Updated 2026-08-07 · Source: Merck Veterinary Manual; Pet Poison Helpline · Free · No sign-up
No — moldy food and compost is toxic to cats. Call your vet or poison control today, even if your cat seems fine.
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
4 / 5 — Serious — call your vet or poison control today.
Safe amount
None
Category
Human snacks
Source
Merck Veterinary Manual; Pet Poison Helpline · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high
Why
The same mycotoxins affect cats. Cats raid bins less often, but a cat that has eaten moldy food needs the same urgent call.
Signs to watch for if your cat has eaten moldy food and compost
Vomiting and diarrhea
Muscle tremors or twitching
Wobbliness, agitation or disorientation
Seizures
Yellow gums or eyes if the liver is affected, sometimes a day or two later
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 — moldy food and compost is toxic to cats. Call your vet or poison control today, even if your cat seems fine. The same mycotoxins affect cats. Cats raid bins less often, but a cat that has eaten moldy food needs the same urgent call.
What happens if a cat eats moldy food and compost?
Watch for: Vomiting and diarrhea; Muscle tremors or twitching; Wobbliness, agitation or disorientation; Seizures; Yellow gums or eyes if the liver is affected, sometimes a day or two later. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.
How much moldy food and compost is dangerous for a cat?
More than a taste can cause real illness, and the risk rises with the amount and with a smaller pet. The safe amount is none — if your cat has had more, call your vet.