This cat blog will answer the main query, “Can cats eat mint?” we will also cover the bad effects of consuming mint for your cat, the symptoms of mint poisoning in your cat, and how you will treat mint poisoning in your cat.
Can cats eat mint?
No, cats cannot eat mint. It is not safe for your cat to consume mint because mint is poisonous to your cat. The leaves, herbs, and dried plants are all toxic for your cat to consume. Moreover, you should devise ways to keep your cat away from the mint plant if you have one in your home.
What are the unhealthy effects of mint on your cat’s body?
Following are the unhealthy effects of mint on your cat’s health:
Stomach upset
The first problem is stomach upset. Mint is not healthy for your cat. Cats are not very good at digesting the mint so it can cause stomach upset in your cat. Mint has several ingredients and all of them are not healthy for your cat.
Following are the clinical signs of stomach upset in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Toxicity
The next thing is the toxicity in your cat. Peppermint is the ingredient in the mint which can cause toxicity in your cat. Following are the major clinical signs of toxicity in your cat:
- Pale mucous membrane
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Seizures
- Confusion
- Tremors
- Abdominal pain
The essential oils in the mint are also the cause of toxicity in your cat. These essential oils react with the healthy cells in the body and kill them leading to necrosis and tissue death in the body.
Contact dermatitis
The next thing is contact dermatitis. If the mint comes in contact with the skin, there is irritation of the skin.
Contact dermatitis is due to the hypersensitivity reaction in the body. Following are the major signs of contact dermatitis in your cat:
- Rashes on the skin
- Continuous irritation
- Redness on the skin
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
- Restlessness
Sedation
The next thing is sedation which is caused by the compounds in the mint. Your cat will feel dizzy and will be sleepy all the time. If you see these signs in your cat, you should consider this type of poisoning in your cat.
Liver damage
The next thing is the liver damage in your cat. The liver is the central metabolic station in the body which clears all the harmful substances from the blood.
If there is toxicity in the body, the first organ that is affected is the liver. The liver has the ability to regenerate up to a certain limit. Your vet will go for some specific tests to find out the abnormality in the liver.
What are the main symptoms of mint poisoning in your cat?
The main symptoms of mint poisoning are essentially the same in all cats but the minor symptoms vary with the age, sex, and breed of the cat
Following are the main symptoms of mint poisoning in your cat:
- Increased heart rate
- Dilated pupils
- Increased breathing rate
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Contact dermatitis
- Pale mucous membrane
How will you diagnose mint poisoning in your cat?
The first thing your vet will be looking at is the history you are giving your vet. You should give a brief history of your cat including the general health and the specific problem in your cat.
After that, your vet will examine your cat. The vet will check the mucous membrane, the coat, the poop, the pulse rate, and the respiration rate. After that, your vet might go for some tests. These tests will tell the vet the condition of the organs in the body.
After analyzing the reports of the cat along with the history and the clinical exam, it will lead to the diagnosis of mint poisoning in your cat.
How will the vet treat your cat?
After the successful diagnosis of the mint poisoning, the vet will go for treatment of your cat. The vet might administer certain antibiotics to control the secondary bacterial infection in your cat.
Your vet will also administer fluid to dilute the toxins in the blood of your cat.
How can you keep your cat safe from mint poisoning?
You should limit the reach of the cat to mint plants. You should give other healthy grasses to your cat to keep it distracted. You can also offer toys to keep it busy.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we entertained our important question, “Can cats eat mint?” we also discussed the bad effects of consuming mint for your cat, the symptoms of mint poisoning in your cat, and how you will treat mint poisoning in your cat.
