Updated 2026-08-07 · Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · Free · No sign-up
No — caffeine is toxic to cats, even in small amounts. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 now.
If your cat may have eaten something harmful — or any part of a lily — call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right now — don't wait for symptoms. A consultation fee may apply to the ASPCA hotline.
Verdict for cats
Toxic
Severity
5 / 5 — Emergency — can be fatal, and small amounts can matter. Call now.
Safe amount
None
Category
Drinks
Source
ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high
Why
Toxic to cats by the same mechanism, and a cat needs much less of it than a dog to get into trouble.
Signs to watch for if your cat has eaten caffeine
Vomiting and diarrhea
Restlessness, hyperactivity or pacing
Panting, excessive thirst and urination
A fast or irregular heartbeat
Muscle tremors or seizures
Signs can lag by a day or more, so no symptoms does not mean your cat is clear — call rather than watch.
What to do now
Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 straight away. Tell them what your cat ate, roughly how much, and when, and take the packaging with you. Don't wait for symptoms — with several poisons the harm is done before a pet looks ill.
Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to — it can do more damage than the poison. What we will and won't tell you.
Safer alternatives for cats
A small piece of plain cooked chicken or turkey
Plain cooked fish, boneless and unseasoned
A vet-approved commercial cat treat, kept to under a tenth of daily calories
Cat grass grown indoors instead of houseplants
Fresh water — a fountain tempts many cats to drink more
This page is a reference, not veterinary advice or a diagnosis. Verdicts are transcribed from the cited source, never inferred, and a finding in one species is never copied onto the other. How we source and decide a verdict.
No — caffeine is toxic to cats, even in small amounts. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 now. Toxic to cats by the same mechanism, and a cat needs much less of it than a dog to get into trouble.
What happens if a cat eats caffeine?
Watch for: Vomiting and diarrhea; Restlessness, hyperactivity or pacing; Panting, excessive thirst and urination; A fast or irregular heartbeat; Muscle tremors or seizures. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.
How much caffeine is dangerous for a cat?
There is no known safe amount — small quantities have caused serious harm, so treat any exposure as urgent and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.