Medication safety · 2 min read

Is Aspirin toxic to cats?

No — dangerous

No. Aspirin is highly toxic to cats — they metabolize it 5–10 times more slowly than humans. Even small doses can cause serious illness.

If your cat has just eaten aspirin

  1. Move your cat away from the aspirin.
  2. Don't try to make your cat vomit — this is dangerous in cats.
  3. Note the dose and number of tablets.
  4. Call your vet immediately.
  5. If you can't reach a vet, call ASPCA Poison Control ((888) 426-4435) — paid triage, 24/7.

What's the full picture?

Aspirin is toxic to cats because they metabolize salicylates slowly. Even small doses cause vomiting, liver injury, and red blood cell damage.

Low-dose aspirin used by humans for heart protection (75 mg) is still toxic to cats at repeated or single larger doses.

US brands include generic acetaminophen, Bayer, Bayer Aspirin. Children's aspirin tablets are sometimes flavored and more attractive to cats — keep them well out of reach.

Symptoms to watch for

0–12 hours
Vomiting (sometimes with blood), loss of appetite, lethargy.
12–48 hours
Rapid breathing, low body temperature, weakness, GI bleeding.
48+ hours
Liver injury, bone marrow suppression, seizures in severe cases.

If you're worried right now

Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet first. For poison advice, ASPCA Animal Poison Control (US) is on (888) 426-4435 — 24/7, charges apply. Your vet can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA APCC) directly.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) no Diclofenac (Voltarol) no Ibuprofen no Naproxen no

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published US veterinary toxicology sources — AAFP, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA APCC) references, AVMA-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.

This is general information written for US cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The ASPCA Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.

Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know — corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.

Last reviewed: · By the Cat Ate It editorial team

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