Minoxidil is a hair growth product for people. Usually, men I suspect. That might in itself be useful knowledge because single men are less likely to be the caregiver of a domestic cat than a single woman but nonetheless, humans have a propensity to make mistakes. It is a human trait. No matter how careful a person is they might leave a drop of minoxidil on the bathroom floor where it can be licked up by their cat companion or their cat walks on it and then licks their paws later on.
The world knows that domestic cats are fastidious self-groomers. It’s called autogrooming in the cat world. And therefore anything that is deposited on their coat or their paws gets licked off eventually. This is the most likely route that this toxin would take from outside the cat’s body to inside it.
It’s a personal choice whether you purchase minoxidil or not as a cat caregiver. My choice would be to not purchase this product if you are a cat caregiver because, as mentioned, mistakes can be made no matter how careful and scrupulous one is.
Bearing in mind the stated extreme toxicity of this product to domestic cats, and also bearing in mind that the first duty of a cat caregiver is their security and safety, it would seem that the best decision is to avoid this product and find something else which employs a different chemical to promote hair growth which is safe for pets.
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It is the chemical itself, minoxidil, which makes this medication toxic to cats. This is a potent vasodilator. It relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Although beneficial to humans when used as per the instructions in treating hair loss or hypertension, it is overwhelming and harmful to cats because of their small size and unique metabolism.
Domestic cats lack certain detoxifying enzymes which humans and dogs possess and this ‘deficiency’ makes them particularly susceptible to toxic effects from substances like minoxidil.
Specifically:
- Cardiovascular Toxicity: Minoxidil’s ability to lower blood pressure can lead to severe hypotension (dangerously low blood pressure) in cats, compromising blood flow to vital organs.
- Pulmonary and Renal Toxicity: It can cause fluid accumulation in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and kidney failure, which are life-threatening complications.
- Lack of Effective Breakdown: Cats cannot metabolize minoxidil efficiently, leading to prolonged and intensified toxic effects.
This heightened sensitivity emphasizes the importance of keeping all minoxidil products far away from cats to prevent accidental exposure.
More: toxic to cats
@drjoe_md 💀 One lick could be fatal! If you’re using minoxidil for hair growth, it’s time to double-check your safety routine—this stuff is incredibly toxic to pets. Cats and dogs are at serious risk even from the smallest exposure. Protect your furry friends by washing your hands, cleaning spills, and storing it out of reach. Your hair journey doesn’t have to put their lives at risk! 🐾 #petsafety #Minoxidil #petparent #HairCareTips ♬ original sound – Dr. Joe, M.D. 🩺
The above video is embedded and it may therefore stop working one day. Sorry. 😱😎
