Can cats have chocolate? How dangerous the sweet treat is for your pet

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY
Updated ·3 min read

Everyone loves a little treat, especially pets.

Halloween, in particular, give way to even more choices for satisfying your sweet tooth. For pet owners, the spookiest part of the season may not be the goblins or ghouls; but instead the potential that your pet could eat something that makes them sick.

While we have a wide array of options for snacking, our furry friends have to be more selective.

Chocolate is off-limits for dogs, but what about for cats? Here's how the candy can affect their health.

Can cats eat chocolate?

Cats should never eat chocolate. It is toxic to cats and dogs, PetMD reports. The two compounds found in chocolate − theobromine and caffeine − make it deadly to cats, affecting their gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

Humans can easily process theobromine, so it is not a threat to us. Cats and other pets, however, cannot quickly metabolize the alkaloid, The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals reports. It takes between two and three hours for the human liver to absorb theobromine, while it takes a dog's liver about 18 hours, according to a 2005 study.

The small amounts of caffeine in chocolate are another risk, Hill's Pet Nutrition reports. Consuming the stimulant may lead to vomiting, diarrhea and increased heart rate in cats, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

Chocolate candies also contain xylitol − a sweetener toxic to cats. Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include vomiting, lethargy and seizures, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

How much chocolate is toxic for cats?

The amount of chocolate considered toxic to cats depends ontheir weight, as well as the kind of chocolate they consumed.

For example, one square of unsweetened baking chocolate is equally as toxic as 23 chocolate kissesfor a 10-pound cat, according to Petful.

What happens if a cat eats chocolate?

If your cat eats chocolate, bring them to the veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment.

Chocolate poisoning can appear within a few hours, while more severe symptoms may occur 12 hours after consumption, according to PetMD.

Chocolate poisoning symptoms include:

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Increased urination and drinking

  • Increased heart rate

  • Restlessness, hyperactivity

  • Tremors

  • Seizures

  • Abnormal heart rhythm

  • Difficulty walking

While a cat can die from eating chocolate, the severity of the reaction depends on how much they ate and when they were treated, Purina reports.

It is best to keep chocolate away from pets, PetMD recommends. Especially during the holidays, keep candies out of reach because cats can rip and shred the wrappings and ribbons that cover chocolate.

Plants and flowers safe for cats: A full list.

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "How often should you take your cat to the vet?" to "Why is my cat throwing up?" to "When do cats stop growing?" − we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can cats eat chocolate? Unpacking toxic effects on your feline friend

Latest Stories