How To Prevent or Delay Absorption of Poison:
If your cat ingests acids, alkalis, or petroleum products DO NOT induce vomiting.  Without forcing your cat to do so, try to get her to drink as much milk or water as she will drink.  This will help dilute the poison.  For other types of poison, use the following procedure IF YOUR CAT IS CONSCIOUS:

1.  Act with haste but don't panic.  Get your cat to vomit so that the suspected poison can be eliminated from the stomach. The more quickly you can eliminate the poison from the stomach, the easier the treatment and the better the results.

2.  Once your cat vomits, delay absorption of the poison by coating the stomach (as detailed below).

3.  About 30 minutes after your cat vomits, administer a laxative to hasten elimination.  One or two teaspoons of Milk of Magnesia will do.

4. Get prompt veterinary help.

If your cat is unconscious, take your cat to the nearest animal hospital as quickly as possible.

Preventing or Delaying the Absorption of Poison:

1. If your cat is conscious and you know it has not ingested an acid, alkali, or kerosene, induce vomiting.  Save the vomit and take it to the veterinarian to help determine the course of treatment.

2.  Give one teaspoon of activated charcoal mixed with water per 2 pounds of body weight.  Do not give charcoal if you have already administered syrup of ipecac-- the two substances will counteract each other.

3. Half an hour later, give Milk of Magnesia or another coating product such as Kaopectate:  one teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight.

Note:  Administer liquids slowly.  Restrain your cat and pour the liquid down the side of the mouth, using an eyedropper or dosing syringe.

If your cat's skin or coat has come in contact with a poisonous substance, wash the poison off using a lot of mild hand soap and water.  Wear rubber gloves to avoid contaminating yourself.  You may want to give your cat a complete bath using lukewarm water.  Lather and rinse your cat's coat well.  Repeat until all traces of the toxin have been washed away.

If your cat begins to show extreme anxiety or convulsions--symptoms of poison, such as strychnine, which affect the central nervous system--it is in serious trouble.  Rush your cat to your veterinarian or the nearest animal clinic.  Try to bring a sample of vomitus with you or, ideally, the poison itself.