Cats and Lidocaine: Is it Safe to Give a Cat Orajel or Burn Spray?

Sometimes you might think your cat is in enough discomfort to require some relief via a numbing agent, such as Orajel for a gum infection or burn spray for a small burn. Numbing products, however, have a small amount of lidocaine, typically 4%.

Lidocaine is a powerful numbing agent that reduces sensations - or removes them altogether, depending on dosage - and isn't without side effects. Though humans can withstand lidocaine in relatively high doses (depending on many factors - always consult with your doctor before using any medication), cats are different. Some human medications are toxic to cats, such as Tylenol, while others require very careful supervision.

The FDA does not approve of using lidocaine in animals. Though it's not acknowledged by the FDA for cats, veterinarians can and do use lidocaine in certain circumstances for cats, such as heart arrhythmias. Lidocaine should never be used on cats, however, without careful control; cats are very sensitive to the drug, and could easily be overdosed, which leads to death. As long as appropriate doses are given, however, lidocaine is typically safe and rarely results in severe reactions.

Some cats are allergic to lidocaine; you have no way of knowing whether your cat is allergic until he's had a reaction. For this reason, it is very important that you pay close attention to your cat if he or she's received their first lidocaine application or injection. If the cat has trouble breathing, or in any way begins to act unusual, consult your vet or the nearest emergency animal hospital.

Do not give your cat Orajel or burn spray that contains lidocaine without first consulting your vet. Be sure to know your cat's current weight, as that will determine the dosage your cat can receive. If you over-estimate your cat's weight, he may end up receiving too high a dose of lidocaine.