っています。ノミ駆除のスポット剤は共用できますか？ — できません。犬用合成ピレスロイド permethrin スポット剤を猫は代謝できず、全身の震え、けいれん、死亡を起こします。犬猫同居の家庭では、薬を付けたばかりの犬を猫と隔離し、原則として外用薬が完全に乾き、猫が毛づくろいで犬の毛に触れない状態になってから隔離を解除してください。

We keep a dog and a cat at home — can they share a flea spot-on? — No. Cats cannot metabolize canine synthetic pyrethroid (permethrin) spot-ons, which cause whole-body tremors, seizures, and death. In a household that also has a dog, a freshly treated dog must be separated from the cats, and as a rule the separation is lifted only once the topical product is completely dry and the cats cannot contact the dog's fur by grooming.