Foods Toxic to Cats: What to Avoid and What to Do If Your Cat Eats Them

Cats are pickier than dogs, so they eat dangerous things less often. But they’re also smaller, more sensitive to certain substances, and very good at hiding illness. A small amount of the wrong thing can do real harm, and by the time a cat looks unwell, it may already be seriously sick.

This guide covers the common foods and kitchen items that are dangerous for cats, signs to watch for, and what to do if your cat gets into something. It isn’t a complete list, and it isn’t a substitute for your vet. We cover dogs separately in foods toxic to dogs, and the lists differ, so don’t assume what’s safe for one is safe for the other.

If your cat has already eaten something

Don’t wait for symptoms. With several of these, signs can take hours or days to show, and early treatment makes a big difference.

1. Remove any remaining food or plant and keep the packaging or a sample.
2. Note what your cat ate, how much, when, and your cat’s weight.
3. Call your vet or an emergency vet straight away. You can also contact an animal poison helpline. In the US and Canada, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) and Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) operate around the clock, and a consultation fee may apply. [Add your local emergency vet and poison information here if you serve readers elsewhere.]
4. Don’t try to make your cat vomit or give home remedies unless a vet or poison specialist tells you to. Done wrong, it can cause more harm.
5. Go to the clinic if you’re told to, and bring the packaging or plant.

If your cat is collapsing, having seizures, struggling to breathe or is unresponsive, go to an emergency vet immediately.

Lilies: the most important one

Strictly speaking, lilies aren’t food, but they’re one of the most dangerous things a cat can encounter, so they come first.

True lilies (Lilium species, such as Easter, tiger, Asiatic and stargazer lilies) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) can cause acute kidney failure in cats. Every part of the plant is a risk: petals, leaves, stems, pollen, and even the water in the vase. A cat that brushes against a lily and grooms the pollen off its fur can be poisoned.

If your cat has been near a lily, even if you’re not sure it ate any, contact a vet immediately. Early treatment makes the difference. The safest approach is to keep lilies out of any home with a cat, and to tell friends and family not to send them as gifts.

Common foods that are toxic to cats

Food	Why it’s a problem	What to know
Onions, garlic, chives, leeks	Can damage red blood cells, causing anaemia	Cats are considered more sensitive than dogs. Raw, cooked, dried and powdered forms all count, including in baby food, gravy and some pet treats. Signs can appear days later.
Chocolate and cocoa	Contains theobromine and caffeine, which affect the heart and nervous system	Dark chocolate, baking chocolate and cocoa are the most dangerous. Cats rarely seek out chocolate, but a small amount can matter in a small animal.
Alcohol	Cats are very sensitive to it, and it can cause vomiting, collapse, low body temperature and breathing problems	Includes drinks, and foods like unbaked yeast dough and some desserts.
Raw bread dough	Rises in the stomach, and the yeast produces alcohol	A potential emergency.
Caffeine	Affects the heart and nervous system	Coffee, grounds, tea bags, energy drinks and some supplements.
Grapes and raisins	Linked to kidney failure in dogs, and it isn’t clear whether cats are affected	Because the risk is unknown, it’s safest to keep them away from your cat.
Xylitol (a sweetener)	Causes severe problems in dogs, and less is known about cats	Found in sugar-free gum, sweets, baked goods and some peanut butters. Don’t take chances, and call a vet if your cat eats it.
Macadamia nuts and other nuts	Macadamias are a known problem for dogs, and other nuts are high in fat and can upset the stomach	Best avoided. Salted and seasoned nuts add more risk.
Salt in large amounts	Can cause excessive thirst, vomiting and, in severe cases, seizures	Includes salt dough and play dough.
Cooked bones	Can splinter and cause choking, mouth injuries or gut blockages	Raw bones carry their own risks, so ask your vet.
Fatty foods and trimmings	Can contribute to stomach upset and pancreatitis	Bacon, fat trimmings and rich leftovers.
String, tinsel, ribbon and thread	Not toxic, but a serious hazard. Linear objects can cause dangerous intestinal damage	Often found on roast joints, parcels and in the sewing box. Treat as an emergency.
Mouldy food and compost	Some moulds produce toxins that cause tremors and seizures	Includes bins and garden compost.
Raw fish, raw egg and raw meat	Risk of food poisoning from bacteria such as Salmonella, affecting cats and people. Some raw fish contain an enzyme that breaks down thiamine (vitamin B1)	If you feed raw, discuss it with your vet first.

Foods that aren’t poisons, but cause problems

• Milk and dairy. Many adult cats are lactose intolerant, and milk can cause diarrhoea. The “saucer of milk” idea is a myth. Ask your vet about cat-specific milk if you want a treat.
• Tuna and fish as a main diet. Tuna made for people isn’t nutritionally complete for cats, and a diet of mostly tuna can cause nutritional imbalances. Occasional small amounts are different.
• Dog food as a regular diet. It lacks nutrients cats need, such as taurine. Cats can develop serious health problems if it becomes their main food.
• Liver in large amounts. It’s very high in vitamin A, and too much over time can cause bone problems.

Items in your home that matter even more for cats

• Human painkillers. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is extremely dangerous to cats, and even a small amount can be fatal. Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories are also dangerous. Never give a cat a human medicine unless a vet tells you to.
• Dog flea and tick products containing permethrin. These can be life-threatening to cats, including from contact with a dog that has been treated recently. Use only products labelled for cats.
• Essential oils and diffusers. Cats have trouble processing some compounds in essential oils, and some oils (including tea tree) are dangerous on skin or if licked off fur.
• Plants. Besides lilies, many common plants can be toxic. Check any plant against a reliable source before bringing it into your home.
• Antifreeze and cleaning products, which can be fatal in small amounts. Antifreeze can taste sweet, so clean up spills immediately.

Signs your cat may have eaten something toxic

Signs vary with the substance, but watch for:

• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Drooling, or pawing at the mouth
• Hiding, restlessness or unusual behaviour
• Weakness, wobbliness or collapse
• Tremors or seizures
• Rapid or laboured breathing
• Increased thirst or urination, or no urination
• Pale or yellow gums
• Loss of appetite or lethargy

Cats are good at hiding illness. Subtle changes, such as hiding, skipping a meal or being quieter than usual, can matter. A cat that stops eating for more than a day or so needs to see a vet. If your cat has been near something dangerous, don’t wait for signs.

Safe treats

Many cats are happy with a few plain, safe extras, but check with your vet first, particularly if your cat has health conditions, and introduce new things slowly. Common examples include small pieces of plain cooked, boneless, unseasoned chicken or turkey, and cooked plain fish in small amounts, and commercial cat treats.

Keep treats and extras to around 10% of daily calories or less, and take them off the main meal amount. Our guides to how much to feed your cat and best food for indoor cats show how to work out portions, and our guide to reading a pet food label explains how to choose a complete and balanced food.

How to keep your cat safe

• Keep lilies out of the house, and check bouquets before you accept them.
• Store food out of reach. Cats jump onto counters and open cupboards.
• Use a bin with a lid, and keep compost secure.
• Put medicines away in closed cupboards, and keep dropped pills in mind.
• Never use dog flea products on a cat.
• Put away string, ribbon, tinsel and hair ties after use.
• Keep window and balcony access safe, and keep your vet’s number and an emergency vet’s number somewhere easy to find.
• Warn guests and children not to feed your cat scraps.

Final thoughts

Most cat poisonings are preventable. Keep lilies and medicines out of the home, store food securely, and know the main culprits. Cats hide illness, so act quickly if you think something’s wrong, and when in doubt, call your vet. For ongoing feeding advice, see our guides to wet vs dry cat food and how our reviews work.

Frequently asked questions