Medication safety · 2 min read

Is Nurofen toxic to cats?

No — dangerous

No. Nurofen is the UK brand name for ibuprofen. It is as dangerous to cats as any other ibuprofen product — a single 200 mg tablet can cause kidney injury in a small cat.

If your cat has just eaten nurofen

  1. Note the strength and amount.
  2. Call your vet immediately.
  3. If you can't reach a vet, call Animal PoisonLine (01202 509000) — paid triage, 24/7.

What's the full picture?

Nurofen is the main UK brand name for ibuprofen. Like all ibuprofen products — including supermarket own-brand equivalents — it is highly toxic to cats.

A single 200 mg tablet in a 4 kg cat is a toxic dose. Signs include vomiting (sometimes with blood), abdominal pain, reduced appetite, and — over days — kidney failure.

Never give any human painkiller to a cat. If your cat appears to be in pain, contact your vet; cat-safe pain relief options exist and require a prescription.

Symptoms to watch for

0–6 hours
Vomiting (possibly with blood), abdominal pain.
6–48 hours
GI bleeding, reduced urine output.
48–72 hours
Acute kidney failure in significant exposures.

If you're worried right now

Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet first. For poison advice, the Animal PoisonLine (UK) is on 01202 509000 — 24/7, charges apply. Your vet can also call the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) directly.

Aspirin no Calpol no Ibuprofen no Naproxen no Paracetamol no

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published UK veterinary toxicology sources — International Cat Care, Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) references, RCVS-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.

This is general information written for UK cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.

Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know — corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.

Last reviewed: · By the What Can My Cat Eat? editorial team

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