It's quite widely known that grapes aren't safe for dogs to eat. While it's not known exactly why grapes are poisonous to dogs (though the tartaric acid is the current suspicion), grape poisoning can cause kidney failure in our canine companions. So, do grapes pose the same health risks to felines?

Unfortunately, they do. Both cats and dogs can experience toxicity from consuming grapes, with symptoms that range from digestive upset to kidney failure. 

Read on to learn more about grape toxicity and why grapes probably wouldn't be your cat's first choice for a snack— the answer might surprise you!

There is no set number of how many grapes a cat can eat before it crosses into toxic territory, and experts aren't sure which compound in grapes is responsible for their toxicity, though tartaric acid is a top suspect. Toxicity has been documented in cases where pets have eaten seedless and seeded grapes, so it would seem that the toxin lies within the flesh and not the seeds (as with apples and cherries.)

Poisoning from grapes is uncommon in cats, but it can happen. According to an article by Dr. Sandra Mitchell, DVM, "Approximately 15% of dogs and cats that eat grapes or raisins will show signs of toxicity—they become restless, have a reduced appetite, and begin to vomit."

Typically, larger amounts of grapes are associated with more severe symptoms, but there have been cases where pets react to only a small amount of grapes. For this reason, it is important to keep potential toxins like grapes, and raisins, out of paw's reach and seek vet attention ASAP if you suspect they may have gotten into something they shouldn't.

Your mischievous kitty has just helped themselves to a grape snack from your kitchen counter — what should you do?

In dogs, the symptoms of grape poisoning can include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Reduced appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Foul breath
• Excessive thirst
• Lack of urine production
• Tremors

So, what should you do if you see evidence that your cat has gotten into a bag of grapes? Due to the fact that so little is known about grape poisoning in cats, the safest approach is to treat the situation as an emergency.

If you notice any of the symptoms of grape toxicity, contact your veterinarian, the Pet Poison Helpline, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately for advice on what to do next.

Do not attempt to induce vomiting unless a vet advises you to do so. Sometimes, inducing vomiting can actually make matters worse, so it's best to leave this to the professionals.

Chances are your vet will want you to bring your kitty in for an exam. They will want to know an estimated timeframe of when Fluffy ate the grapes so they know the best way to treat them. If only a short time has passed, vets may induce vomiting and give them activated charcoal to prevent their digestive tract from absorbing any more toxins. They may also start an intravenous fluid drip.

Once the kitty is stable, the vet may choose to monitor them overnight or send them home with instructions for aftercare.

If you're wondering if your cat would enjoy a grape or two at snack time, the answer is probably not.

Cats, unlike dogs and other mammals, typically do not care for sweets—neither confections nor fruits—and scientists believe they have discovered why. Two genes are responsible for humans' ability to taste sugary substances (Tas1r2 and Tas1r3); these genes work together to form a coupled protein that sends signals from our tongue to our noggin that our brain interprets as flavor. Cats only have one of these genes (the Tas1r3 receptor), which means they can't taste sweetness like we can (although some scientists think they may detect a slight flavor from extremely sugary substances.) 

There are a few theories as to why cats do not have the genes for a "sweet tooth." One reason could be that they do not have the proper enzymes to digest simple sugars from fruit. Also, a cat's natural diet consists almost entirely of meat (and whatever their prey has recently eaten), so there isn't much need for cats to have sugar receptors.

OK, so grapes are off the menu for your feline friend, but what about raisins? Unfortunately, the answer is, once again, no. Raisins are dried grapes and can be even more toxic.

With this in mind, it's important to be aware of the many different products that may contain raisins. Raisin bread, cookies, and some snack bars can contain raisins or raisin paste, so be very careful if your kitty looks like they might like to share your snack.

It would certainly be super convenient if we could give grapes to our cats, but the risks involved mean it's just not safe. There are some fruits that are safe for cats to eat in small amounts, like apples, blueberries and strawberries. But others, like citrus fruits, can also cause poisoning in our furry friends. Check with your veterinarian before introducing any new food to your cat's diet.

However, it's also worth remembering that fruit is not a necessary part of your cat's diet. Because they're obligate carnivores, cats don't require fruit to ensure that all their nutritional needs are satisfied. This also means that many kitties will show little to no interest in fruit of any kind, grapes included, which can be very handy when it comes to keeping your fur-baby safe and healthy.

Unfortunately, sharing your grapes with your feline friend is not a risk work taking. Both seedless and seeded grapes are known to contain toxic compounds to our pets.

According to the Pet Poison Helpline, pet parents should avoid giving Fluffy any food products that contain grapes including grape juice, fruit snacks, and trail mix that includes raisins.

It's also worth pointing out that there's no nutritional need for cats to eat grapes in the first place. Cats are obligate carnivores, and feeding a high-quality cat food will ensure that all their nutritional needs are met. Studies have also shown that cats can't taste sweetness in the same way we humans can — so there's absolutely no reason to take the risk of feeding your cat grapes.

If you think your kitty may have gotten into grapes, raisins, or other potentially toxic food, seek help from a vet or reach out to the Pet Poison Helpline, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center ASAP.