We know you adore your cat, so you’ll be looking for fresh ways to express your affection for him, and what better way to make him happy than by pampering his palate?

Cats enjoy savoring food, therefore tasty food is always a fantastic alternative to share with your cat; however, not everything that is excellent for humans is also good for cats, but can cats eat chocolate? The short answer is no.

Why can’t cats eat chocolate?

Remember that not all organisms are the same, even among members of the same species: no matter how tough you believe your cat is, chocolate is never a good option to give it because it includes some potentially toxic compounds.

Chocolate has two harmful chemicals, theobromine and caffeine, which cats cannot and should not consume.

Theobromine

Theobromine is a harmless drug for humans to consume, but it is poisonous to cats and other pets. Because this component is included in the major constituent of chocolate, cocoa, any treat made from it is not advised for cats.

The difficulty with this ingredient is that the cat’s body cannot properly absorb it: if a cat consumes food containing it, it begins to build and may cause incorrect stimulation in the cat’s neurological system.

Caffeine

Like theobromine (included in cocoa), caffeine is another substance that cats cannot consume because their system does not contain the necessary enzymes to process it.

What happens when cats consume chocolate?

It’s a fallacy that cats can eat chocolate because doing so puts their health in danger (regardless of whether they’ve gotten into the mischief of devouring the last crumb of your mid-day pleasure). As a result, you should not ignore it and, if possible, take it to the veterinarian straight soon.

It is important to remember that the symptoms of chocolate poisoning do not appear quickly. Depending on your cat’s organism, the amount of theobromine consumed, and the type of chocolate, the first signs of intoxication may appear after 4 hours. Consider that the symptoms may last for up to 24 or 48 hours after consumption.

Dark or black chocolates include a higher concentration of cocoa and, as a result, theobromine, making them more harmful to pets such as cats. White or milk chocolate, on the other hand, contains the least quantity of theobromine; yet, it is not a safe food for a cat to consume because, contrary to popular belief, a normal adult cat is a lactose intolerant.

It should also be noted that chocolate has high quantities of fat and sugar, which should be limited in your cat’s diet to prevent cholesterol levels from rising and causing other problems.

What are the symptoms after eating chocolate?

You should keep in mind that the existence of one of these symptoms does not guarantee that your cat is intoxicated by chocolate, so we propose that you take your cat to the veterinarian right away. However, the occurrence of many symptoms may indicate a suspicion of intoxication, requiring immediate action.

DIARRHEA AND VOMITING

These could be the first indications that your cat has eaten something it shouldn’t have (although not necessarily chocolate). Because a cat lacks the enzymes required to correctly metabolize theobromine, his body will begin to exhibit digestive difficulties as he vomits to rid himself of poisonous compounds.

NERVOUSNESS

It is one of the symptoms that your cat could manifest early (they do not have to be tremors) due to the reaction of the substances that chocolate contains, such as caffeine; you may notice increases in your feline friend’s normal activity, including anxiety.

SEIZURES

Depending on the amount of caffeine included in the food, you may start to notice that your cat is having trouble moving, which could be accompanied by tremors and seizures.

LETHARGY

In severe cases of chocolate ingestion, a cat could become lethargic, which is already a problem that could lead to respiratory failure.

ELEVATED HEART RATE

This is one of the most difficult indicators to detect in your cat, so if you discover it, it means his health is in danger.

We recommend that if you see any of these symptoms in your cat, you take them to the veterinarian right away so that they can be treated and returned to full health.

What can we do if our cat has eaten chocolate?

If you realize that your cat has eaten a piece of chocolate, you will undoubtedly consider some home treatment (which may only help in the initial minutes), because once his body has attempted to digest it, it will be time to take him to the vet.

Inducing vomiting is only advised during the first hour after eating chocolate; this can be accomplished by making him drink a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water; the recommended concentration is 20 ml of hydrogen peroxide dissolved in 1 liter of water, as a higher concentration may cause stomach problems.

You should try to convince your cat to drink the medicine by placing him on your lap; you can use a syringe without a needle to pour it directly into his snout; be careful not to add to the suffering your friend is already experiencing.

Even if you were successful in getting him to vomit the chocolate, this does not mean he is fully safe; you should still take him to the veterinarian for an evaluation. If your cat ate the candy without your knowledge and it has been more than two hours, it is not required for you to induce vomiting.

If your cat has not shown any symptoms and you are certain that it has eaten chocolate, it is recommended that you keep it overnight at the clinic so that if any signs of danger, such as convulsions, develop, they may treat it immediately and limit the chance of death.

The vet may employ activated charcoal to absorb the dangerous substances in the clinic, but it is also likely that they may execute a stomach pump to remove all toxic substances.