Cats shouldn’t consume chocolate because it is poisonous to them. The majority of pet owners are more worried about their dog eating chocolate than their cat, but it’s as crucial to prevent chocolate ingestion in your cat (dogs account for around 95% of calls to pet poison hotlines).1 Cats can experience negative effects from even a small amount of chocolate, including vomiting, convulsions, and even death. Understanding the potential consequences and what to do when chocolate and cats interact can save a life.
Why Does Chocolate Affect Cats?
The main reason for this is that chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are poisonous to cats if taken in large enough doses. Even a modest amount of chocolate can be hazardous to a small cat since cats absorb theobromine considerably more slowly than people do. Because cats are far more sensitive to caffeine than people are, it stimulates them more than people do. Caffeine is chemically identical to theobromine.
