My cat ate chocolate – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 4 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine, Giftinformationscentralen (Swedish Poison Information Centre), Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet today

Call your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, and an overdose can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, heart-related changes and neurological signs.

What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note what your cat ate, how much and when.
  3. Bring the chocolate packaging.
  4. Remove any chocolate left within reach.
  5. Keep your cat calm.

Don't

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

Why it can be dangerous

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, and an overdose can cause gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological problems.[3] Unsweetened baking chocolate and cocoa powder usually contain more than 14 mg of theobromine per gram.[4] Semisweet dark chocolate often contains around 5 mg of theobromine per gram, while milk chocolate often contains around 2 mg per gram and white chocolate is an insignificant source.[4]

Signs to watch for

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Elevated heart rate
  • High blood pressure
  • Neurological signs

Where it is found

  • Cocoa powder
  • Dark chocolate
  • Milk chocolate
  • Chocolate baked goods
  • Chocolate candy
  • Chocolate syrup

What the experts say

“Milk chocolate 57 Semisweet chocolate chips 136 Dark chocolate with 70-85% cacao 227 Unsweetened baking chocolate 364”

— US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine [1]

“Semisweet dark chocolate and milk chocolate often contain around 5 and 2 mg of theobromine per gram, respectively, while white chocolate is considered to be an insignificant source of theobromine”

— Cortinovis & Caloni 2016, Household Food Items Toxic to Dogs and Cats, Front Vet Sci [4]
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.

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Common questions

How much chocolate is dangerous for a cat?

Chocolate types differ in theobromine content: unsweetened baking chocolate and cocoa powder usually contain more than 14 mg per gram, while milk chocolate often contains around 2 mg per gram.[4]

How soon could signs appear?

Call your vet today for advice rather than waiting for signs.

What should I do now?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet, note what, how much and when, and bring the packaging.

Sources

  1. US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine
  2. Giftinformationscentralen (Swedish Poison Information Centre)
  3. Pet Poison Helpline
  4. Cortinovis & Caloni 2016, Household Food Items Toxic to Dogs and Cats, Front Vet Sci

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

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