Off! spray used to catch mosquitoes is catching our house cat.

 

Caution: Pyrrole-based insecticide if you have a cat

If you keep pets, especially cats, you should be careful with insecticides containing pyrethroid ingredients such as permethrin and deltamethrin.

Cats lack the enzymes necessary to metabolize pyrethroid-based insecticides compared to dogs. They are at risk of poisoning even with lower doses than those safe for dogs or humans. In dogs, permethrin is used in external parasite preventatives or tick treatments specifically for dogs. However, it is not advisable for dogs to come into direct contact with insecticides or to lick and ingest substances sprayed elsewhere, as this can lead to excessive exposure.

If a cat is exposed to permethrin in insecticides, problems such as seizures, convulsions, hematuria, and fever may occur. Dogs show similar symptoms when exposed to excessive amounts compared to cats. Director Jo Hyun-gi of the Internal Medicine Department said, "If you must spray insecticide, it is best to keep the cat out of the room, ventilate thoroughly after spraying, and only let the cat back in once the insecticide has dried." He also recommended cleaning or wiping items that the cat may come into direct contact with, such as dishes, toys, and cat towers. Ingredients like diethyltoluamide (DEET) and picaridin found in human mosquito repellents can also cause neurological symptoms such as seizures in dogs and cats, so it is best not to use them.