A very wise man once pointed out that “life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.” Forrest Gump was speaking figuratively about the unpredictability of life. But he’s correct in a literal sense, too. A 37-piece Godiva heart has so many options—white, milk and dark candies full of coconut, strawberry and caramel fillings or no fillings at all.
It’s natural not to want to share any with the person who gifted you the behemoth box of chocolates. But you may be interested in slipping your cat a piece of chocolate. Hey, you love your pet more. We get it, and your secret is safe with us. But not all human food is safe for kitty consumption. Can cats eat chocolate? One vet says it’s important to ask questions like this one before introducing human food to your pet.
“We want to keep our cats safe and healthy,” says Dr. Gary Richter, DVM, the founder of Ultimate Pet Nutrition and author of Longevity for Cats. “Knowing what is toxic to cats allows us to keep those things away from them and allows us to take action should they come in contact with something toxic.”
Is chocolate toxic to cats? A pair of vets weighed in.
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Can cats eat chocolate?
No—cats should avoid eating chocolate. Pet parents should refrain from giving it as a treat.
“Similar to dogs, chocolate is toxic to cats—not to mention, contains sugar and fat that cats just don’t need,” says Dr. Chyrle Bonk, DVM, a veterinarian who works with ExcitedCats.
Dr. Bonk notes that the two problematic ingredients in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine.
“Both ingredients act at the cellular level, affecting calcium transfer and chemical receptors to stimulate the central nervous system, increase heart rate and dilate blood vessels to the body but constrict blood vessels to the brain,” Dr. Bonk explains. “This can lead to a rapid heart rate, restlessness, nervousness, seizures, increased respiratory rate, vomiting, diarrhea and eventually death if a high amount of chocolate is ingested or not treated.”
It sounds scary, but the bottom line is that it’s best to hoard the chocolate for yourself instead of giving it to your cat as a treat.
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How much chocolate is toxic to cats?
There’s no magic number. “It’s hard to put a specific amount because different types of chocolate will cause different reactions,” Dr. Richter explains.
For example, Dr. Richter says milk chocolate has very little actual chocolate in it.
“It is not as dangerous,” Dr. Richter says. “However, bittersweet or dark chocolate contains more and thus would be more toxic.”
But the type of chocolate isn’t the only factor—body weight matters too, according to Dr. Richter.
Your best bet?
“To be on the safe side, cats shouldn’t eat any amount of chocolate,” Dr. Bonk says.
Will a tiny bit of chocolate hurt my cat?
“Generally, no,” says Dr. Richter.
Dr. Ricther explains that numerous factors come into play—primarily the way your cat’s body handles chocolate, body weight and the type of chocolate.
Dr. Bonk agrees.
“A tiny bite of milk chocolate probably won’t matter, but a bite of baker’s chocolate may be toxic,” Dr. Bonk says.
But that doesn’t mean intentionally treating a cat to milk chocolate is a good idea. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can have numerous side effects including seizures, vomiting, increased heart rate and even death. Vets agree it’s best to avoid testing how much and what type of chocolate your cat’s body can handle.
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Signs your cat ate chocolate
Unsure if you ate the last of the chocolate bar on the counter and forgot about it or if Kitty got their claws on it?
“The first signs of chocolate poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea within a couple of hours of ingestion,” says Dr. Bonk. “These signs may progress to increased urination, restlessness and nervousness. Then, the cat may start having seizures, become stiff and overly jumpy.”
Dr. Richter adds that tremors, seizures and heart rhythm disturbances can also occur.
What to do if your cat ate chocolate
Chocolate and cats don’t mix, and excess amounts can be fatal. It can be distressing to notice that your furry friend consumed chocolate. Dr. Richter urges pet parents to call the vet or ASPCA Poison Control hotline. The latter has help standing by 24/7/365 at 888-426-4435. Consultation fees may apply.
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How to prevent your cat from eating chocolate
Since chocolate can be toxic to cats, veterinarians recommend they never consume it. But some cats are super-curious, so you may wonder how to keep them safe if chocolate is your favorite treat. Here’s some good news.
“Fortunately, cats are much less likely than dogs to eat chocolate since they actually can’t even taste sweetness,” Dr. Bonk says.
Still, you know what they say about curiosity and cats.
“To be on the safe side, always store chocolate in a safe place where cats can’t get to it,” Dr. Bonk. “Make sure to never leave any chocolate or caffeine-containing products out on the counters or table.”
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