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My cat inhaled nail polish. Should I worry about internal harm?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Hello! My cat has recently (about half an hour ago) had a large sniff of nail polish. Quickly after he began to develop watery eyes and began coughing. He has since stopped having watery eyes and a cough, but will now sneeze here and there. I am worried that a big whiff of the nail polish has caused him some internal harm.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on May 7th, 2017

Oh no, poor kitty! Yes, you are right that breathing in nail polish can cause internal harm if it contains acetone. It can cause pulmonary injury from being inhaled, and it would be a good idea to have him checked out by a vet today since he was showing some concerning signs. The vet can diagnose if there is anything to worry about and if he needs treatment or not.
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