If your cat has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital or an animal poison control service right away, even if your cat seems fine. Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.
Why
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, two stimulants from a group called methylxanthines. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists chocolate among the people foods pets should never have: methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, an abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death.
How dangerous a piece of chocolate is depends on how much methylxanthine it contains and how much the animal weighs. Cocoa powder and unsweetened baking chocolate contain the most, dark chocolate less, and milk chocolate less again. White chocolate contains almost none. Most cats are much smaller than most dogs, so an amount that would barely affect a large dog can be significant for a cat.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Restlessness, agitation or hyperactivity
- Panting or open-mouth breathing, which is unusual in cats
- Drinking and urinating more than usual
- A fast or irregular heartbeat
- Muscle tremors, wobbliness and, in severe cases, seizures
- Signs usually begin within 6 to 12 hours of eating chocolate
What to do if your cat eats it
- Work out what was eaten: the type of chocolate or product, roughly how much is missing, and when. Keep the wrapper or box.
- Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control service straight away, even if your cat seems normal. Signs can take hours to appear.
- Do not try to make your cat vomit at home. Home methods sometimes used for dogs are not safe for cats; if vomiting is needed, a vet will do it.
- Keep your cat indoors and quiet so you can watch for changes while you get advice.
- Afterwards, store chocolate, cocoa and baking supplies in closed cupboards, not on counters your cat can jump onto.
Why don't more cats eat chocolate?
Cats are far less likely than dogs to raid a box of chocolates, and there is a genetic reason. In 2005, researchers reported in PLoS Genetics that one of the two genes needed to build the sweet taste receptor, Tas1r2, does not work in cats. Cats cannot taste sugar the way we do, so candy holds little appeal on its own.
That does not make cats safe around chocolate. Many cats enjoy dairy and may lick frosting, chocolate ice cream, chocolate milk or a mug of hot cocoa, and curious kittens chew on almost anything. These products still contain methylxanthines, and cocoa powder spilled while baking is one of the most concentrated sources of all.
Which chocolate products are riskiest for a cat?
The Merck Veterinary Manual ranks common products by their methylxanthine content. From most to least concentrated:
- Cocoa powder, including baking cocoa and some hot cocoa mixes
- Unsweetened baking chocolate
- Dark and semisweet chocolate, including chocolate chips
- Milk chocolate, and cakes, cookies and desserts made with it
- White chocolate, which has negligible methylxanthines but is still fatty and sugary
What happens at the vet?
Treatment depends on what was eaten, how long ago, and how your cat is doing. If the chocolate was eaten recently and your cat has no signs yet, the vet may give an injection that makes it vomit. After that, care is about supporting the body while it clears the stimulants.
- IV fluids to support circulation and help flush the stimulants out in the urine
- Heart monitoring, and treatment for a racing heart if needed
- Medicine to control tremors or seizures
- In some cases activated charcoal, which vets weigh carefully because it has its own risks
Common questions
Is chocolate good for cats?
No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, two stimulants from a group called methylxanthines.
Is chocolate bad for cats?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: vomiting and diarrhea; restlessness, agitation or hyperactivity; panting or open-mouth breathing, which is unusual in cats.
Are cats allowed to have chocolate?
No, keep it away from your cat. If your cat eats some anyway: work out what was eaten: the type of chocolate or product, roughly how much is missing, and when. Keep the wrapper or box.
Is a lick of chocolate ice cream dangerous for a cat?
A single lick of chocolate ice cream is unlikely to contain enough theobromine to poison a cat, but the lactose and fat can still upset its stomach. If your cat ate more than a lick, or the product was dark chocolate or made with cocoa powder, call your vet or a poison control service with the product details.
Is white chocolate safe for cats?
It is not a poisoning risk in the same way, because white chocolate contains only negligible amounts of methylxanthines. It is mostly fat, sugar and milk solids, though, which can cause vomiting or diarrhea, and it offers nothing a cat needs. Keep it out of reach rather than sharing it.
How long after eating chocolate would a cat show symptoms?
Signs usually appear within 6 to 12 hours, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Do not wait for them. Getting advice early gives your vet more treatment options.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals.
- Li X, Li W, Wang H, et al. Pseudogenization of a sweet-receptor gene accounts for cats’ indifference toward sugar. PLoS Genetics, 2005;1(1):e3.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.