Heart, BP & diabetes · cat safety
Are BP tablets like telmisartan toxic to cats?
Mild
Usually low risk, but call your vet: telmisartan (Telma), losartan, ramipril and similar BP tablets can lower a cat's blood pressure for up to a day, causing weakness, wobbliness and vomiting. Take the strip — combination tablets may add amlodipine.
Why mild: Usually a low poisoning risk (Pet Poison Helpline), but an overdose can still lower blood pressure for up to a day.
- Name
- Telmisartan, losartan and other ACE/ARB BP tabletsalso Telmisartan (Telma), Losartan, Olmesartan, Ramipril, Enalapril, ACE inhibitors and ARBs
What counts
ARB (telmisartan, losartan, olmesartan) and ACE inhibitor (ramipril, enalapril) tablets, including combination tablets.
What's in it
Drugs that block the angiotensin hormone system to relax blood vessels; an overdose causes low blood pressure with a fast heart rate (Merck).
Brands it hides in
- Telma and other telmisartan tablets
- Losartan, olmesartan and ramipril strips
- Combination tablets such as Telma-AM or Telma-H, which add amlodipine or a water pill
Symptoms to watch for
- Lethargy, weakness
- Wobbly walking
- Vomiting, diarrhoea
- Fast heart rate
Within an hour (ARBs) to a few hours (ACE inhibitors), lasting up to 12–24 hours (Merck).
What to do
Call your vet now with the strip — the next step depends on the drug and whether it is a combination tablet.
- Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
- Keep your cat calm and indoors, and watch for weakness or collapse.
Where Indian cats meet it
Telmisartan is among the most common BP pills in Indian homes, often taken by elders from open pill boxes.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline: ACE inhibitors
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Toxicoses from cardiovascular medications
- Pet Poison Helpline: Top 10 human medications poisonous to pets
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.