My cat ate alcohol – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine, Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Alcohol intoxication can cause signs to start rapidly, including lethargy, difficulty walking and vomiting.

What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note what was eaten, how much and when.
  3. Bring the packaging.
  4. Keep your cat calm.
  5. Remove what is left.

Don't

  • Do not make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Alcoholic drinks and food products containing alcohol are listed as pet exposures.[1] Pets can ingest alcohol by taking licks of mixed drinks, beer or wine, or by consuming candies with liquor centers or raw bread dough made with yeast.[2] Alcohol intoxication in cats can have a rapid onset.[2]

Signs to watch for

  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Difficulty walking

Signs can start rapidly.

Where it is found

  • Mixed drinks
  • Beer
  • Wine
  • Spirits
  • Cocktails
  • Unbaked bread dough
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much alcohol is dangerous?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

Which signs should I watch for?

Vomiting, lethargy and difficulty walking are signs of alcohol intoxication in cats.[2]

How soon can signs start, and what should I do now?

Signs can start rapidly; call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

Sources

  1. US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine
  2. Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

The same page for dogs →

Other things cats eat

AmbienAmitrazAntibioticsAnticoagulant RodenticideAntifreeze (ethylene glycol)AntihistaminesAspirinAsthma InhalerBaclofenBenzodiazepinesBeta-blockersBlack Widow Spider