Can cats Eat Chocolate?

It is not uncommon for people to wonder if cats can eat chocolate. We all know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, so why wouldn’t it be the same for your cat? Fortunately, there are a few different reasons why this may or may not be true. We will discuss these reasons in more detail below so you can understand whether or not your cat should have any type of chocolate.

Cats are not big fans of sweets as it is, so you should never give your cat chocolate as a treat. However, the bigger question is whether or not cats can eat chocolate at all and if so what kind of effects this will have on them? The answer to these questions varies depending on the quantity and type of chocolate.

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Can Cat Eats Chocolate?

The straight-up answer is no. Cats should not eat chocolate, period. It is toxic to them and can cause significant problems like

  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • increased heart rate
  • Lack of appetite
  • Increased thirst and urination
  • Restlessness
  • Tremors
  • Coma
  • Increased heart rate
  • Panting
  • Seizure

Notice that the phrase is that cats should not eat chocolates, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have it at all, but it should not. Cats can have a small amount of certain types of chocolate without causing any serious side effects.

This type of chocolate comes in the form of dark or baker’s chocolate which typically contains 60-70% cocoa whereas milk chocolate only contains up to 30%. Baker’s or dark cooking chocolates are usually found at specialty stores while most people purchase milk chocolates from their local grocery store which will more than likely be toxic for your cat.

The next question we need to address is whether you would even want your cat eating this type of chocolate since it is extremely bitter. Cats are picky animals and they can taste the bitterness in dark chocolate just as well as we can, so it’s not likely that your cat will even want to eat this type of chocolate which means you shouldn’t have a problem with it.

However, keep in mind that there is still some risk involved here since we can’t be 100% sure that your cat won’t eat this type of chocolate so we recommend keeping it out of reach and monitored at all times.

If you do choose to give your cat a small amount, try breaking off a piece for them and see what they think about it before giving them any more. If they do eat it, keep an eye on them to make sure there are no side effects.

Why Is Chocolate Toxic to Cats?

Chocolate contains a large amount of theobromine and caffeine which is toxic to cats.

The specific type of theobromine that comes from cocoa beans can affect your cat’s central nervous system and heart function if they eat enough of it. This means that most cats can die if they eat chocolate.

The type of caffeine found in most chocolates is the same as what you find in coffee, so it will act on your cat’s central nervous system and increase their heart rate just like most other caffeinated products.

One important thing to note here is that dogs metabolize theobromine a lot differently than cats do, so chocolate is much more toxic for them.

If you have any questions about can cats eat chocolate or if your cat has eaten some of this type of candy and is acting strangely in any way, make sure to contact your vet right away.

What about Chocolate Ice-Cream? Can cats eat chocolate Ice-Cream?

The answer is no, your cat cannot eat chocolate ice cream.

While some types of chocolate are okay for cats to have, the same is not true about any type of dairy product since it will cause them diarrhea or vomiting.

This means that they can’t consume milk or cream which includes all types of ice cream including ones with dark and cocoa powder added in as well as anything else containing high amounts of dairy products like frozen yogurt and custard.

However, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to give this type of threat to your dog assuming they don’t have a history or allergies with cheese either – just make sure your pet doesn’t get hold of it by accident!

What About white Chocolate? Can cats have white chocolate?

Although white chocolate is often thought of as a healthier choice, the answer to can cats have white chocolate is that it’s actually not healthy for them at all.

There aren’t any sugar or dairy products in this type of chocolate which means there aren’t any calories and therefore no energy boost coming from it – so what exactly does your cat get out of eating it? Even if they do like the taste, I seriously doubt you would want to eat something with absolutely nothing nutritional value. It doesn’t make sense for us humans either!

Since most people don’t store their food items on high shelves where pets could reach them and even less likely that we leave our candy lying around unattended, there shouldn’t be an issue here but just to be safe, we recommend that you keep the chocolate and any other high-calorie snacks out of your cat’s reach to avoid them getting their paws on it.

If they do eat white chocolate by accident, make sure to take note if there are any side effects like diarrhea or vomiting since this can signal a problem with their digestive system which could require a specialist.

If you have any questions about can cats eat chocolate or if your cat has eaten some of this type of candy and is acting strangely in any way, make sure to contact your vet right away.

Treatment of Chocolate toxicity in cats

If you suspect that your cat has eaten chocolate and they begin to show any symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or restlessness, make sure to contact a vet immediately.

Depending on the amount of chocolate consumed and how quickly treatment is started will determine if it’s too late or not. If caught early enough before signs become serious – there might still be time for them to safely recover from it at home with proper care!

Sadly though, some cases can lead to seizures since theobromine causes paralysis in cats which leads very quickly to respiratory failure as their muscles stop working properly. Sadly this usually isn’t avoidable but quick action can help save their life so we highly recommend taking note of all dangerous foods including those containing caffeine and making an effort to keep them out of reach.

How much Chocolate will kill a cat?

A study has shown that chocolate consumption can result in acute kidney injury in cats. The study is also responsible for the new FDA warning which advises pet owners to keep their household pets away from chocolate products.

If your cat has too much chocolate, call your veterinarian or a Feline Friend for advice.

The exact amount of chocolate that will kill a cat is variable. The maximum amount of chocolate that a cat could consume and still survive is variable as well, and can range from 10 to 250 grams. However, the average amount of chocolate consumed by a 38 pound (17kg) cat that will kill the cat is approximately 250 grams of chocolate.

This amount would have a 50% mortality rate, and a 24% morbidity rate. That means that out of every four cats exposed to this much chocolate, one will survive and three will have a lasting effect from consuming it. If there is any amount of chocolate that a cat consumes that will be fatal, it should be hospitalized.

Chocolate contains theobromine, which affects the central nervous system in humans and animals by inhibiting an enzyme called phosphodiesterase. This causes the heart to beat irregularly and the blood vessels to constrict.

When these two effects occur simultaneously, damage can occur in the brain and other vital organs. This is because the brain needs a continual supply of oxygen; if it does not receive this, then brain cells can die.

The amount of chocolate that it takes for this effect to begin varies by cat, because there are many factors that affect this, such as age and how much excitability a cat may have.

The toxic dose for a cat is approximately 0.5 grams per kilogram of body weight, which is about 1.1 pounds, or 5.4 ounces for a 38-pound cat. Therefore a 38-pound cat must consume a minimum of 36 ounces (908 grams) of chocolate to exhibit signs of toxicity from chocolate poisoning.

Conclusion

Can cat eat chocolate? Although cats can theoretically eat chocolate, this is not advisable. Chocolate can be toxic to cats, which can cause kidney damage and heart failure. This would lead to death in the worst cases. If you do try eating chocolate for your cat though, make sure you give him enough water afterwards, as he will surely need it.

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