22 foods toxic to cats

Sourced from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, Merck Veterinary Manual and AKC. If your cat ingested any of these, contact a vet immediately.

1. 🍷

   #1 · Toxic

   Can cats eat alcohol? — No, it's toxic

   Same toxicity, more sensitive.

   Symptoms: Same.

   Full Alcohol guide →
2. 🍺

   #2 · Toxic

   Can cats eat beer? — No, it's toxic

   Same.

   Symptoms: Same.

   Full Beer guide →
3. 🦴

   #3 · Toxic

   Can cats eat bones (cooked)? — No, it's toxic

   Same splintering risk; smaller cats at higher risk of obstruction.

   Symptoms: Same as dogs.

   Full Bones (cooked) guide →
4. 🍬

   #4 · Toxic

   Can cats eat candy? — No, it's toxic

   Same.

   Full Candy guide →
5. 🍒

   #5 · Toxic

   Can cats eat cherries? — No, it's toxic

   Same as dogs — toxic pits, stems and leaves.

   Symptoms: Cyanide poisoning symptoms; obstruction from pits.

   Full Cherries guide →
6. 🍬

   #6 · Toxic

   Can cats eat chewing gum? — No, it's toxic

   Less sensitive than dogs but still avoid.

   Full Chewing Gum guide →
7. 🌿

   #7 · Toxic

   Can cats eat chives? — No, it's toxic

   Same — cats highly sensitive.

   Symptoms: Same.

   Full Chives guide →
8. 🍫

   #8 · Toxic

   Can cats eat chocolate? — No, it's toxic

   Cats are at lower risk simply because they're less likely to eat chocolate. But same mechanism applies.

   Symptoms: Same symptoms.

   Full Chocolate guide →
9. ☕

   #9 · Toxic

   Can cats eat coffee? — No, it's toxic

   Cats are even more sensitive to caffeine.

   Symptoms: Same as dogs.

   Full Coffee guide →
10. 🧄

    #10 · Toxic

    Can cats eat garlic? — No, it's toxic

    Cats are highly sensitive — even small amounts can be fatal.

    Symptoms: Severe anemia, lethargy, collapse.

    Full Garlic guide →
11. 🍇

    #11 · Toxic

    Can cats eat grapes? — No, it's toxic

    While grape toxicity is less documented in cats, the same renal failure risk applies. Cats rarely seek out grapes but accidents happen.

    Symptoms: Vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, kidney failure within 72 hours.

    Full Grapes guide →
12. 🌿

    #12 · Toxic

    Can cats eat leeks? — No, it's toxic

    Same.

    Symptoms: Same — even more sensitive than dogs.

    Full Leeks guide →
13. 🌰

    #13 · Toxic

    Can cats eat nutmeg? — No, it's toxic

    Same myristicin toxicity, more sensitive to it.

    Symptoms: Same as dogs.

    Full Nutmeg guide →
14. 🧅

    #14 · Toxic

    Can cats eat onions? — No, it's toxic

    Cats are MORE sensitive to allium toxicity than dogs. Even tiny amounts can cause Heinz body anemia.

    Symptoms: Same as dogs but at lower doses; symptoms appear within 1–3 days.

    Full Onions guide →
15. 🍊

    #15 · Toxic

    Can cats eat oranges? — No, it's toxic

    Citrus essential oils (limonene, linalool) are toxic to cats. Even the flesh contains some.

    Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, photosensitivity.

    Full Oranges guide →
16. 🥜

    #16 · Toxic

    Can cats eat pecans? — No, it's toxic

    Same.

    Full Pecans guide →
17. 🍇

    #17 · Toxic

    Can cats eat raisins? — No, it's toxic

    Same.

    Full Raisins guide →
18. 🍞

    #18 · Toxic

    Can cats eat raw bread dough? — No, it's toxic

    Same mechanism.

    Symptoms: Same.

    Full Raw Bread Dough guide →
19. 🍣

    #19 · Toxic

    Can cats eat raw fish? — No, it's toxic

    Raw fish contains thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1. Causes neurological damage with regular consumption.

    Symptoms: Loss of appetite, weakness, seizures, neurological symptoms.

    Full Raw Fish guide →
20. 🌿

    #20 · Toxic

    Can cats eat scallions? — No, it's toxic

    Same.

    Symptoms: Same.

    Full Scallions guide →
21. 🍷

    #21 · Toxic

    Can cats eat wine? — No, it's toxic

    Same.

    Full Wine guide →
22. 🍞

    #22 · Toxic

    Can cats eat yeast dough? — No, it's toxic

    Same.

    Symptoms: Same.

    Full Yeast Dough guide →