Can cats eat chocolate? This is an important question to answer, as your cat’s health and safety are on the line if you give him or her some chocolate.
It’s common for people to assume that their pets can eat anything that they can, but this isn’t always the case – especially when it comes to chocolate!
This article will go into detail about why you should never give your cat chocolate, how to prevent him from doing so and what to do if he/she has consumed any.
Want to learn more? Keep Reading!
Should Cats Eat Chocolate?
Humans crave chocolate as a decadent dessert or satisfying comfort food, but should it be shared with cats?
The short answer is no.
Despite the name, chocolate is not good for cats. Cats should never be given chocolate because it can lead to poison and can be unsafe for both adult cats and kittens.
Why is Chocolate Bad for Cats?
There are certain ingredients in chocolate that make it harmful to cats. These ingredients include:
- Theobromine
- Caffeine
There is a small amount of caffeine and a high amount of theobromine in chocolate, which is poisonous to your cats.
When consumed, theobromine will absorb more slowly in cats than it does in humans. The result is that even small amounts of chocolate can be toxic to cats.
Dark Chocolate vs. White chocolate
The darker chocolate has higher caffeine and theobromine concentration because it contains more cocoa. Darker chocolates are also sweeter which could lure your cat into consuming more than they normally would.
In contrast, cocoa isn’t found in white chocolate. It instead consists of sugar and xylitol, or other artificial flavorings.
Can We Give White Chocolate to Cats?
It contains too much sugar and xylitol which can lead to various serious conditions such as diabetes or weight gain. Avoid giving your pet food containing xylitol, as it is toxic to your cats.
Keep in mind that white chocolate contains no caffeine and theobromine but still poses a danger to the health of a cat.
Chocolate Toxicity Amount in Cats
A cat’s stomach is different from a human’s, so the amounts of chocolate that are safe for humans to eat may not be safe for cats.
It is never a good idea to feed your cat chocolate. Even the tiniest bit of chocolate will make your cat ill, so stay away from all chocolate, and keep it away from your cat as well.
Milk, dark, and semisweet chocolate are considered poisonous to cats and should be avoided.
Baking chocolate can also pose a danger because it contains enough sugar and fat that could lead to poisoning if consumed in large quantities.
A cat weighing eight pounds can consume the following amount of chocolate before becoming poisoned:
