| Verdict for cats | Toxic |
| Severity | 5 / 5 — Emergency — can be fatal, and small amounts can matter. Call now. |
| Safe amount | None |
| Category | Sweets |
| Source | ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high |
The same methylxanthines are toxic to cats. Cats rarely seek out sweets, so a cat that has eaten chocolate has usually eaten a meaningful amount for its size — treat it as an emergency.
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.
Can dogs eat chocolate? — Toxic for dogs.
No — chocolate is toxic to cats, even in small amounts. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 now. The same methylxanthines are toxic to cats. Cats rarely seek out sweets, so a cat that has eaten chocolate has usually eaten a meaningful amount for its size — treat it as an emergency.
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.
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.