What are the symptoms of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning in cats?

lethargy, difficulty breathing, brown or pale gums, swelling of the face or paws, vomiting, collapse

Can I give my cat Acetaminophen (Tylenol)?

CatToxic does not provide drug doses. Never give a human medicine to a cat unless your veterinarian told you to, for this cat, today.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Q: What if my cat ate Acetaminophen (Tylenol)?

Dangerous: Never — a single regular-strength tablet can kill a cat. Cats are deficient in the glucuronidation pathway that people use to clear acetaminophen. The leftover metabolites damage red blood cells (methemoglobinemia) and the liver. Brown or muddy gums, facial swelling, and respiratory distress can appear within hours. This is not “people medicine at a smaller dose.” There is no home dose. Dog products that contain acetaminophen are equally dangerous. Source: Merck Veterinary Manual.

Q: Is Ibuprofen also safe for cats?

Dangerous: Never — NSAIDs ulcerate the gut and injure feline kidneys.

Dangerous

Verdict

Never — a single regular-strength tablet can kill a cat.

Toxic principle: acetaminophen (cats cannot glucuronidate it efficiently)

Also called: tylenol, paracetamol, panadol, mapap

Source: Merck Veterinary Manual · Verified 2026-08-13

If your cat ate this

Cats hide symptoms — don't wait and see. Even small amounts of certain substances can be fatal to a cat. Act fast.

1. Call your veterinarian immediately
US — National hotline: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 aspca.org(24/7, Consultation fee may apply.)
US — National hotline: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 petpoisonhelpline.com(24/7, $89 per incident fee; also covers Canada.)
GB — National hotline: Animal PoisonLine 01202 509 000 animalpoisonline.co.uk(24/7, £35 per call (8am–8pm weekdays), £45 at other times.)
AU — National hotline: Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 animalpoisons.com.au(24/7)
NZ — National hotline: Animal Poisons Helpline 0800 869 738 poisons.co.nz(11am–7pm NZ time (currently being extended), Charges apply.)
CA — National hotline: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 petpoisonhelpline.com(24/7, $89 per incident fee.)

Verified 2026-08-06

Verdict

Cats are deficient in the glucuronidation pathway that people use to clear acetaminophen. The leftover metabolites damage red blood cells (methemoglobinemia) and the liver. Brown or muddy gums, facial swelling, and respiratory distress can appear within hours. This is not “people medicine at a smaller dose.” There is no home dose. Dog products that contain acetaminophen are equally dangerous.

Quick comparison

Drug	Cat risk
Acetaminophen / Tylenol / paracetamol	Dangerous — often fatal
Ibuprofen / Advil	Dangerous — kidneys and gut
Aspirin	Dangerous — do not give

Symptoms to watch for

• lethargy
• difficulty breathing
• brown or pale gums
• swelling of the face or paws
• vomiting
• collapse

What to do

Emergency. Bring the bottle. Do not give anything else. Call a vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) now.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435 aspca.org

Related foods

Ibuprofen

Dangerous

Never — NSAIDs ulcerate the gut and injure feline kidneys.

Pain relievers

Aspirin

Dangerous

Never give leftover aspirin. It is an NSAID and cats clear salicylates slowly.

Pain relievers

Naproxen (Aleve)

Dangerous

Never — a long-acting NSAID with the same gut and kidney risks as ibuprofen.

Pain relievers

5-fluorouracil cream

Dangerous

Never — tiny amounts of 5-FU cream are often fatal to cats.

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