What to Do if Your Cat Eats Chocolate
Laura Evans |
August 16, 2024
52,714 
Chocolate is definitely not a cat-safe treat, and depending on the type and amount of chocolate consumed and the weight of your cat, it could cause a serious medical emergency. Get the details about chocolate poisoning in cats, and how to proceed safely and quickly if your cat eats some.
Why Chocolate Is Bad for Cats
Chocolate contains chemicals called methylxanthines, specifically theobromine and caffeine. These chemicals are stimulants that can lead to cardiovascular and neurological stimulation in cats. It can cause rapid breathing and feelings of restlessness. It’s very similar to a person taking too much caffeine.
A small amount of chocolate ingestion might produce only a bit of vomiting or diarrhea, but large ingestions can cause seizures and even death.
How Much Chocolate Can Kill a Cat?
Depending on the weight of your cat, even a small quantity can be dangerous.
For example, an 8-pound cat that eats only ½ ounce of 86% cocoa is at risk of severe seizures, and more than ½ ounce could result in death.
The risk is even higher with baking chocolate, just ½ ounce is potentially fatal to cats. And with cocoa beans, less than ½ ounce can be deadly to cats.
How Much Chocolate Did Your Cat Eat?
Submit the chocolate ingestion details and chat with a vet now for immediate guidance!
Signs and Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning in Cats
Chocolate poisoning in cats has clear clinical signs. The most common signs include:
- Stage 1: At 20+ mg of theobromine per kg (9 mg/lb) of body weight, your cat may look agitated or be hyperactive. He may also drool excessively, vomit, or have diarrhea, which may smell like chocolate. Be on the safe side: call your vet, or a 24/7 pet helpline. They will tell you whether you should perform first aid or bring him in for treatment.
- Stage 2: At 40+ mg/kg (18 mg/lb), your cat may show cardiac signs including racing heart rate, high blood pressure, or even heart arrhythmias. Get your cat to a veterinarian.
- Stage 3: At 60+ mg/kg (27 mg/lb), your cat will start to show neurologic signs, including tremors, twitching, and even seizures. Medical care is essential.
- Stage 4: At 200 mg/kg (approximately 90 mg/lb) is when death or serious complications can happen. Your cat will need to be in the hospital.
Other signs you may see at any of the stages include:
- Increased thirst
- Panting
- Restlessness
- Excessive urination
- Rapid breathing
If your cat has any of these signs or if you have any doubt, contact a Pet Poison Helpline or go to the vet immediately. Treat this like any poison. Death can be a possibility.
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What to Do if Your Cat Eats Chocolate
Urgent treatment may be needed if your cat has eaten chocolate; It is strongly recommended to contact a 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian immediately. Take note of your cat’s weight, the type of chocolate and how much chocolate they’ve eaten, and when they ate it. Doing so will allow these veterinary professionals to determine if the cat ingested a toxic dose of chocolate and, depending on how long it’s been since ingestion and the dose ingested, may be able to offer suggestions for at-home care.
Unfortunately, many cats ingest chocolate around celebratory holidays like Christmas or Easter (In 2023 cases of chocolate poisoning increased by 337% over the Easter season). This means that your regular vet might not be open. That’s just one reason why 24/7 telehealth visits for pets are such an ideal option.
An at-home care option for chocolate poisoning might be to induce vomiting, give multiple doses of activated charcoal to decontaminate (Administer one to five grams of activated charcoal for each kilogram of weight of your cat), and sedatives to calm the cat.
No matter what, contact your vet as quickly as possible after your cat eats chocolate. The length of time since the incident and other factors that could make inducing vomiting dangerous may require an immediate visit to the vet.
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⚠️ Remember, with any poisoning, it’s always cheaper, less invasive, and has a better prognosis/outcome if you treat early. Once your cat has already developed clinical signs and is affected by the poison, it makes for a much more expensive veterinary visit!
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