Can Cats eat Chocolate?

Can Cats eat Chocolate?

Most people love chocolate. In fact, cats may eat and like chocolate too, but it can be deadly to them. That is why you need to store chocolate cookies and anything containing chocolate where your cat(s) cannot get to it.

Of course, technically, cats can eat chocolate, but they should not. At least not the chocolate intended for humans, in any significant amounts, as it can be lethal to cats. And even when it is not lethal, it is not good for them. If you want to give your cat chocolate, keep some cat-chocolate (chocolate tailored to cats) available as a treat for your cat. 

How come that tasty piece of “food for the goods” that is chocolate is toxic to cats? There are two main reasons theobromine and caffeine: 
 

Theobromine is a bitter-tasting alkaloid (that dark bitter chocolate) that lowers blood pressure in humans. Caffeine is, as you may already know, a central nervous system stimulant, also associated with coffee.

The cocoa bean naturally contains both theobromine and caffeine. The darker the chocolate (the higher the cocoa content) the more theobromine and caffeine it likely contains and the more dangerous it is for your cat. Even though milk-chocolate may contain less theobromine and caffeine than dark bitter chocolate, you should not give it to your cat. 

What if your cat ate chocolate?

If you know that you cat has eaten a lot of chocolate and it starts exhibiting symptoms, you should contact a veterinary and or take it to an animal hospital right away.

Symptoms may include vomiting (while this is in sense good, as the cat gets rid of chocolate left in its stomach); restlessness – the cat may become hyperactive, it may be twitching: excessive thirst (and urination); increased heartrate; coma, cardiac arrest, and (while rare) ultimately death, unless action is taken.

The veterinary may induce vomiting; give the cat active coal, and or Intravenous fluids to hydrate the cat and dilute the theobromine and caffeine.

What is your experience with cats and chocolate? Please register and leave a reply below and to post in the Forums.