Pet Safety / Compounds / Metofluthrin

Is Metofluthrin safe for dogs and cats?

Low risk for pets

Dogs are tolerant of metofluthrin at spatial repellent use concentrations; no specific concerns with fan-dispenser products in outdoor settings. Adequate ventilation if used indoors.

What is metofluthrin?

The IUPAC name is [2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-(methoxymethyl)phenyl]methyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]cyclopropane-1-carboxylate.

Also known as: [2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-(methoxymethyl)phenyl]methyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]cyclopropane-1-carboxylate, WZX356S299, RefChem:158380, DTXCID70810471.

IUPAC name
[2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-(methoxymethyl)phenyl]methyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]cyclopropane-1-carboxylate
CAS number
240494-70-6
Molecular formula
C18H20F4O3
Molecular weight
360.3 g/mol
SMILES
CC=CC1C(C1(C)C)C(=O)OCC2=C(C(=C(C(=C2F)F)COC)F)F
PubChem CID
5282227

Risk for dogs

Low risk

Dogs are tolerant of metofluthrin at spatial repellent use concentrations; no specific concerns with fan-dispenser products in outdoor settings. Adequate ventilation if used indoors.

Risk for cats

High risk

Metofluthrin is a type I pyrethroid — cats are sensitive and T-syndrome is the risk. The high volatility of metofluthrin means that fan-dispenser products or indoor coil products create airborne concentrations that cats in the vicinity inhale; the personal protection zone concept designed for outdoor human use does not account for pets resting nearby. Indoor use of metofluthrin coils or emanators in rooms where cats live creates inhalation risk similar to other volatile pyrethroid spatial insecticides. The clip-on fan dispenser marketed for outdoor personal use poses lower cat risk in outdoor settings, but indoor use near cats is of concern. Treatment: fresh air, supportive care, methocarbamol if tremors develop.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Metofluthrin.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
US EPA—Toxicity Category III

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where pets encounter metofluthrin

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Metofluthrin:

  • Safer process chemistry; Green chemistry alternatives; Exposure controls
    Trade-offs: Requires R&D investment to redesign synthesis routes; may reduce yield or throughput initially; long-term benefits include reduced waste treatment costs, regulatory compliance, and worker safety; 12 Principles of Green Chemistry framework available.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is metofluthrin safe for pets?

Dogs are tolerant of metofluthrin at spatial repellent use concentrations; no specific concerns with fan-dispenser products in outdoor settings. Adequate ventilation if used indoors.

What products contain metofluthrin?

Metofluthrin appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

See Metofluthrin in the pets app

Look up products containing metofluthrin, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (3)
  1. US EPA Pyrethroid Reregistration Eligibility Decision — cypermethrin/deltamethrin/lambda-cyhalothrin/bifenthrin/cyfluthrin/fenvalerate/tau-fluvalinate/fenpropathrin; type I/II classification; aquatic toxicity; cat sensitivity; sodium channel mechanism; human paresthesia; buffer zones (2011) (2011) — regulatory
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Pyrethroid Toxicosis in Cats and Dogs — type I vs type II CS/T syndromes; extreme cat sensitivity (sodium channel/UGT deficiency); bathing decontamination; methocarbamol tremor control; cyproheptadine; lipid emulsion severe cases (2023) (2023) — veterinary
  3. WHO: Mosquito Coil Emissions and Health Implications — pyrethroid composition; inhalation exposure estimates; allethrin, transfluthrin, metofluthrin; ventilation recommendations; human health risk assessment; bystander exposure in endemic regions (2011) (2011) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →