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Chocolate, who doesn’t love it? You may be sitting and eating a piece of chocolate, and your cat begs for some! You say no, and she goes to sulk over in the chair. She keeps her eye on you and that chocolate. What happens if you need to answer the front door and your chocolate is sitting on the table? Your feline friend may slink over and lick it! But what happens if a cat licks chocolate?
Has your cat licked chocolate? Are you worried the chocolate will make your cat sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when something like this happens.
We’ve gathered information about chocolate and whether it can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Chocolate?
Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels. The resulting chocolatey goodness may be made into a liquid, solid, paste, or flavoring. Chocolate’s been around for thousands of years. It originated with the Olmec people but also was enjoyed by the Maya and Aztecs.
Chocolate is one of the most popular foods around the world. It’s used in main dishes, snacks, baked goods, and much more. This yummy stuff is safe for humans (in moderation), but what about cats?
Chocolate & Cats
Unfortunately, chocolate is toxic to cats. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are both poisonous to cats. What’s more, darker chocolate has more of these substances than lighter chocolates (such as milk chocolate).
Chocolate poisoning happens when a cat eats a large amount of this yummy stuff. The level of toxicity is determined by the type of chocolate, how much the cat has eaten, and the cat’s weight.
The good news is that if your cat has only licked a very small amount of chocolate, she should be OK. She may experience some digestive issues, but she will be OK. However, more chocolate could make her very sick.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Chocolate Toxicity in Cats
You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten chocolate:
- Hyperactivity
- Panting
- Vomiting
- Frequent urination
- Lethargy
- Muscle tremors
- Hypertension
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Elevated heart rate
- Hyperthermia
- Seizures
- Collapse
If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency. In some cases, chocolate toxicity can cause death in cats.
Treatment of Chocolate Toxicity in Cats
The vet will first work to decontaminate your cat’s system by inducing vomiting and/or using activated charcoal. Your fur baby may require an IV for fluids and to administer medications. The vet will treat your feline companion’s other symptoms as they arise.
In cases of respiratory distress, a cat may also require a ventilator and may need to be hospitalized until she’s in stable condition.
The prognosis is best for cats who receive prompt medical treatment after eating chocolate. So, it’s best to keep all chocolate out of your cat’s reach. And don’t let her even have a lick of chocolate. You’ll both be happier for it!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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