Chocolate poisoning in cats – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your cat has this – it can become serious. Chocolate poisoning is poisoning caused by chocolate, which contains theobromine and is toxic to cats.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet immediately.
Keep the chocolate packaging.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to cats.^[1] In severe cases, chocolate poisoning can be fatal if treatment is delayed.^[1]

Signs

Excitement, restlessness, agitation or hyperactivity
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Drinking and weeing more than usual
Abdominal (tummy) pain
Fast breathing or panting
Shaking, trembling or tremors
High temperature (fever)
Seizures
A fast heart rate or high blood pressure

Causes and risk factors

Eating chocolate

How vets treat it

Fluids/drip
Hospitalisation
Diet change

What the experts say

“If your cat has eaten a toxic dose of chocolate it’s important that they are seen by a vet as soon as possible. The treatment they need will depend on how much/what type of chocolate they have eaten.”
— PDSA [1]

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.

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

Common questions

What signs can chocolate poisoning cause in cats?

Signs can include vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, fast breathing, shaking, seizures and a fast heart rate.^[1]

What should I do if my cat has eaten chocolate?

Keep the packaging and call your vet immediately.^[1]

Can chocolate poisoning be serious?

In severe cases, chocolate poisoning can be fatal if treatment is delayed.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

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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