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Cats are more susceptible to the effects of aspirin than are dogs …

From Scott Nimmo – Vetblog UK

Aspirin is to be found in most houses and I guess it can be obtained all over the world without prescription, while in the correct doses it is used in the cat to treat various conditions it is also quite toxic to them. In my career I did in fact see a couple of poisonings related to this drug, usually by well meaning people who would have been better advised to have sought veterinary advice. Cats are more susceptible to the effects of aspirin than are dogs because they are unable to metabolise the drug at a fast rate and so the drug persists in the body for long periods and can reach toxic levels if the affected animal gets repeat doses.

Cause : Most animals are dosed on purpose by well meaning but ill informed people, accidental poisonings are rare in the cat.

Clinical signs : Signs of aspirin toxicity would include vomiting, weakness, blood in the faeces, fever, and eventual coma and death. Diagnosis would obviously be confirmed by questioning the owner.

Treatment : There is no specific antidote to aspirin poisoning, you have to rely on symptomatic treatment. If the case is presented early it would be logical to make the cat vomit and after that dose it with activated charcoal. Subsequently the animal would be supported on a drip and it may be appropriate to administer sodium bicarbonate if a change in the cat’s urine acidity has taken place, to do this you would need access to laboratory facilities so you can see there is no way you could self treat an affected cat yourself.

Prevention : Quite simply do not dose your cat with aspirin or any other medication no matter how benign you think it might be without seeking veterinary advice. In the UK the vet you are registered with will usually be pleased to advise you over the phone before you give any drugs, a phone call costs very little! It is of course wise to keep all drugs locked away from both pets and children.

Aspirin poisoning, I can understand how it can happen in the UK, you hear stories where sick people are told by their doctors to take half an aspirin and then call the surgery in the morning so of course they do the same with their cats. I have known other people take advice from human nurses, cat breeders etc. who are friends when the vet is closed during the weekend or bank holiday. If you think your cat may have been given aspirin you must get it to your vet without delay.