Last night I stupidly washed a car oil patch on the back of my cats neck with undiluted Fairy washing up liquid. Not only that but because he was trying to get away from me while doing this, the detergent was not washed off properly. He was also wearing a new flea collar at the time. This morning my husband woke me to come and look at the cat and it looked like he was having a bit of a fit. I have since washed the area throughly, have given him an arnica tablet and waited for half hour. He is still twitching periodically and has since had another (I think) fit. I have washed the area again (which feels warm to the touch) with aloe vera wash and put some aloe vera gelly on. PLEASE can somebody help me. I am beside myself. I have left him on one of the beds but everytime I walk in, he seems to want to try to get up. Very unsteady on his feet.

sorry not arnica given to cat - it was aconite

Thanks for advice Jacob. Went to vet first thing this morning when they opened. That did not instill much faith in me at all I am afraid. Young vet. She took temp - which was ok but said heartbeat was irregular. She said not to worry about the washing up liquid, she thinks it was the flea treatment that he has reacted to. Her advice was to admit him and put him on fluids and that would give her time to read up on it. I said I wasn't happy about doing that and was there not something she could give him now. She said no, she then tried to phone her boss, who she couldn't get hold of, so in the end I have taken him home and to my astonishment, he seems to have perked up a little. He is no longer "fitting" or twitching (or hasn't done since we got back - approx and hour and half ago). Walking around at the moment rubbing himself against my legs - although still a bit unsteady on his feet - went to his food bowl, but didn't eat anything and I have given him two syringe's full of water. He is purring at the moment but like I said still a bit unsteady. But at least the twitching has stopped. I will monitor him today and carry on with fluids myself. Although he wants to go outside, I have brought in a litter tray and will keep him in, in case he gets disorientated and wanders off somewhere or has another fit under a bush somewhere.

i posted a reply in the pets section

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