Cats are known for their curious nature. As cat owners, we often find them sniffing around our food. So much so that they can explore our kitchens and scavenge for any food they can access. While we can give them a select few of our foods, some can be dangerous, even lethal.
No matter how much we want to share our food, some just aren’t meant for cats. One of these is chocolate.
Can Cats Eat Chocolate
No, cats cannot eat chocolate, even if it’s just a small piece. Chocolate contains substances that are toxic to cats, primarily theobromine and caffeine. Both of these compounds are stimulants that affect cats' central nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Unlike humans, cats cannot metabolize theobromine efficiently, making them more vulnerable to its toxicity. Even a small amount of chocolate can cause severe health issues in cats, which tells us that we need to keep chocolate out of our cats’ mouths.
Types of Chocolate Unsafe for Cats
Not all chocolates have the same level of toxicity. The different types of chocolates contain different amounts of these harmful chemicals, along with some other additives that could still be dangerous for your cat. Some types of chocolate contain higher levels of theobromine and caffeine than others, causing more issues when cats eat chocolates.
Here are the common types of chocolates unsafe for cats:
Baking Chocolate
Baker’s or baking chocolate contains the most caffeine and theobromine of all the types of chocolate available. This makes it the most dangerous type of chocolate for your cat. Even a tiny amount of this chocolate can be super lethal and detrimental to your cat’s health. Baking chocolate contains about 364 mg of theobromine in just one ounce.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate contains the second-highest concentration of theobromine, making it a very dangerous runner-up to baking chocolate. Even a small amount can be lethal for cats. One ounce of dark chocolate for dogs can contain around 200-250 mg of theobromine.
Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate is a lighter version of chocolate, but it is still dangerous to cats. It contains 57 mg of theobromine per ounce and can still poison cats if ingested in larger quantities. We advise you to avoid giving milk chocolate to your cats. Along with its theobromine content, its high sugar content can cause additional problems.
White Chocolate
Due to its unique ingredients relative to the other types of chocolate, white chocolate has zero caffeine and close to zero theobromine. However, since it still contains theobromine and high amounts of sugar, white chocolate is still dangerous for cats and can lead to upset stomachs.
What Happens When Cats Eat Chocolate
When a cat consumes chocolate, the toxic compounds theobromine and caffeine start affecting their body almost immediately. These substances can have severe effects on your cat’s guts, muscles, nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract.
The intensity of these symptoms ultimately depends on the amount and type of chocolate ingested. If your cat experiences any of these symptoms, we need to address the emergency immediately. In the meantime, here are the common symptoms cats face when they eat chocolate:
Vomiting and Diarrhea
Vomiting and diarrhea are often the first signs of chocolate poisoning in cats. These symptoms are their bodies’ reactions to the harmful effects of chocolate. When chocolate enters their systems, they experience nausea, and their bodies immediately force out the harmful substance.
While vomiting is a normal reaction to chocolate, persistent vomiting can become a huge sign of a bigger issue.
Another issue caused by chocolate poisoning is diarrhea. This is when the chemicals in chocolates can cause disturbances in your cat’s gastrointestinal tract, which increases bowel movement in the form of wet and soft feces. This poses another problem. As the water in the body is expelled, your cat will experience dehydration.
Increased Heart Rate
Caffeine and theobromine both cause negative effects on your cat’s heart, increasing blood pressure and heart rate. This can be dangerous when cats eat chocolate, especially for those of a smaller size and with chronic conditions.
One possible complication is arrhythmias, which involve irregular heartbeats that can cause serious issues. These irregular heartbeats stem from the heart’s chambers beating out of sync, which hinders blood from flowing properly to the vital organs.
Restlessness and Hyperactivity
Chocolate contains caffeine, a compound that makes cats active and restless. When cats eat chocolate, this behavior directly disrupts their normal routine and can hinder them from sleeping at night. The added energy will also make them want to roam around more and put themselves in danger, especially if they do decide to go outdoors.
Excessive meowing, pacing, and moving can be signs of restlessness in cats after eating chocolate. If this goes on for a longer time, it is best to consult a vet.
Tremors and Seizures
In severe cases of chocolate poisoning, a cat may experience muscle tremors or seizures. These symptoms indicate a high level of toxicity and require immediate veterinary intervention. Seizures usually present themselves as muscle tremors, shaking, and muscle spasms. These can occur at irregular intervals or at a continuous pace.
Either way, when cats eat chocolate, the chance of seizures increases due to the toxicity of the treat. This also comes with an additional threat to your cat’s nervous system, as continuous seizures can permanently damage your cat’s brain and lead to its death.
Increased Thirst and Urination
Due to the constant vomiting and diarrhea cats face when cats eat chocolate, lots of water is expelled from these symptoms. This presents another problem as a result. The increased need for water is the cat’s body’s way of compensating for the water loss. However, excessive drinking can strain the kidneys.
When cats drink too much after eating chocolate, their body’s natural response is to urinate. Excessive urination can help in expelling the toxic chemicals, but can also lead to dehydration.
Abdominal Discomfort
Signs of abdominal pain or discomfort can occur when cats eat chocolate. This is due to the irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. Your cat may vocalize more than usual to indicate its pain and discomfort. Along with this, its body language may lean toward discomfort, such as hunching, curling, and a reluctance to move.
Respiratory Issues
Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing can occur due to the effects of chocolate's theobromine and caffeine. Respiratory issues are a serious sign of chocolate poisoning and can indicate severe stress for your cat.
When your cat eats chocolate, its heart rate may be increased along with its blood pressure, which leads to added stress on its cardiovascular system as the body struggles to deliver oxygen to the organs. This difficulty in breathing can lead to several more complications that affect your cat’s routine.
What To Do When Your Cat Eats Chocolate
If your cat eats chocolate, it is important to act quickly and take the correct steps to help it get better. Cats suffer a lot from chocolate poisoning when they eat chocolate. It is our job to take care of our cats when they do so. Here are the steps you should take:
Remove the Chocolate
When you notice that your cat has eaten chocolate, immediately remove the remaining pieces and keep them away from your cat. Place your cat in a different location so that it does not reach the remaining crumbs left on the scene.
Identify the Chocolate
Along with cleaning the mess, try to determine what chocolate your cat has eaten and how much it has consumed. This information will be important when talking with your veterinarian about what to do. If possible, try to bring the chocolate wrapper or packaging to show to your vet.
Call Your Veterinarian
Contact us immediately for expert treatment when your cat eats chocolate. Our vets provide expert care and advice in order to help make your cat feel better at the clinic and at home. We will give you aftercare instructions that should help your cat recover from the harmful effects of the toxic substances in its body.
Monitor Symptoms
The last step is to monitor the symptoms at home. After we have treated your cat at the clinic, there is still a chance for issues to arise. This is where you come in. Keeping a close eye on your cat allows you to stop any changes and symptoms present, if any remain. In addition to this, follow the instructions we have presented on how to help your cat recover.
Conclusion
Chocolate can be highly toxic to cats due to the presence of theobromine and caffeine. These two compounds can cause severe health issues that affect the digestive, nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. As their caretakers, we must avoid giving chocolate and other harmful foods to our cats.
Understanding the risks and symptoms of chocolate poisoning can help you act quickly and effectively, ensuring the best possible outcome for your feline friend. Always prioritize your cat's safety and well-being by effectively knowing the food they can and cannot eat. Our cats’ safety falls upon our care.
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