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
Most of what vets know about grape and raisin poisoning comes from dogs, where eating grapes, raisins or Zante currants has been linked to sudden kidney failure. The toxic substance has not been proven, but the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Merck Veterinary Manual both point to tartaric acid. Merck explains that dogs are poor at clearing this kind of acid, and that the amount differs from fruit to fruit, which is why some animals eat grapes with no problem while others become seriously ill.
Cats are affected far less often, and there is much less research on them. Still, PetMD's veterinary guide notes that grape poisoning in cats has been documented, including kidney damage, which can be severe and is often not fully reversible.
Both seeded and seedless grapes have been involved, so removing the seeds or peeling the grape does not make it safe. Raisins are dried grapes, so each one is more concentrated.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting or diarrhea, often in the first 12 to 24 hours
- Lethargy, weakness or hiding
- Eating less than usual, or refusing food
- Drinking and urinating more than usual, or much less urine than usual
- Bad, strong-smelling breath, which can point to kidney trouble
- Wobbliness, seizures or collapse in severe cases
What to do if your cat eats it
- Work out what was eaten: grapes or raisins, roughly how many, and when. Include hidden sources such as raisin bread, cookies or trail mix, and keep the packaging.
- Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control service straight away, even for one grape and even if your cat seems normal.
- Do not try to make your cat vomit at home. Home methods used for dogs are not safe for cats; if vomiting is needed, the vet will do it.
- Go in promptly if advised. Care started early, before the kidneys are affected, gives the best chance of preventing damage.
- Afterwards, keep grapes, raisins and baked goods containing them in closed containers or cupboards your cat cannot open.
Why is this a no if cats rarely get sick?
Most cats show no interest in grapes, and poisoning in cats is uncommon. But the evidence is limited, nobody knows which cats are at risk, and no amount has been shown to be safe. When the possible outcome is kidney damage, a precautionary no is the honest answer.
Numbers you may see online for how many grapes are dangerous were worked out mainly from dogs, and even in dogs they vary. Do not use them to decide whether your cat is safe; let your vet make that call.
Where cats come across grapes and raisins
A cat is more likely to bat a grape off the counter and chew it, or lick at a baked treat, than to eat a bunch of grapes. Places to look include:
- Loose grapes that roll onto the floor
- Raisin bread, hot cross buns, cookies, muffins and fruit cake
- Breakfast cereals, granola and trail mix
- Zante currants, the small dried grapes used in baking, which are included in the veterinary warnings
What happens at the vet?
The vet will examine your cat and usually take blood and urine samples as a baseline, so later results can be compared. If the grapes were eaten recently, the vet may give an injection that makes your cat vomit, followed by a product that binds what is left in the gut.
IV fluids are commonly used to keep urine flowing and help protect the kidneys, with repeated blood tests. PetMD's veterinary guide notes that many cats whose kidney values stay normal can go home after 24 to 36 hours; cats with kidney injury may need a longer stay and ongoing care.
Common questions
Are grapes good for cats?
No. Most of what vets know about grape and raisin poisoning comes from dogs, where eating grapes, raisins or Zante currants has been linked to sudden kidney failure.
Are grapes bad for cats?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: vomiting or diarrhea, often in the first 12 to 24 hours; lethargy, weakness or hiding; eating less than usual, or refusing food.
Are cats allowed to have grapes?
No, keep them away from your cat. If your cat eats some anyway: work out what was eaten: grapes or raisins, roughly how many, and when. Include hidden sources such as raisin bread, cookies or trail mix, and keep the packaging.
My cat licked a grape but did not eat it. Is that a problem?
A lick of an intact grape is very unlikely to deliver a meaningful amount. If any of the grape was chewed or swallowed, or you are not sure, call your vet or a poison control service and let them decide.
Are raisins worse than grapes for cats?
Raisins are dried grapes, so whatever is in the fruit is more concentrated in each raisin. Treat a raisin exactly like a grape and get advice if your cat eats one.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis in Dogs.
- PetMD. Can Cats Eat Grapes? (Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP)
- 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.