Cat urine is not a favorite topic for most people. However, some people believe that cat urine can be used to make you high. But is that possible? Can cat pee get you high?
Although there are no scientific studies to back this up, the high most people may be feeling after smoking cat urine may be due to increased levels of ammonia in this liquid. However, there is no evidence that cat urine
Remember, though, that smoking ammonia is highly dangerous for your health.
Keep reading below for more information.
Before you scroll further down this guide, check out these other cat-related articles: Why Does My Cat Smell My Breath? and Why Does My Cat Meow When I Sneeze?.
Table of Contents
What is Cat Pee?
Cats are inherently curious animals who like to investigate their environment, so they frequently urinate on various objects.
Unfortunately, this also means that you run the risk of getting cat urine on you if the cat urinates near you.
In either of its names, cat urine is a liquid waste product. It is made up of a number of components, the most notable of which are water, urea, creatinine, and electrolytes.
Cat urine contains chemicals like ammonia that produce a potent and unpleasant odor.
Urination is a normal bodily function for cats, but if they do it too much or in the wrong places, it may be a sign that they have behavioral or health concerns that must be addressed.
Cat Urine: Chemical Makeup
You should know the following information about the waste your pet excretes when it needs to go to the bathroom.
In general, the urine that our feline friends produce is similar to the urine that other animals produce; it contains waste products from the body, such as uric acid, urea, creatine, and other components that have been detoxified, among other things.
Obviously, this is a recipe for disaster in terms of odor, but how can even a few drops of cat urine fill an entire room?
Because cats naturally tend to conserve water in their bodies as a form of survival mechanism, the concentration of the urine they produce is exceptionally high. Male cat pee has a particularly foul odor because it contains sex-specific steroids.
Can Cat Pee Get You High?
These claims are not supported by any evidence that can be considered scientific. Anyone who claims that cat pee gets them high is not telling the truth, is allergic to cats, or is experiencing some other medical reaction. We don’t recommend trying to see if cat pee can get you high, either.
Ammonium is a chemical that produces psychoactive effects when inhaled deeply or consumed in large quantities.
Humans are unlikely to experience any adverse effects from inhaling or swallowing trace amounts of ammonium. However, when present in higher concentrations, ammonium can bring on symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, and even hallucinations.
Even though these side effects are usually not strong enough to cause a full-blown high, they can make a person feel ill, which some people might confuse for being high.
The question then becomes: Why would someone want to utilize urine from a cat as a substance? Some explanations are as follows.
For starters, it’s not hard to get; most homes with cats already have a litter box stocked with the material. But it really isn’t the best idea to mess around with waste from animals or humans.
Why People Believe Cat Pee Can Get You High
There are several factors that contribute to the widespread belief that cat urine possesses psychoactive properties.
Although this concept may appear ridiculous to some, there are rational explanations for why others hold this viewpoint.
Some individuals believe that if they breathe in the odor of cat urine containing feline, they will experience a “high” or a state of mind significantly different from usual.
Despite this, there is no proof from the scientific community to back up this claim, and it cannot be emphasized enough that breathing in any pee can be hazardous to one’s health.
It’s also possible that specific communities or groups have their own views regarding the effects of cat urine, which could have a cultural or sociological impact that plays a role in perpetuating this misconception.
Regardless of what you believe, please do not attempt to prove one way or the other that cat urine gets you high. You will get sick from the ammonia.
Is Cat Urine Toxic?
There’s no denying that a cat’s urine has a particularly foul odor. But is it toxic?
Cat urine contains bacteria that are dangerous for humans and animals. The detailed explanation is a little more complex. The ammonia in a cat’s urine is a poisonous gas.
Ammonia is present in cat pee, but typically not at levels dangerous to human health. Many people can ignore the odor of cat urine without suffering any adverse consequences.
Others, however, are more vulnerable to the odor of cat urine and may suffer nausea, headaches, or difficulty breathing if exposed to it.
Liver damage and respiratory failure are only two of the more severe outcomes of chronic exposure to high ammonia levels.
In addition, cat pee may contain bacteria that can spread disease to people and other animals. Open sores on the skin or contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, and mouth) are entry points for these bacteria.
If allowed to enter the body, these bacteria can result in life-threatening conditions such as blood poisoning (sepsis) or meningitis (inflammation of the brain).
Even though cat urine isn’t poisonous on its own, prolonged contact with it can harm your health.
Risks Associated with Cat Urine
Now that we know the answer to the question of whether or not cat urine can get you high, we can examine the reasons why many people view cat urine as harmful.
Cat urine will not only make your home smell terrible, but it will also cause you a great deal of trouble over time.
Overall, there are several major concerns associated with being exposed to cat urine, some of which could have long-lasting effects on your health.
Extremely High Levels of Ammonia
As previously established, cat urine’s ammonia level is often high because it is hardly diluted. The symptoms of inhaling ammonia include: coughing, bronchitis, pneumonia, and eye and skin inflammation.
Cat urine contains high ammonia levels, which can be toxic to vital organs like the lungs and kidneys.
To keep the ammonia from permeating the home, it is suggested that pet owners sometimes leave all windows and doors open. Don’t touch anything that’s been exposed to cat urine, either.
Set Off Various Allergic Reactions
Cats themselves shouldn’t present too much of a challenge to most cat owners worldwide, but cat urine is a whole other story.
Even in otherwise healthy people, the combination of unpleasant smells and irritant chemicals is usually enough to trigger an allergic reaction.
Therefore, if you suspect cat urine in the house, you must look for pee stains or urine puddles. Cats trained to use a litter box shouldn’t be relied on to always urinate in that location.
Drive the Cat to Urinate Randomly
Most cats are creatures of habit, so if you expose them to urine and feces in a certain environment, they may feel compelled to eliminate or urinate there themselves.
If the stench of cat urine isn’t eliminated promptly, your fluffy buddy may use those areas as litter boxes.
No cat owner likes being surrounded by cat urine odor; therefore, any pooping or peeing episodes must be dealt with immediately.
Keep your cat in a separate room until you remove the odor, if required.
Get Cats to Come to the Area
It’s no secret that cats urinate on their territory, but the smell also draws in other felines. You don’t want feral cat packs using your home as their playground.
Remember that cats have acute senses that allow them to pick up on odors from great distances. Therefore, performing periodic, comprehensive checks of the entire house is a good idea.
How to Minimize Cat Urine Exposure
An individual’s health could be jeopardized by contact with cat urine because of the potential presence of bacteria and viruses.
You will be relieved to know that there are several measures that you can take to cut down on the possibility of being exposed.
First, ensure the litter box is always clean and in excellent condition for your cat. Make sure to change the litter box’s contents and scoop the litter every day.
To further reduce unpleasant odors, try a covered litter box or position the litter box in an open area. Wearing gloves and a mask while cleaning up cat litter is yet another way to prevent exposure.
To some extent, this can protect people from breathing in dangerous particles.
Finally, always remember to give yourself a thorough hand wash after interacting with your cat or its litter box. By taking these measures, you can reduce your exposure to cat urine and the accompanying health hazards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bad is the smell of cat urine?
Cat urine is potent and can quickly overpower your home’s scent. Make sure to change your cat’s litter frequently.
Can cat pee make you dizzy?
If you start to feel dizzy and nauseous, you might be allergic to cat urine.
Can you get toxoplasmosis from inhaling cat litter?
When cat litter dries, the bacteria that causes toxoplasmosis can travel to your face and hands, especially if you are in the same room as the litter box.
So Can Cat Pee Get You High?
We do not recommend trying cat pee since ammonia is a highly dangerous gas that can bring about various health issues.
If you find this guide, “Can Cat Pee Get You High,” informative and helpful, you can check out these other cat-related articles from our team:
