What vomiting reveals about toxin progression
When a cat starts vomiting after foxglove exposure, it signals the glycosides have reached the bloodstream and triggered the chemoreceptor trigger zone in the brain. Unlike simple stomach upset, this vomiting often coincides with other neurological signs—like your cat's wobbliness—because the toxins simultaneously attack the heart and nervous system.
The delay between chewing and symptoms is typical—foxglove glycosides take time to disrupt cellular sodium-potassium pumps. But once vomiting begins, the risk of dangerous heart rhythms (like ventricular tachycardia) rises sharply. This isn't a 'wait and see' situation.
Why a 7.5 kg cat's size matters less than you'd think
While larger cats generally handle toxins better, foxglove's cardiac glycosides defy that rule. The compounds' mechanism—binding to heart muscle cells—means even a big tabby has minimal safety margin. Your cat's weight might slightly delay symptom onset but won't prevent severe effects from a single leaf's worth of toxins.
What does matter is muscle mass—heavier cats have more heart tissue for the glycosides to attack. Paradoxically, this can make arrhythmias more likely in robust cats because the toxins distribute across a larger cardiac surface area.
The dangerous overlap of wobbling and heart effects
That unsteady gait isn't just weakness—it's likely ataxia caused by poor cerebral blood flow as the heart struggles to maintain rhythm. Foxglove toxins first slow electrical conduction between heart chambers, then cause erratic impulses. The brain gets alternating floods and droughts of oxygenated blood, manifesting as stumbling or head tilting.
This combination of vomiting and neurological signs often precedes complete heart block—a life-threatening condition where the ventricles stop following the atria's pacing. Your cat needs intravenous medications to stabilize this electrical disconnection before it becomes irreversible.
What the vet will do immediately upon arrival
Expect your cat to go straight onto an ECG machine—the staff will look for prolonged PR intervals or dropped QRS complexes, classic foxglove-induced abnormalities. They'll start an IV line not just for fluids but for ready access if emergency drugs like atropine or digoxin-specific antibodies are needed.
Blood draws will check potassium levels—rising serum potassium worsens arrhythmias and guides treatment choices. Your cat may need temporary pacing if heart block develops. Bring any plant remnants; identifying foxglove species helps predict toxin load since concentrations vary among cultivars.
The step-by-step response, from the first minute to the vet visit, is in our Foxglove (Digitalis) emergency guide.