Cleaning & home · cat safety
Are naphthalene balls (नेफ़थलीन की गोली) toxic to cats?
Severe
No — naphthalene balls (mothballs, 'phenyl ki goli') are toxic to cats, who are more sensitive to them than other pets: they damage red blood cells and can cause seizures. Go to a vet with a sample, and never use them to keep cats away.
Why severe: Cats are more sensitive to mothballs than other species.
- Name
- Naphthalene ballsalso Mothballs, Toilet balls, Phenyl ki goli
- Hindi
- नेफ़थलीन की गोली · naphthalene ki goli
What's in it
Naphthalene (or paradichlorobenzene) — damages red blood cells; PDB mainly affects the nerves.
Where it hides
- White balls in wardrobes and trunks of woollens
- Urinal and drain balls
- Treat any white ball kept in cupboards or toilets as poison
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting, mothball-smelling breath
- Pale or brown gums
- Weakness, breathing difficulty
- Tremors, seizures
What to do — now
Go to a vet now. Take a ball or the pack — vets can tell camphor, naphthalene and PDB balls apart.
- Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
Where Indian cats meet it
Wardrobes, trunks of woollens, bathroom urinals and drains — and sometimes scattered to 'keep away' cats, rats or lizards.
Myth or fact
Myth“Mothballs keep cats away”
FactCats are more sensitive to mothballs than other species (Pet Poison Helpline). Use humane deterrents instead.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline: Mothballs
- MSD Veterinary Manual: Mothball toxicosis
- VCA: Mothball toxicity in cats
Facts last checked
General information for cat parents, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. The facts come from ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, International Cat Care, the Merck Veterinary Manual and the other sources listed on every page — and we say so when the evidence comes from dogs or people. If your cat may have eaten something harmful, call your vet.