Exposure of Domestic Cats to Rodenticidal Compounds
Rodenticides are widely used to control rodent populations, but their unintended consequences on non-target species are raising concern. This study, the first of its kind in Slovenia, investigated the exposure of domestic cats (Felis catus) to rodenticidal compounds, including both anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) and the alternative compound α-chloralose.
Researchers examined liver samples from 99 cat carcasses collected in 2021–2022 using advanced chemical analysis (solid supported liquid-liquid extraction and LC-MS/MS). The findings were striking: 65% of cats had residues of at least one rodenticide in their liver, indicating widespread exposure.
Key findings include:
Brodifacoum (53.5%) and bromadiolone (25.3%)—both second-generation ARs—were the most commonly detected.
Among first-generation ARs, coumatetralyl (21.2%) was most prevalent.
Exposure was higher in rural landscapes with moderate human population density and low farm density, suggesting that secondary poisoning risk is linked to environmental patterns rather than individual cat behaviors.
Factors like cat age, sex, and outdoor activity showed no significant effect on exposure.
A worst-case acute poisoning scenario with brodifacoum yielded a risk quotient (RQ) of 1506, underscoring the potential severity.
The study concludes that domestic cats are effective sentinel species for rodenticide exposure in the environment, highlighting an underappreciated ecological issue. Unlike wild predators, cats may be uniquely vulnerable due to their proximity to human-managed environments where rodenticides are used.
Bottom line: Secondary exposure to rodenticides in domestic cats is not rare—it’s alarmingly common, even in non-agricultural settings. This raises critical questions about rodent control practices and their unintended impact on companion animals and ecosystem health.
Read full story here: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/8/663
