Rodenticides are products that include mouse and rat poisons. These products contain certain ingredients that are extremely toxic to cats.  When you are using any of these products, make sure to keep them in a place that is inaccessible to your pet. The symptoms exhibited by the cat depends to a large extent on the active ingredient of the product. Some rodenticides cause internal bleeding and prevent the normal function of the body's clotting system. Common signs of toxicity include bleeding gums, bloody urine, coughing, and formation of lumps under the skin, weakness and loss of appetite.

Some types of rat poisons contain cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), a substance that is very toxic to cats. In fact, these products are considered the most dangerous rodenticides in the market. Ingestion causes an abnormal increase in calcium blood levels thereby causing kidney failure. since it has no antidote and affected cats need long-term expensive treatment, this type of rat poison is not recommended if you have cats. Another type of rodenticide that does not have an antidote is bromethalin, which can cause swelling of the brain and nervous symptoms when ingested.

If you think that your pet has had access to any product that is potentially toxic, call your Veterinarian Mt. Airy MD immediately.