Why is it risky?
Cats require dietary sodium, but at much lower levels than their food typically contains. Excessive salt intake causes hypernatremia (elevated blood sodium), leading to neurological symptoms. The primary concern is ingestion of heavily salted human foods, salt dough ornaments, or rock salt. Cats with pre-existing kidney or cardiac disease are vulnerable at much lower doses than healthy cats.
Affected Systems
Nervous · Kidneys
Symptoms
Excessive thirst, excessive urination, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, muscle tremors, incoordination, seizures. Severe hypernatremia: cerebral edema, coma.
What To Do
Vet visit for significant ingestion. Do not allow rapid unsupervised water intake, rapid correction of hypernatremia can cause cerebral edema. IV fluids administered by the vet are the appropriate treatment.
Notes
High-sodium hazards frequently overlooked: soy sauce, fish sauce, miso, stock cubes, cured meats (prosciutto, salami, bacon), cheese in brine, processed snack foods. Salt dough ornaments, a seasonal crafting hazard, have an extremely high salt concentration (1:1 salt-to-flour ratio). Winter ice-melt rock salt can cause toxicity via paw contact and grooming.
Sources
→ ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — aspca.org
→ Merck Veterinary Manual — merckvetmanual.com
→ Pet Poison Helpline — petpoisonhelpline.com