Monday’s study showed that using permethrin-treated clothing to prevent tick bites, which can cause a variety of serious illnesses.
PERMETHRIN is a synthetic pesticide similar to a natural compound found in chrysanthemums. A study published in May found that spraying permethrin on clothing quickly incapacitated ticks, preventing them from biting.
“Permethrin is highly toxic to cats,” wrote Charles Fisher, who lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., “without a disclaimer recommending that people spray permethrin on clothing to protect against ticks. Insect bites are very dangerous.”
Others agree. “NPR has always been a great source of important information,” wrote Colleen Scott Jackson of Jacksonville, North Carolina. “I hate to see cats suffer because an important piece of information was left out of the story.”
We, of course, didn’t want any cat disasters to happen, so we decided to look into the matter further. Here’s what we found.
Veterinarians say cats are more sensitive to permethrin than other mammals, but cat lovers can still use the pesticide if they are careful.
“Toxic doses are being produced,” said Dr. Charlotte Means, director of toxicology at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
The biggest problem cats face is when they are exposed to products with high concentrations of PERMETHRIN made for dogs, she said. These products may contain 45% permethrin or higher.
“Some cats are so sensitive that even accidental contact with a treated dog can be enough to cause clinical signs, including tremors, seizures and, in worst cases, death,” she said.
But the concentration of permethrin in household sprays is much lower—usually less than 1%. Problems rarely occur at concentrations of 5 percent or less, Means said.
“Of course, you can always find more susceptible individuals (cats), but in most animals the clinical signs are minimal,” she said.
“Don’t give your cats dog food,” says Dr. Lisa Murphy, assistant professor of toxicology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She agrees that the most dangerous situation for cats is accidental exposure to highly concentrated products intended for dogs.
“Cats appear to lack one of the major mechanisms for metabolizing PERMETHRIN,” making them more susceptible to the effects of the chemical, she said. If animals “cannot metabolize, break down and excrete it properly, it can accumulate and be more likely to cause problems.”
If you are concerned that your cat may have been exposed to permethrin, the most common symptoms are skin irritation—redness, itching, and other symptoms of discomfort.
“Animals can go crazy if they have something nasty on their skin,” Murphy said. “They may scratch, dig and roll around because it’s uncomfortable.”
These skin reactions are usually easy to treat by washing the affected area with mild liquid dishwashing soap. If the cat resists, it can be taken to the veterinarian for a bath.
Other reactions to watch for are drooling or touching your mouth. “Cats seem to be especially sensitive to bad taste in their mouth,” Murphy said. Gently rinsing the mouth or giving your cat some water or milk to remove the odor may help.
But if you notice signs of neurological problems—tremors, twitching, or shaking—you should take your cat to the vet immediately.
Even so, if there are no complications, “the prognosis for full recovery is good,” Murphy said.
“As a veterinarian, I think it’s all about choice,” Murphy said. Ticks, fleas, lice and mosquitoes do carry a lot of diseases, and permethrin and other insecticides can help prevent them, she said: “We don’t want to end up with a lot of diseases in ourselves or our pets.”
So, when it comes to preventing permethrin and tick bites, the bottom line is this: if you have a cat, be extra careful.
If you are going to spray clothes, do it out of reach of cats. Allow the clothes to dry completely before you and your cat are reunited.
“If you spray 1 percent on clothing and it dries, you’re unlikely to notice any problems with your cat,” Means says.
Be especially careful not to place permethrin-treated clothing near where your cat sleeps. Always change clothes after leaving the house so your cat can jump on your lap without worry, she says.
This may seem obvious, but if you use PERMETHRIN to soak clothes, make sure your cat doesn’t drink the water from the bucket.
Finally, read the label of the permethrin product you are using. Check the concentration and use only as directed. Consult your veterinarian before directly treating any animal with any pesticide.
Post time: Oct-12-2023