Can cats eat chocolate? No. Chocolate is toxic for cats if they consume too much.
Chocolate contains the ingredients theobromine and caffeine. Both of these are poisonous for cats.
As cats are quite small animals, it does not take much for them to overdose on either of these ingredients.
Some types of chocolate are worse for your cat than others, so let’s take a closer look at the question ‘can cats eat chocolate’.
Can Cats Have Chocolate?
We love our pets, so it only makes sense that we would want to let them in on a sweet treat like chocolate. But, just because we can eat chocolate doesn’t mean our cats can.
After all, felines have a very different digestive system and nutritional needs, which can sometimes make figuring out what they can eat somewhat confusing.
Cats are obligate carnivores. So, they get all of the nutrients they need from meat. They don’t need to eat chocolate to get any nutrients or vitamins.
Chocolate contains two ingredients that are toxic to cats: theobromine and caffeine. But, it also contains sugar, cream, and vanilla, which are also not great for cats!
The exact nutritional and ingredient contents of chocolate vary depending on what type of chocolate it is. The lighter the chocolate, the more added ingredients it has in it. The darker the chocolate, the denser it is.
Chocolate Nutrition
To understand the answer to, “Can cats eat chocolate?” We must first take a close look at what chocolate is and what it contains.
Chocolate is a sweet prepared by roasting and grounding cacao seeds.
There are actually a lot of steps that go into making chocolate, including fermenting, drying, and roasting the seeds. However, for our purposes, how chocolate is made is not as important as what chocolate has in it.
Dark chocolate is approximately 64% fat, 31% carbs, and 5% proteins, though of course the brand might cause this to shift slightly.
On the other hand, milk chocolate is 50% fat, 44% carbs, and 6% protein. The added milk changes the nutritional value quite a bit.
Cats and Chocolate
Every type of chocolate contains caffeine and a chemical called theobromine, but in different levels.
While these chemicals can have beneficial effects for humans, the same cannot be said for our cats.
This chemical is toxic to cats at high levels. Due to their small size, it does not take much to cause them to overdose.
Furthermore, cats can also be harmed by overconsuming caffeine, which is also found in chocolate.
Once again, because cats are much smaller than humans, it does not take very much for them to overdose on these chemicals.
So can cats eat chocolate? No, chocolate is poisonous to cats.
Why do Cats Like Chocolate
So if chocolate is so bad for cats, why do some of them try to eat it? Why don’t they turn up their noses if someone offers them chocolate?
Some cats might try to eat chocolate because it is sweet. Chocolate contains lots of sugar, and often milk. So, the flavors of these ingredients may appeal to your cat.
Plus, cats are naturally curious. So, if they see you eating something, they will want to find out what it is!
This doesn’t mean you should let them eat chocolate.
Is Chocolate Safe For Cats?
As you can see, cats should not consume chocolate mostly because of the two chemicals it contains: theobromine and caffeine.
Because cats are much smaller than us, even the small amounts of these chemicals found in chocolate can be harmful. Is chocolate toxic to cats?
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If cats eat too much chocolate, especially dark chocolate, they can experience chocolate poisoning. This can lead to nasty symptoms, and can even kill your cat.
So it is best not to risk giving your cat this treat.
Can Chocolate Kill Cats?
Is chocolate poisonous to cats? Yes, chocolate is poisonous for cats and can kill your cat.
But, before this, one of the most common symptoms your feline may experience is vomiting.
Let’s take a look at some other symptoms your cat may show if they have eaten chocolate.
Chocolate Poisoning Symptoms
Other symptoms your cat might experience include hyperactivity, diarrhea, muscle tremors, dehydration, rapid breathing, muscle rigidity, and hyperthermia.
In extreme cases, extremely low blood pressure, seizures, and even cardiac failure can occur.
Early symptoms can be noticed in as little as a couple of hours, with your cat’s condition usually worsening from there.
If you have noticed these symptoms, or know your cat has eaten chocolate, click here to jump to the section telling you how to act next.
Is Chocolate Bad For Cats?
So, is chocolate bad for cats? We’ve seen that the ingredients theobromine and caffeine are toxic to cats. But there are other ways that chocolate is also bad for our cats.
Most chocolate contains milk. And many people think that milk is good for cats. But, many adult cats are actually lactose intolerant.
This doesn’t mean they won’t consume dairy products. Most cats love the taste of milk! But it can give them an upset stomach.
Plus, chocolate has high levels of sugar, which can contribute to problems like tooth decay and obesity.
Is Chocolate Good For Cats?
Can cats have chocolate safely? We’ve looked at all the reasons chocolate is bad for cats. But is there anything about chocolate that is good for cats?
For humans, dark chocolate can be a good source of iron, copper, and manganese because of its cocoa density.
However, most chocolates are sweetened and contain so many added ingredients that their nutritional value is almost non-existent.
Cats need to consume protein, which can be found in small amounts in chocolate. But, the negatives of chocolate massively outweigh the small benefit of protein.
Cats will get all of the protein they need from their regular food, and from meat. If your cat needs more protein, do not turn to chocolate, as it will just harm your cat.
Are Cats Allergic to Chocolate?
Some cats may be allergic to some of the ingredients in chocolate. For instance, if your cat is lactose intolerant, he could get an upset stomach from the cream in chocolate.
Every cat is different, so some may be allergic to chocolate.
But all cats will be affected by theobromine and caffeine – two toxic ingredients found in chocolate. This isn’t an allergy, but an ingredient that will seriously harm your cat.
Can Cats Eat White Chocolate?
White chocolate contains the lowest levels of theobromine out of any type of chocolate, but it does still contain this dangerous ingredient.
This means your cat would have to eat a lot more white chocolate to experience a fatal dosage.
However, white chocolate still contains plenty of sugar and cream, as well as our dangerous ingredients.
So, you shouldn’t risk letting your cat eat this type of chocolate. Even if it isn’t overly harmful, it can result in an upset stomach.
Can Cats Eat Chocolate Ice Cream?
Can cats have chocolate ice cream? You might think that chocolate ice cream is a nice treat to cool down your cat in the summer.
But, you shouldn’t give your cat chocolate ice cream.
Chocolate ice cream only contains a very small amount of real chocolate. So it won’t be as dangerous for your cat as actual chocolate.
But, as well as small amounts of theobromine and caffeine, it also contains lots of sugar and milk. And we have seen that cats can be intolerant of these ingredients.
Can Cats Eat Milk Chocolate?
Milk chocolate is 50% fat, 44% carbs, and 6% protein. The added milk changes the nutritional value quite a bit from darker chocolates.
Milk chocolate will contain higher levels of theobromine than white chocolate. So, it is more dangerous for your cat.
Don’t let your cat eat any milk chocolate, as it could be detrimental to her health. Especially if your cat is small.
Can Cats Eat Dark Chocolate?
Dark chocolate is approximately 64% fat, 31% carbs, and 5% proteins, though of course the brand might cause this to shift slightly.
Dark chocolate is the most dangerous type of chocolate that your cat can eat, because it has the highest levels of theobromine and caffeine.
It would take a much smaller amount of dark chocolate to really harm your cat.
If your cat has eaten any dark chocolate, make sure to call your vet straight away.
My Cat Ate Chocolate, What Should I Do?
If your cat ate chocolate, one of the earliest and most common symptoms they may experience is vomiting. This is their body’s way of trying to expel the chocolate.
When their body recognizes that they have eaten something toxic, it tries to get the substance out of the digestive system by vomiting.
Because this vomiting is actually quite helpful in getting the chocolate out of their system, it should not be stopped in most cases.
But, this protective mechanism is not perfect. By the time your cat’s body realizes that the chocolate is toxic, it is likely that some will already have begun digesting.
Furthermore, vomiting is unlikely to remove all the chocolate from your cat’s system. So, you should always seek veterinary attention for your cat’s safety.
When to Call the Vet
If you notice that your cat ate chocolate, you should first take careful note of how much chocolate your cat has eaten and what kind it is. Then, you should call your vet straight away.
They might ask you to bring in your cat immediately. Or they might instead give you a number of symptoms to watch out for, depending on the age and condition of your cat as well as the amount and type of chocolate they ate.
It is extremely important for your cat to see a vet as soon as symptoms begin to present themselves.
Cats who are seen quickly by vets usually have a very good chance of overcoming the toxicity.
But, this is not a condition that goes away on its own. Usually, your feline will only worsen as time goes on. So, we highly recommend seeing a vet as soon as possible.
While your cat will be able to filter out some of the toxins, their ability to do this usually plummets very quickly as the toxin begins to build up. This is an emergency situation.
Alternatives to Chocolate for Cats
It can be disappointing that you can’t share some types of food with your cat, especially when the holidays come up! But, there are plenty of other cat-safe treats your cat will enjoy without hurting themselves.
Take a look at some of our guides below to find more suitable human foods for cats.
Can Cats Eat Chocolate Summary
So, can cats eat chocolate? No! You should never feed any type of chocolate to your cat. Make sure to hide chocolatey treats away from cats, especially when the holidays come around.
Chocolate poisoning acts quickly, and can cause death in cats. So it’s really important to avoid this treat. If your cat ate chocolate when you weren’t looking, call the vet straight away.
Has your cat ever eaten chocolate? You can let us know about your experiences with cats and chocolate in the comments below.
And if you want more cat reading, how about checking out: do cats dream?
References and Resources
- Gugler, Kim. ‘Hidden Dangers in the Kitchen: Common Foods Toxic to Dogs and Cats’, Vet Learn (2013)
- Hatcher, Robt. ‘The Elimination of Theobromine and Caffeine from the Circulation’, The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (1934)
- McColl. ‘A Comparison of the Relative Toxic, Emetic and Convulsive Actions of a Series of Methylated Xanthine Derivatives’, (1956)
- Martinez-Pinilla, Eva. ‘The relevance of theobromine for the beneficial effects of cocoa consumption’, Frontiers in Pharmacology (2015)
- ’Candies, Chocolate, Dark’, SELF Nutrition Data.
- Craig, J. M. ‘Food Intolerances in Dogs and Cats’, JSAP (2018)
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