CatToxic

SSRI antidepressants

Toxic

Verdict

Toxic in overdose — serotonin syndrome is an emergency. Do not start these at home.

Toxic principle: serotonin reuptake inhibition (serotonin syndrome at overdose)
Also called: prozac, fluoxetine, zoloft, sertraline, antidepressant, lexapro
Source: ASPCA · 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. 1. Call your veterinarian immediately
  2. US — National hotline: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 aspca.org(24/7, Consultation fee may apply.)
  3. US — National hotline: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 petpoisonhelpline.com(24/7, $89 per incident fee; also covers Canada.)
  4. GB — National hotline: Animal PoisonLine 01202 509 000 animalpoisonline.co.uk(24/7, £35 per call (8am–8pm weekdays), £45 at other times.)
  5. AU — National hotline: Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 animalpoisons.com.au(24/7)
  6. NZ — National hotline: Animal Poisons Helpline 0800 869 738 poisons.co.nz(11am–7pm NZ time (currently being extended), Charges apply.)
  7. CA — National hotline: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 petpoisonhelpline.com(24/7, $89 per incident fee.)

Verified 2026-08-06

Verdict

Fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and related drugs are prescribed by veterinarians for some behavior cases. That does not make a human tablet safe to share. Overdose causes agitation, tremors, vomiting, and sometimes seizures.

Symptoms to watch for

  • • vomiting
  • • tremors
  • • agitation
  • • seizures

What to do

Call a vet. Do not give another dose of anything serotonergic, including some pain medicines, unless the vet says so.

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

Related foods

ADHD and stimulant medicines

Dangerous

Dangerous — amphetamines and related stimulants cause life-threatening agitation.

Prescription

Melatonin

Caution

Do not self-medicate. If ingested, call a vet — check the label for xylitol.

Over the counter

Thyroid medication

Toxic

Toxic in overdose — too much thyroid hormone or methimazole is a vet problem, not a home adjustment.

Prescription

Blood-pressure medication

Toxic

Toxic in overdose — the cat can become profoundly weak or collapse.

Prescription