Scratchex - pyrethin toxicity

IMOM had an emergency case come in for 2 cats that I thought you'd be interested in. I have no idea what Scratchex is. Do any of you use it? You can follow their progress at THIS link. But, I've copied the first posting in the thread below.

Diagnosis: pyrethrin toxicity resulting in seizure activity
Caseworker: Sarah
Estimate: $1,200 ($600 for each cat) IMOM has donated $300 from our emergency fund.

***UPDATE: Callie is doing better and is just at the vet over night for observation. We only need to help Snowy now. With IMOM's pledge of $300 we only need another $300!

We got a call from the vet, Noah's, about 2 cats who were given Scratchex because she didn't have enough money for Advantage this month. Both cats have had an allergic reaction and are having seizures. IMOM has pledged $300 from our emergency fund to get fluids started. But both cats need $600 to save their lives. The $300 will get one cat through 24 hours. So we need to work quickly on this!

Jennifer has 2 daughters a 6 year old and a 3 year old. These are their cats!

From the Jennifer the mom:
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Single mom, two girls, two cats. Did not have money for Advantage this month, so friend gave me doses of Scratchex to use. Within 2 hours both cats started to twitch and couldn't walk. The vet states it is pyrethrin toxicity from the chemicals in the flea prevention. I do not currently have the funds to treat. Please help!
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www.imom.org/donation/
When making a donation please specify EF - Snowy&Callie Paris

I get so frustrated when products are promoted because they contain "natural" ingredients and so are supposedly safe. Yes, pyrethrins are plants, I think they are related to crysanthemums, but that puts them in the family compositae which contains other toxic plants.

Anyway, I checked into the ingredients for Stratchex and it contains as much permethrin as pyrethrin. This on permethrin:

Permethrin, like all synthetic pyrethroids, is a neurotoxin. Symptoms include tremors, incoordination, elevated body temperature, increased aggressive behavior, and disruption of learning. Laboratory tests suggest that permethrin is more acutely toxic to children than to adults.

So, not something you want on pets that belong to children.

They should yank all the permethrin containing products for topical use. Pyrethrin has relatively low toxicity, but permethrin can be very toxic.

The thread has been moved to the Happy Endings message board. Here's an update from IMOM: from the vet:

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Thanks so much for your support of "Snowy" Parrish. He has made a remarkable recovery and been discharged from the hospital today. His sister "Callie" who was much less affected is fine as well.
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Thanks everyone for your fast help! I was hoping to see if I could get the owner to agree to s/n of the cats while there but the vet has already discharged them. :-( I didn't have any direct contact with the owner. The owner doesn't have a computer at home and the vet's office helped her fill out the application at the office.

Thanks everyone for rallying together to save these two cats! And thanks for those who pledge to the general emergency fund - your donations made it possible for treatment of Snowy to begin immediately!

Sarah