Believe it or not, can cats eat chocolate is one of the most frequent questions among cat owners and lovers. To ask the question several times is understandable as a cat owner myself. It is always my pleasure to share what I love with my cats to keep them happy and improve the relationship between us. And therefore I asked myself the same question!
Nowadays, all cat lovers and owners know that cats are winning people’s hearts, and we know that out of love, you can give whatever you eat to them, like chocolate. But that is not how it should be.
Therefore, you should be a little bit skeptical when it comes to your cat’s diet, and consequently, you are going to ask yourself if giving your cat chocolate is going to hurt it, or you might have the question of can cats eat chocolate floating in your mind.
Hence, in this article, we will discuss the answers to the previous questions and whether it is okay to feed your cat chocolate comprehensively and scientifically.
And If you are interested to know about all that keep reading.
Table of Contents
Can Cats Eat Chocolate? The Answer!
Can cats eat chocolate? The short answer to this question is NO, but why not?
The ugly truth about chocolates is that it can be lethal for your cat. And to understand why to Let’s go in-depth on why your cat should not eat chocolate.
Chocolate is toxic to cats because it contains harmful elements such as Caffeine and Theobromine, which are powerful stimulants. Consequently, The cat’s smaller digestive system differs from the human body.
Caffeine is familiar to most of us, while Theobromine is unknown to us. Theobromine is an alkaloid found in its natural state in cocoa. But you may be wondering, what do these ingredients do for cats? And that’s our next step.
“No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch.” –Leo Dworken
Why Are These Ingredients So Dangerous For Cats?
Caffeine and Theobromine are stimulants, and these stimulants affect the central nervous and cardiac systems of your cat’s body.
Caffeine, when absorbed by the cat’s body through chocolate or some other means, leads to complications such as vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, discomfort, or even heart problems.
And of course, Theobromine also results in similar symptoms as Caffeine. However, it also can cause breathing problems for your fluffy friend.
At the same time, larger amounts of Theobromine intake are especially dangerous because cats cannot break it down and eliminate it like humans. Besides, the darker the chocolate, the more hazardous to your cat. And this is due to the high cocoa content.
Nevertheless, after knowing the answer to the question can cats eat chocolate, you may be wondering what the symptoms of chocolate poisoning are?
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My Cat Ate Chocolate! NO!! What Are The Symptoms?
Did your cat already eat chocolate? Don’t panic!
After going through the answer to the question can cats eat chocolate, you might feel concerned and anxious in case your cat ate chocolate.
But don’t panic, take a deep breath, and keep reading to discover the symptoms of the toxicity of chocolate to determine the severity of the symptoms and, therefore, to proceed accordingly.
The symptoms of chocolate toxicity you may notice if your cat ate some can be as mild as the following symptoms: vomiting, insomnia, diarrhea, increased urination, increased thirst, increased breathing, restlessness, increased heart rate, muscle stiffness, and/or hyperactivity. But, it also can lead to serious complications if not treated immediately, such as Seizures or Death!
Accordingly, If you notice any of these symptoms with the knowledge that your cat ate some chocolate, then call your veterinarian immediately to manage the case properly.
Indeed we answered the question can cats eat chocolate. However, you might still wonder what you should do if your cat ate chocolate? Or what is the treatment in such cases? To know what you need to do, keep reading.
Treatment Of Chocolate Toxicity In Cats
If you catch your cat in the act of eating chocolate, and you notice any of the symptoms mentioned before in your cat, you have to contact your vet immediately and make appropriate arrangements to take your cat to your vet. Also, you have to provide important information which depends on your observation after what happened.
The following are important to answer when you call your vet:
- When your cat roughly ate chocolate.
- The name of the specific chocolate your cat ate and all the information about it. If you have the wrapper, it would be a great thing to take with you to your vet.
- The exact amount of chocolate you believe your cat ate.
- List of symptoms you’ve noticed.
It is also imperative to stay calm while managing your cat case for its safety because animals are susceptible to the owner’s reactions.
As for the treatment of poisonous chocolate, will differ from case to case and its severity. But typically includes the following:
#1 Decontamination
The first action is to get rid as much of the ingested chocolate out of your cat’s belly as possible. Cats are spectacularly challenging to make vomit, even with all the medicines available at your vet’s clinic.
It would be best if you did NOT try to make your cat vomit at home without professional help.
If your vet doesn’t success inducing vomiting, and the potential for toxicity is critical, some cats will be provided with activated charcoal to bind the toxins. In some cases, cats are sedated and have their stomachs pumped.
The goal of all these steps is to reduce the number of toxins inside your cat’s body. Your cat’s body absorbs the fewer toxins, the less likely there will be severe side effects and complications.
#2 Supportive Care
A hospitalization is an option in case your cat shows symptoms of toxicity.
Also, keep in mind that your vet will choose combinations of medicines and remedies targeting particular symptoms such as anti-seizure medications for tremors or heart medications for arrhythmias.
Your vet will also use fluid therapy to support both the heart, blood pressure, and help your cat’s body eliminate the toxin faster through urination.
Once treated, continue to direct a certain level of attention to your cat’s activities towards any remaining symptoms until they return to normal. Hence, not prevention but conscious living is the key to the well-being of your cat.
On the other hand, you might already know most people think prevention is better than cure. But if you live with a protective mindset, you will develop a fearful attitude, which is a massive problem. Indeed prevention is a great deal and essential to protecting your fluffy friends. But, don’t let it change your attitude to be a fearful person that can lead to harmful consequences.
After answering the question of can cats eat chocolate, you have a great idea about all the problems chocolate can cause. But, another vital question can come to your mind too. How can you prevent this from happening?
How Can You Prevent This from Happening?
Owning your cat is like having a baby; you need to respond to it in the same sense. So chocolate should be kept out of reach of your cat’s paws. Also, teaching yourself to be more cautious and observant, especially regarding your cat’s diet is critical to be able to prevent such things from happening. Remember, many food have a bad influence on your cat’s body, such as Berries.
Also, it is for the best to stick with cats’ normal and healthy diet. However, if you would love to give them, some treats try to do proper research about specific treats for your cat. Or simply start learning how to cook homemade treats for your cat. Cooking is a great way to provide your cat with healthy and fun treats.
Still, you might already know how curious the cats are. Hence they always desire to explore everything in your home, and as such, you should keep food like chocolate at a safe distance and place as keeping it in airtight containers.
It is essential to keep in mind that in specific times of the year, there is more chocolate into the reach of your cat’s paws such as holiday times like Christmas and Halloween when there is chocolate everywhere.
And after successfully discovering all that about the answer of our today’s question of can cats eat chocolate, there is nothing to wait for as you can protect your furry friend right now. And remember to contact your vet without hesitation if any of the symptoms mentioned before is noticeable.
Finally, I hope you found this article about can cats eat chocolate question useful and informative.
Let me know your answer down below. Do you have more information or tips on this topic?
Also, If you have any other questions or different opinions about it, leave a comment below.
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