Is Permethrin cream (Elimite) Safe for Cats?
Why it’s a problem
Permethrin is critically neurotoxic to cats, which lack the enzymes needed to break it down. Cream left on skin, licked fur, or close contact with a recently treated person has been reported to cause tremors, seizures, overheating, and death in cats. There is no safe amount for a cat — any suspected exposure is an immediate veterinary emergency.
How to keep your pet safe
Never apply permethrin cream or any permethrin product to a cat, and keep treated people and pets separated from cats until fully rinsed. If a household member uses permethrin, have them wash skin and change clothing before handling the cat. Do not let a permethrin-treated dog sleep next to your cat.
Warning signs to watch for
Muscle twitching, ear and paw flicking, tremors, dilated pupils, wobbliness, seizures, high body temperature, collapse.
When to call the vet
This is a same-hour emergency: call a veterinarian or pet poison hotline immediately and transport the cat in a cool, quiet carrier. Do not wait to see whether tremors stop on their own — permethrin tremors can be fatal without care.
Common questions
My cat rubbed against my permethrin-treated skin — what now?
Wipe any residue off the cat’s fur if it lets you, and call a veterinarian or pet poison hotline immediately. Permethrin absorbed through a cat’s skin or licked during grooming can cause fatal tremors and seizures.
Why is permethrin so deadly to cats but not dogs?
Cats cannot metabolize permethrin effectively, so it attacks their nervous system at doses dogs tolerate. This is why permethrin products must never be used on or around cats.
More medications hazards for cats
This page is general educational information, not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Every pet is different — if your animal ate or touched something concerning, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline right away. In the US: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661, ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 (fees may apply).