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Do you use Borax around the house? It’s a common household product that many pet parents use. It’s a natural substance that has many uses! But what happens if a cat eats borax? Can borax make a cat sick?
Has your cat eaten borax? Are you worried the borax will make your cat sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it’s scary when your cat eats something like this.
We’ve put together some information about borax and whether it can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Borax?
Borax is a natural substance that also goes by other names, including sodium borate, sodium borate decahydrate, and sodium tetraborate decahydrate. Borax is a hydrate salt of boric acid. It’s usually found in powder or granule forms and may be dissolved in water.
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Borax or a borax solution can be used as an insecticide, for cleaning, and much more. It’s also sometimes used in the laundry. But what happens if a cat eats borax?
Borax & Cats
Unfortunately, borax is toxic to cats. While the level of toxicity is low, it doesn’t take a large amount to make a cat sick. It may only take about 5 grams of borax to poison a cat.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Borax Poisoning in Cats
You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten borax:
- Excessive drooling
- Pain in the mouth
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Shivering
- Tremors
- Uncoordinated gait
- Redness of the skin (where the borax made contact with the cat’s skin or mouth tissues)
These symptoms may appear as long as two hours after contact or ingestion. What’s more, ingestion of large amounts of borax can lead to liver and kidney damage.
If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, or you suspect she’s eaten borax, then call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.
The vet may treat your cat with IV fluids to flush the toxin from her system. They will also treat any other symptoms your fur baby may be having.
The prognosis depends on how much borax the cat has eaten and how soon she gets treatment. Cats who receive prompt medical treatment have the best chance of making a full recovery.
So, be sure to keep borax and other household chemicals out of your cat’s reach. This can be challenging when cats can get into cupboards, jump, and climb! However, if you can put the product in a cabinet, with child-safe locks, this may keep your feline companion from gaining access to borax and other household chemicals!
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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