How can you tell if a cat has drank anti-freeze?

Question

Are there any symptons? If they have drank it, what do you do?

Thanks

I can't take hime to the vet...I don't have a car. You see, someone in my neighborhood has supposedly been giving animals anitfreeze. My cat has been wet (I mean his hair is madded up around his mouth and other areas with water or something). A minute ago he licked his lips and started smacking like whatever it is tasted bad. He still is friendly, though. I called him and he came running to me. I think the "water" might be actually water because it snowed, but it still worries me...

I have a BUNCH of outside cats. My male, Matrix, is the one that supposedly drank anti-freeze...

Answer 1

If you have a neighbor giving cats antifreeze, why are you continuing to allow your cats outside?

Do you know who he is and have you any proof? If you do you can report him for cruelty to animals.

Many of the answers here are good. The milk can help in the first few hours. It shan't save the cat, just minimize the damage until you get the cat to the vet.

With antifreeze poisoning, you have to act NOW. If you do not have a car, call a friend or take a taxi (have a cat carrier at home at all times).

I suspect that it is too late now for your cat if s/he has consumed antifreeze, sad to say. Very sad to say. Still... take him or her to the vet and please keep your others inside.

Here is some of the text from the link I shall provide below. The text I cited is for a dog, however, substitute "cat". The symptoms are the same. The article is for both cats and dogs:

"Antifreeze poisoning occurs in two stages: In the first stage, the ethylene glycol in the antifreeze causes a drunken appearance in the animal within about 30 minutes which may continue for several hours. After passing through stage 1, the animal appears to recover. Stage 2 begins when the dog's liver begins metabolizing the ethylene glycol, changing it into more toxic substances. Within 12 to 36 hours of ingestion, these metabolites have reached such a level that the dog's kidneys stop functioning, and the animal slips into a coma.

Getting the dog to a veterinarian is critical within the first 9-12 hours following ingestion.

Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning include a drunken appearance including staggering, lack of coordination, and apparent disorientation and vomiting. The animal may appear listless and depressed. Because early signs of antifreeze poisoning often mimic signs of other illness, neither you or your veterinarian may suspect antifreeze poisoning until it is too late. Fortunately, in house lab tests performed by your veterinarian by assist in the diagnosis of antifreeze toxicity. "

Answer 2

I didn't read the link but do know this has been a long used method to get rid of cats in neighborhoods. I had a burly big loud boss that few knew he loved his cat to bits. A fellow business man talked about how he had put out anti freeze for roaming cats to kill them and was surprised to get an ear full about his actions. My old boss made sure he felt bad as he should. If a person will do this to animals, what on earth else have they done. Sad.

Answer 3

Call a vet, sometimes they tell you things to do over the phone. I know with a dog they have you give them peroxide to vomit. Cat's and dogs are different. They cant be treated the same so ask. Anti freeze will kill a cat due Nero damage. It will shut down it's kidneys. It is painful and it will suffer.
Second. See if your police department has a animal department. Notify them that someone in the community is poising the cats. Anti-freeze has attraction because of the chemicals in it. The person is a @#$%.

Answer 4

If you think there's even the slightest chance that your kitty got into anti-freeze then take him to the vet NOW! (just licking it off his paws can be enough to kill him). If I remember correctly the vet will give him an IV drip that has alcohol in it. If the animal survives 24 hours then he should be okay.

A cat will seem . . . lurgy, subdued, and off. He may not want attention, or he may not protest when you do something he doesn't like (like pick him up and put him in a carrier). He might seem sleepy, all the usual symptoms for a sick cat. He might be hanging his jaw open and drooling (or foaming) or he might be throwing up.

Our cat died from complications due to antifreeze poisoning (it caused diabetes and we deemed it more merciful to put him to sleep than to force him to undergo daily shots, bloodtests and pills). Antifreeze crystals damage internal organs, including the brain.

Hope this helps

Edit: If you think your neighbor is deliberately poisoning animals you can (and probably should) call the cops. If there is liquid around his (the cat's) mouth dab your finger with it and give it a sniff. Antifreeze has a distinct smell.

Answer 5

What idiot would give cats antifreeze??? He should be reported to the police that is a serious offense....If your cat had anitfreeze the mouth area would be black..if you notice the area around the mouth getting black there isnt too much you can do the cat will die...he would not be acting normal ...did you smell his breath? the smell cannot be confused with water...good luck i hope he didnt get any...i had a stray cat that i used to feed die of antifreeze poision

Answer 6

if your cat drank antifreeze it will soon be dead if not treated. Even treatment is not always helpful in this case, it destroys the kidneys. If you know someone has been giving animals antifreeze, why on earth would you let your cat out!!!

Answer 7

If you even suspect a cat drinking anti-freeze, it needs to go to the vet ASAP. If you are just wondering about symptoms, death is a final result.

Answer 8

Only blood work will reveal if your cat has any anti-freeze in her/his system. It doesn't take very long to damage the kidneys to the extent that it is irreversible and fatal and it doesn't take much.
Take your cat to the vet to be safe.

Answer 9

Animals like anti-freeze because it smells sweet and tastes sweet. See if anyone has an old anti-freeze bottle laying around. The bottle should tell you what to do.

Answer 10

Don't hesitate, if you think the cat has drank anti-freeze get him to the Vet right away - he will die without treatment.