Can cats eat chocolate?

Cats cannot safely eat chocolate in any form. Even a small amount of chocolate can be fatal for cats. Here’s everything you need to know about cats, chocolate consumption, and symptoms of chocolate poisoning in your feline.

Like dogs, cats are sensitive to a compound found in chocolate called theobromine, as mentioned above. This plus caffeine (which is a common stimulant) can be highly toxic or fatal once it’s absorbed.  

Studies Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. Go to source have found that there are some potential health benefits for humans when they consume theobromine, but the same isn’t true for cats. Additionally, other ingredients found in chocolate (like sugar and flavors) aren’t good for your cat either. As pet parents, it’s wise to keep all of these foods out of reach of a curious cat — better to be safe than sorry!

👉 Fortunately, most cats don’t have a sweet tooth because cats don’t actually have taste receptors for sweetness.

If your cat is experiencing chocolate poisoning, symptoms will usually occur within 6-12 hours after your cat ingests chocolate, and can last for up to 3 days in severe cases. 

If you know (or suspect) that your cat got into some chocolate, you’ll want to call your emergency vet first and do your best to monitor their heart rate until you get to the office. 

Your vet may ask you to monitor your cat for signs of chocolate toxicity which include symptoms like:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Rapid breathing or panting
• Restlessness
• Increased thirst

• Tremors
• Hyperactivity
• Elevated temperature
• Muscle tremors or rigidity
• Seizures
• Coma

The first thing you want to do is call your vet, or if it’s after hours, an emergency facility or  ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. Go to source at (888) 426-4435. The doctor or veterinary technicians will give you instructions on what to do.

If you know what your cat ate, how much, and approximately when they might have eaten it, tell your vet. This will help them determine the next right steps in your pet’s care. A kitten eating some baker’s chocolate, for example, might need more intensive care than an older cat who got curious about some chocolate cake ​​and took a swat at the frosting.

Your veterinarian has a few treatments to choose from when they help your furry friend:

• Inducing vomiting — A vet may do this to remove any chocolate from your cat’s stomach. Cats are notoriously difficult to make vomit, even with medication, so you should never try to induce vomiting at home.
• Activated charcoal — If the chocolate poisoning is severe and vomiting is not successful, your vet may use activated charcoal to help absorb the toxins in your cat’s stomach.
• Fluid therapy and hospitalization — For cats experiencing severe chocolate poisoning, a hospital stay might be necessary. Here, specialists can care for your cat, offering them IV therapy and ongoing monitoring until they’re stabilized. 
• Diet changes — Your vet may give you instructions to feed your cat a bland diet Trusted Source VCA Hospitals Community of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information. Go to source for a few days when you get home. Bland diets for cats usually look like a single source of protein (no surf and turf) and a simple carbohydrate.

Chocolate can certainly mean death for your kitty, but the outcome will depend on the cat’s size, and the type of chocolate ingested. (For example: A dark chocolate bar baking chocolate and cocoa beans are the most deadly types of chocolate for cats). 

Ultimately, how rapidly symptoms come on and how quickly a cat can be seen by a veterinarian for emergency treatment can determine the prognosis for your furry friend.

While cats are considered obligate carnivores, there are some plant-based “human” foods they can safely digest. Just make sure that if you do feed them human foods, it’s not toxic for cats.

Safe treats for cats

It’s never a good idea to overindulge your cats with treats, especially of the human food kind. However, there are a few kitty-safe human treats that both of you can enjoy at mealtimes:

• Tuna (canned, raw, or cooked)
• Berries
• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Cheese
• Pumpkin

• Apples
• Watermelon
• Carrots
• Diced, cooked chicken or turkey (without the skin)
• Unseasoned rice
• Green beans

Other toxic foods that are bad for cats

Like chocolate, some very specific foods are toxic to cats and you should avoid them at all costs. These include:

• Uncooked eggs
• Avocado
• Onions, leeks, shallots, and garlic
• Grapes and raisins
• Alcohol
• Raw dough
• Meat Bones

Although chocolate is one of the ASPCA’s top 4 pet toxins Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. Go to source — dogs make up 95% of chocolate calls they receive, so cat chocolate poisoning isn’t as common as you might think. 

That said, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Consider storing your chocolate (and any other toxic food items) in a drawer or cabinet that your cat can’t open.

If you’re unsure if your favorite feline can eat a specific food, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian. Not only do vets have a deep knowledge of what cats can and cannot eat, but they’ll be able to give you advice tailored specifically to your pet.