Can Cats Eat Chocolate?

As your kitty reaches up to grab a bit of your chocolate cake, you may be wondering if it's safe for them. Cat cats eat chocolate?

No! You should never offer your kitty chocolate, as it contains multiple toxic substances for cats (and dogs) — and there is no safe limit! 

Chocolate toxicity can range in severity from stomach upset to seizures and even death. Throughout this article, we'll delve into how to know if your pet has eaten a toxic dose of chocolate, the symptoms you should watch for, and what to do if your kitty gets into your candy stash. 

But first, let's talk about how much chocolate is too much for kitties.

The two ingredients in chocolate that pose risks to our furbabies are theobromine, an alkaloid found in cacao beans, and caffeine. Cats have trouble breaking down theobromine, which can lead to a toxic build-up and even death if enough of it is consumed.

Caffeine's stimulatory effects are dangerous to kitties and can cause symptoms like irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and, in some cases, death.

The severity of chocolate poisoning depends on the amount and type of chocolate consumed, as well as the cat's weight, and other health factors.

White chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, and cocoa powder all have varying amounts of theobromine and caffeine. Dark chocolate (especially brands with a high percentage of cocoa), baking chocolate, cocoa nibs, and cocoa powder are the highest in these toxic compounds.

The Merck Veterinary Manual website has a chocolate toxicity calculator to give you a better idea of the severity of the exposure. To use the calculator, you'll need to input the type of chocolate (white, dark, etc), how much was consumed, and your cat's age and weight (this calculator can also be set up for canines!) It calculates the total theobromine and caffeine content of the specified type of chocolate and estimates the seriousness of the toxicity based on your pet's info.

That being said, there is NO safe amount of chocolate for cats, and we urge you to talk to a vet if you suspect your pet has ingested it.

If your cat presents with the symptoms below and there is evidence of chocolate exposure (empty wrappers, etc.), there is a chance they are experiencing chocolate poisoning. And while it is worth mentioning that symptoms of chocolate poisoning mimic other conditions and exposure to other toxins, you should always seek care immediately if your pet experiences the following symptoms.

• Increased thirst and urination
• Panting / rapid breathing
• Change in activity level
• Elevated temperature
• Elevated heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Restlessness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Collapse
• Tremors
• Death

So, what should you do if your kitty gets into your chocolate stash (or cocoa powder or other cacao-derived products)?

The first thing you should do is contact your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline for further instruction and be ready to head to the emergency vet if you are unable to get in touch with a vet. While you are calling for help, check their mouth and fish out any chocolate they have yet to swallow. Secondly, look around to find the packaging to get an idea of the type of chocolate-containing product your cat may have consumed — this is important info! Never induce vomiting if you aren't instructed to do so by a professional since this can often make matters worse.

And remember, when in doubt, it's best to seek vet care (and the sooner, the better because time is of the essence in poisoning scenarios!)

Although chocolate is a favorite sweet treat of humans across the globe, you might be surprised to learn that chances are your feline probably doesn't care for it.

Cats are missing one of the genes responsible for tasting sweetness, so according to scientists, chocolate doesn't taste the same to them as it does to us. An article in Scientific American states, "All felines (some 36 species) and several other species of strictly meat-eating mammals all lack a sweet receptor. Cats may also lack other components of the ability to enjoy (and digest) sugars, such as glucokinase in their liver."

With that said, there is anecdotal evidence that some cats still have a sweet tooth, although it is uncommon, and some experts think that cats may be able to slightly taste foods that are very high in sugar, like cotton candy.

There are many different human foods cats can enjoy in moderation. Small amounts of meats, fish, and organs are tasty and protein-rich options for your furry friend. That being said, kitties need their cat food! 

Commercial cat food is complete and balanced with all the nutrients they need to thrive, and unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your home cooking meets the nutritional profile for their life stage. Therefore, it's important that you limit treats and table scraps to no more than 10% of their calorie intake.

No chocolate product is safe for cats. However, cocoa nibs, cocoa powder, bitter dark chocolate, and baking chocolate are the highest in toxic compounds caffeine and theobromine. White chocolate is the lowest in these compounds. However, it still aren't safe for our furbabies. 

If your cat only eats a small amount of white or milk chocolate, there is a chance nothing will happen, but there is also a chance they could have a severe reaction. For this reason, it's best to keep the candy out of paws' reach and contact a vet if you suspect they've gotten into something.

Chocolate isn't safe for our furbabies, so we, as pet parents, must take precautions to prevent our pets from getting into it. Luckily, cats don't typically have a sweet tooth due to a mutation in one of the genes responsible for sweetness receptors. Still, curiosity can get the best of cats. If your cat happens to ingest chocolate, do not wait for symptoms like vomiting, behavioral changes, and seizure to arise— get them to a vet ASAP.