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My cat ate a rat and is sick. Is it poison or just an upset stomach?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 7 lbs

Hello our cat caught & ate a baby rat on Sunday, was sick & is now not wanting dinner although she ate dinner yesterday. She has been out today but as we have got poison in out buildings which are locked, could she be poisoned? Breathing is normal but she is sleeping a lot.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Amber W

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on September 12th, 2017

I would be concerned that Willow ingested a rat that had ingested some poison previously. Some poisons may cause more problems than others when ingested secondarily.

The other possibility is that Willow feels sick from eating the rat itself. If her digestive tract is not used to ingesting fur and bones she may be feeling sick from that.

It would really be best to have Willow checked out as soon as possible by a veterinarian. They can assess blood work to make sure she is not anemic (as some rat poison can cause this) and also make sure she is not showing other signs of toxicity. They can also give her things like IV fluids or other supportive care if necessary.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Willow is feeling better quickly!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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