What is Cat Wine? Everything You Need to Know

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to involve your feline friend in everything you do? Many pet parents enjoy the occasional glass of red or white but can't enjoy a tipple with their tiny tigers. Whether you're drinking a "cat-bernet" or a "mus-cat-o," wine is forbidden for felines. 

That said, if you want to include Felix in the festivities, you're in luck — yes, "wine" for cats is a thing. But what exactly is cat wine? And is cat wine bad for cats? Let's dive in!

Wine is poisonous to our pets. Wine for humans contains alcohol, which causes depression of the central nervous system in cats. This condition can lead to breathing difficulties, vomiting, sedation, and even death. 

Wine is double trouble for felines (and canines) as it also contains grapes, which can cause acute kidney failure in cats. Besides, cats are obligate carnivores and shouldn't be eating fruit anyway!

Cat wine may have the word "wine" in its name, but really, it's just a bit of fun marketing. Cat wine is alcohol-free, grape-free, and is usually designed to be healthy for cats. 

Can cats get drunk on cat wine? Cat wines contain catnip to simulate the effects of alcohol so that Tigger can get a little tipsy, too. All the best cat wine brands take advantage of puns like "pinot meow" and "purrgundy." 

While humans can drink cat wine, we wouldn't recommend it. Cat wine is designed to taste good to cats, not humans. (Catnip and fish oil isn't a particularly palatable combo for people.)

Let's take a look at a couple of "purrpular" cat wine brands to see how they stack up.

Pet Winery Cat Wine

Florida-based Pet Winery is one of the largest pet beverage companies, creating everything from beer to champagne and wine. Pet Winery states that all its products are tested in the ISO7 clean room and designed to be healthy and safe for pets. 

Apollo Peak Cat Wine

Apollo Peak Cat Wine burst onto the scene after a successful appearance on Shark Tank and has expanded its drinks range to include cocktails like meowmosas, meowgaritas, and meowtinis. 

Apollo Peak offers a wide range of cat wines made with organic catnip and a preservative called potassium sorbate, which is considered safe for cats. They also contain valerian root, which has a similar effect on cats to catnip.

Cat wine may be a bit of fun for your feline friend, but is it safe for cats? Overall, brands take great care to ensure cat wine is entirely safe for cats.

Cat wines are often made from organic ingredients and are usually just made from filtered water, catnip extract, and natural colorings. Pet Winery cat wine contains sodium benzoate, a preservative that's toxic to cats in high doses. However, only small amounts of sodium benzoate are used in cat wine, so it won't be toxic to your fur-baby. 

If you're unsure whether a cat wine will be toxic to your cat or trigger an allergic reaction, contact a veterinary professional to confirm the product is safe.

Does your kitten like to enjoy a glass of meowlot now and again? Share pics of your cat drinking cat wine with us on IG @wag!