• A number of plants accumulate cyanogenic glycosides. These include:
  • Pitted fruits such as peaches, cherries and almonds.
  • Pome fruits such as apples and pears.
  • Elderberry.
  • Legumes such as clover and vetch.
  • A variety of grasses.
• Of these, those of greatest risk to cats would most likely be the pits or seeds of pitted or pome fruits, which cats might eat out of curiosity. Rapid ingestion of a toxic dose is required to overcome detoxification processes.
• Cyanide poisoning in the cat may also result from ingestion of cyanide baits laid to kill pests. Poisoning with these baits may be accidental or malicious.
• Hydrogen cyanide can be released from certain synthetic materials during a house fire, but a cat that is distressed or comatose after it has been exposed to the smoke from a house fire should be treated with oxygen for carbon monoxide poisoning because this is more likely Smoke inhalation.
• Generally there is not time to treat for both poisonings and the treatment for hydrogen cyanide poisoning may counteract the efficacy of treatment for CO poisoning.
• Cyanide poisoning in pets is extremely uncommon.

Presenting signs

• Hyperpnea, convulsions and coma.
• Cherry-red blood and mucous membranes (may not be readily apparent).

Acute presentation

• Peracute onset with excitement, and tremors which may rapidly progress to convulsions.

Geographic incidence

• Poisoning from fruit pits or almonds could occur anywhere that the plants are grown or the fruit or nuts are purchased.
• Cyanide baits are used in New Zealand to kill Australian brushtail possums, and in the USA to poison coyotes.

Public health considerations

• People should be aware that apricot pits and peach pits can be toxic.
• Human toxicity and fatality has occurred from rapid ingestion of a large quantity of apple seeds and apricot seeds.
• Baits for pests should be placed where children cannot access them, and warning signs should be posted that cyanide baits are in the area. 

Special risks

• If the cat has cyanide bait around the mouth, exercise extreme care to avoid exposure.