My Cat Ate Castor Oil What Should I Do?

Does your cat love to wander around in the garden? This something many cats enjoy, especially in the warmer summer months. While the garden can be a nice cool place to visit in the summer, it’s also the place where toxic plants are waiting for your feline companion. Some plants in the garden are very toxic to cats.

Has your cat eaten some castor oil? Are you worried the castor oil will make your cat sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ll take a look at castor oil and whether or not it can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!

What is Castor Oil?

The castor oil plant goes by some other names, including castor bean, castor oil plant, and more. The plant’s scientific name is Ricinus communis. This is a flowering plant that is in the spurge family. The plants originate in the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, India, and Eastern Africa. However, the plants also grow in other parts of the world.

Castor oil plants produce a bean, which is the seed pod of the plant. It’s not a true bean. The castor bean is where castor oil comes from. The oil is used in many ways. It was once even used as lamp fuel. Today, the oil is used for its medicinal purposes and more. Castor oil is sometimes used in foods, medications, skincare products. The oil also has industrial uses as a lubricant and a component of biodiesel fuel.

Today, castor oil is commonly used to treat constipation, skin issues, and more.

But can the castor oil plant make a cat sick?

Castor Oil & Cats

Castor oil beans are toxic to cats. They contain a toxic substance called ricin. This is a very toxic substance, which can be lethal to cats. Symptoms may not appear until 12 to 48 hours after the plant’s beans have been eaten.

Symptoms of Castor Oil Toxicity in Cats

You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten castor oil:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Kidney failure
• Convulsions
• Increased thirst
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive thirst
• Weakness
• Colic
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Loss of coordination
• Difficulty breathing
• Progressive central nervous system depression
• Fever

Castor oil can also cause death in cats if left untreated. If you notice these symptoms in your cat, then call the vet immediately. This is a life-threatening emergency.

In most cases, a cat who receives prompt medical care will make a full recovery after castor oil toxicity. So, be sure to call the vet right away if your cat has eaten castor oil.