Vomiting points to rapid toxin absorption
When your cat threw up twice within an hour, her body was sounding alarms — the stew likely dissolved the mothball faster, releasing concentrated toxins into her stomach lining. Naphthalene attacks the digestive tract first, causing nausea, but the real danger is what’s already been absorbed. Those two vomits bought some time, but they didn’t remove all the chemicals now circulating toward her red blood cells.
Cats lack certain liver enzymes to break down these compounds efficiently, making them especially vulnerable. Even a fragment soaked in fatty chicken broth delivers a double hit: the oils increase toxin absorption, while the small body size magnifies the dose. Panting, drooling, or acting ‘drunk’ are neurological signs that mean the poison is advancing — don’t wait to see if a third vomit comes.
Why the stew changes the equation
Mothballs in food aren’t just swallowed whole — heating and fats break them down into more bioavailable forms. Your cat ingested pre-dissolved toxins that bypass the usual slow release from a solid ball. The vomit may smell strongly of mothballs, confirming significant exposure. Bring a sample to help the vet gauge how much paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene she absorbed beyond what she expelled.
Watch for blue-tinged gums or rapid breathing — these signal methemoglobinemia, where blood can’t carry oxygen. Stew ingredients like onions or garlic could compound the risk, but the mothball alone is urgent enough. Time spent cleaning up or debating ‘how much’ is time lost; cats deteriorate suddenly once clinical signs appear, and 3 kg offers no buffer for error.
The silent threat: delayed anemia
Even if vomiting stops and she seems stable by evening, the toxins silently attack her red blood cells’ membranes. Over 24–48 hours, damaged cells rupture, causing potentially fatal anemia without obvious external signs. Lethargy tomorrow might mean her packed cell volume has already dropped dangerously low — hence the need for immediate bloodwork to establish baselines.
At the clinic, they’ll likely start IV fluids to protect her kidneys from hemoglobin overload and administer antioxidants like vitamin C. Your vet may keep her overnight to monitor for jaundice (yellow gums) or dark urine, both indicators of massive red cell destruction. Unlike dogs, cats often hide weakness until they collapse — assume she’s worse off than she appears.
Why you can’t rely on home observation
With mothball poisoning, ‘wait-and-see’ risks irreversible organ damage. Cats metabolize naphthalene differently, sometimes showing atypical signs like face-pawing or vocalizing from neurotoxicity. At 3 kg, her tiny liver can’t neutralize the chemicals fast enough — professional detoxification is non-negotiable. Vets have medications to bind toxins and oxygen therapy for compromised blood cells, tools no home kit can replicate.
Post-recovery, she’ll need blood tests weekly for a month to check bone marrow response. Store mothballs in locked cabinets; cats investigate food-related smells aggressively. Tonight, though, speed matters most — every minute counts when a mothball meets a small cat’s curiosity and a bowl of stew.
The step-by-step response, from the first minute to the vet visit, is in our Mothballs (Naphthalene, Paradichlorobenzene) emergency guide.