Can cats eat wild mushrooms?

Updated 2026-08-07 · Source: Merck Veterinary Manual; Pet Poison Helpline · Free · No sign-up

No — wild mushrooms are 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 catsToxic
Severity5 / 5 — Emergency — can be fatal, and small amounts can matter. Call now.
Safe amountNone
CategoryVegetable
SourceMerck Veterinary Manual; Pet Poison Helpline · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high

Why

The same applies to cats: species cannot be identified visually, and some cause liver failure with a deceptive well-looking period in between. Call rather than watch.

Signs to watch for if your cat has eaten wild mushrooms

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

What about dogs?

Can dogs eat wild mushrooms? — Toxic for dogs.

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.

↥ Check another food →   Browse all foods →

FAQ

Can cats eat wild mushrooms?

No — wild mushrooms are toxic to cats, even in small amounts. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 now. The same applies to cats: species cannot be identified visually, and some cause liver failure with a deceptive well-looking period in between. Call rather than watch.

What happens if a cat eats wild mushrooms?

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 many wild mushrooms are 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.

Related