Aspirin Toxicity in Cats
Aspirin is a commonly found household medication that many people take as they please for minor aches and pains. This is not a safe solution for your cat. Although cats can be safely treated with aspirin under veterinary supervision, it is not recommended to ever give your cat aspirin without prior approval from your veterinarian.
Aspirin has a very long half-life in cats. This means that it is present in the body in its active form for a long time, much longer than in humans or dogs. Cats are also much smaller than humans, so a safe dose for us can be very dangerous for a cat.
Aspirin is readily absorbed from the intestines in cats, and may cause damage to the intestinal lining. This can lead to ulcers and bleeding into the intestinal tract. Signs of aspirin toxicity include vomiting, weakness, fever, and eventual coma and death. If your cat ingests aspirin and you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian right away. If treated within a few hours of ingestion, most cats have a good chance of recovering uneventfully. Treatment will usually consist of IV fluids, the administering of charcoal to your cat to bind the excess drug. The veterinarian may also give her something to induce vomiting.
To prevent a possible toxicity in your cat, never administer any medications of any kind without previous instructions from your veterinarian!! If you are in doubt about whether a certain drug is safe for your cat, call your veterinarian's office and ask! Never just assume that a drug that is safe for you will be safe for your cat!