Hair, skin & creams · cat safety
Is zinc oxide nappy cream toxic to cats?
Mild
Mostly mild: a lick of zinc oxide nappy-rash cream usually causes only vomiting or diarrhoea within a few hours. Repeated licking — say, of cream put on the cat's own skin — or a chewed tube can damage red blood cells. Call your vet if vomiting goes on.
Why mild: A lick usually means a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea; repeated licking over days, or a chewed tube, is more serious.
- Name
- Zinc oxide nappy-rash creamsalso Zinc oxide ointment, Diaper-rash cream, Mineral (zinc) sunscreen
- Hindi
- डायपर रैश क्रीम
What counts
Nappy (diaper) rash creams, zinc oxide ointments and mineral sunscreens.
What's in it
Zinc oxide. It irritates the stomach; zinc absorbed over days of licking can break down red blood cells (Merck).
Brands it hides in
- Nappy-rash creams — look for 'zinc oxide' in the ingredients
- Thick white ointments and mineral sunscreens
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Rarely: swollen face or hives (allergy)
- After repeated licking: weakness, pale or yellow gums, dark urine
Stomach upset within 2–4 hours (Merck).
What to do
Call your vet if vomiting goes on, your cat chewed a tube, or its face swells.
- Wipe cream off the mouth and fur with a damp cloth.
- Offer fresh water.
- Never put zinc cream on a cat's skin — it will lick it off over the following days.
Where Indian cats meet it
Homes with a new baby keep nappy-rash cream by the changing mat, where a cat can lick a smeared nappy, the baby's skin or an open tube.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Toxicosis from human topical agents
- Pet Poison Helpline: Zinc (including nappy-rash creams)
- Pet Poison Helpline (Brutlag): Topical toxic titans (PDF)
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.