Cats are very curious animals and they love to explore the world around them. They also like to eat a lot of different things, and demand treats from their humans, including chocolate!
But can cats eat chocolate without getting sick? The last thing any of us want to do is make our pets unwell, but we want them to enjoy a treat. We search and search, but can’t seem to find a definitive answer.
Well, no more! Today we are here with the answers you need. Keep reading to find out if cats can eat chocolate or not!
Can Cats Eat Chocolate?
While it’s commonly known that dogs shouldn’t eat chocolate, cats also shouldn’t be given any dairy or dairy products, such as chocolate.
Even small amounts of chocolate can cause your cat to vomit or have seizures. Saying this, the severity of the symptoms can depend on the type of chocolate.
For example, dark chocolate leads to much more severe symptoms than white chocolate.
How Much Chocolate Is Too Much For Your Cat?
You should not give your cat any chocolate, and try to keep it away from any dairy products.
Also, products like dry cacao powder and baking chocolate of any kind can be harmful to cats when digested.
How much harm the chocolate causes depends on the type of chocolate and how much the cat has eaten of it.
Any amount of chocolate can cause illness so avoid letting your cat anywhere near chocolate.
Why Is Chocolate Toxic To Cats?
As humans, we all love our sugar fix and we often assume that our furry friends would also like the same treat but cats and dogs cannot digest the ingredients that you find in chocolate.
Two particular ingredients that are toxic for cats are theobromine and caffeine.
A cat is very sensitive to these ingredients. Theobromine is absorbed very slowly by the cat and causes poisoning.
Just like with us humans, caffeine is a stimulant for cats but they react much more sensitive to it. This is similar to us having a severe caffeine allergy which can cause palpitations and even death.
Chocolate Toxicity In Cats
A cat doesn’t need to eat a large amount of chocolate to be badly affected by it.
Different types of chocolate can have varying severe effects because each type of chocolate has a varying amount of theobromine.
For example, baking chocolate and dark chocolate can cause much more harm to a cat than milk chocolate.
Some sources say that white chocolate is safe for cats as it doesn’t contain any theobromine and caffeine.
However, most cats are intolerant to lactose, so if the white chocolate is made with milk, it’s best to also avoid white chocolate.
Symptoms Of Chocolate Poisoning In Cats
You may not notice immediately that your cat had chocolate. The majority of symptoms with chocolate poisoning in cats occur between 6 and 12 hours after ingestion.
The main symptoms of chocolate poisoning in cats are:
Vomiting
Restlessness
High body temperature
Increased thirst
Fast breathing
Fast heart rate
More urination
Diarrhea
These symptoms can last days, but you must speak to your vet after you notice the first symptoms.
He will be able to advise and also take any tests to make sure there are no other causes of your cat’s behavior.
Treatment Of Chocolate Poisoning In A Cat
If you noticed your cat had a small piece of chocolate, don’t panic. As your feline friend is very in tune with your feelings, you don’t want to frighten them.
Keep your cat in a calm and cool place and watch it. Your cat will likely try to vomit to remove the chocolate from its system.
If it doesn’t, ring your vet to check what you can do.
The vet may ask you to induce vomiting so the chocolate comes up again. However, if you suspect your cat did eat chocolate, you should take it to the vet as soon as possible.
The vet will then run some tests to check for fluids and rehydration. Your cat may need more tests depending on the type of chocolate it had, its weight, and age.
How Do You Stop Your Cat From Eating Chocolate?
Chocolate poisoning in cats is preventable. There are a few things you can do to ensure your kitty is safe.
Cats are naturally curious creatures. They love snooping around the kitchen and even poking their head into containers that are tightly sealed.
Consider some of the things that contain chocolate. From the obvious chocolate bar to drinking chocolate, candies, and cookies.
These sweet treats may be around the house more often at certain times of the year, like Christmas or Halloween.
So when you have these treats around, you must store them somewhere where cats can’t reach easily.
When you’re throwing a party or entertaining, it might even be tempting for guests to give your cat a treat. Keep an eye out for this, and feel free to intervene.
Now that you know why cats can’t eat chocolate, you have the right arguments.
If you want to keep your feline friend from snooping around places where they shouldn’t be, you can provide plenty of toys.
Food toys are particularly good because it combines a foodie treat with the cat’s hunting instinct.
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, chocolate may be a wonderful treat for us humans, but it can lead to serious illness in cats.
Cats aren’t naturally interested in chocolate as it doesn’t smell as tasty as the delicious meaty cat food. They may however give it a lick or try a piece to see what it’s like.
If you notice that your cat has had some of the baking chocolate while you were busy in the kitchen, or you spot them licking a chocolate bar, it’s a good idea to ring your vet.
He will be able to offer advice on what to do next.
However, there are simple ways to avoid any chocolate poisoning in your cat. Just store any products that contain chocolate away from nosy cat paws, and provide plenty of treats to keep your cat busy.
Food cat toys are very popular with your furry friend, and it doesn’t just give them a treat but keeps them busy hunting for them, too.
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
