Be careful though if you are using mothballs with cats in the house. Many mothballs and flakes contain naphthalene which is dangerous to cats. A little sniff or lick might cause mild self-limiting signs such as nausea, vomiting and respiratory irritation. However, ingestion may lead to severe poisoning.
Testing and diagnosis
If exposure is known, the diagnosis is self-evident. Whether or not exposure is proven, cats exhibiting toxicosis symptoms usually go through standard diagnostic testing:
- Physical examination
- Blood work
- Diagnostic imaging
- Urinalysis
What should I do if my cat eats a mothball?
Make quick contact with your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline* (800-213-6680) if you suspect your cat has eaten a mothball. The sooner you get your cat treated, the better chance it has of making a full recovery.
Until your veterinarian gives you the go-ahead, avoid making your cat throw up or giving them anything by mouth. When you can, place the mothball package and the remaining loose mothballs in a plastic bag that is sealed, and bring them to the veterinarian so they can be identified.
A closer look: Mothball Poisoning in Cats
The dosage, amount of time since exposure, and mode of exposure all affect how severe the symptoms are. The precise amount of each insecticide that is toxic to cats is unknown. Because cats are more susceptible than dogs to mothball toxicity, even small amounts necessitate immediate veterinary attention.
Cases of cats ingesting mothballs are rare. When mothballs are consumed, the symptoms can take several days to manifest, but they are more severe than when they are exposed to the skin or inhaled fumes. The symptoms of mothballs in the gastrointestinal tract don’t appear for several days until a toxic dose enters the bloodstream. If there are no symptoms right after consumption, the exposure was not below toxic thresholds. Delaying treatment has a detrimental effect on the outcome and raises the possibility of long-term exposure resulting in kidney and liver damage.
There were only 158 cases of cat mothball toxicosis reported to the APCC between 2002 and 2004. Even after a cat consumes just one mothball, mothball toxicosis has the potential to be fatal. For a successful outcome, emergency medical attention for decontamination is essential. It is not safe or effective to try to make cats throw up in the house. Providing fresh air and taking a bath are part of first aid for inhalation and contact exposure. Once exposure has taken place, product packaging, labels, and mothball samples can be used to determine the active ingredient in the clinic.
Mothballs contain pesticides which are toxic to cats. Mothball toxicosis is the result of ingesting, coming into contact with the skin, or breathing in a toxic dose. Mothballs primarily contain three types of pesticides: camphor, naphthalene, and p-dichlorobenzene. Since p-dichlorobenzene is safer than its precursor naphthalene, it is the most widely available mothball type in North America.
Regardless of the moth repellent’s form—mothballs, cakes, flakes, or powders—this condition results.
Depending on which of the three pesticides is the active ingredient in the moth repellent, the symptoms of mothball toxicosis differ in each case.
FAQ
Is the smell of moth balls toxic to cats?
Will moth balls get rid of cats?
What kind of animals do mothballs keep away?
Can I put moth balls in my yard?