Stop! Don't give your cat that Chocolate...
"Where's the harm? My cat seems to enjoy chocolate and it's only
a small piece."
Just because certain foods, such as chocolate, are enjoyed by us
humans and are perfectly safe for us, it does not mean they are
suitable for cats. Chocolate contains chemicals which rarely
cause problems for humans, but for cats and other domestic pets,
these chemicals can, in rare cases, be deadly.
One problem is that cats in general find chocolate very tasty
and so, it is important not to feed it to them, otherwise they
will eat what you give them up to the point where it poisons
them.
Chocolate contains the compound theobromine which is a diuretic
as well as a cardiac stimulant. This can cause the pet's heart
rate to increase or it may cause the heart to beat irregularly,
both of which can be dangerous to the animal. The level of
theobromine present in chocolate varies depending on the type of
chocolate. For example, dark chocolate contains higher levels
than milk chocolate and so could pose a greater risk to your pet.
There are many problems that can result from feeding a cat
chocolate. Chocolate is relatively high in calories so it can
contribute to the development of obesity in your cat. A cat can
lose its appetite for it's normal food if it eats chocolate. The
largest problem is though the fact that chocolate contains the
chemical theobromine as mentioned above. If this chemical builds
up in the cats system, it can be potentially lethal, and one
reason for this is that cats cannot clear theobromine from their
bodies as quickly as people can.
Many cat owners would simply expect their pet to develop an
upset stomach after eating a large amount of chocolate but few
realize its lethal potential.
Further problems which can arise from chocolate poisoning are
Diuresis (increased urine production), diarrhea, lethargy,
vomiting, depression, and muscle tremors. These are signs which
must be recognized by any cat owner so that the cat is not fed
too much chocolate.
Treatment for chocolate poisoning in its advanced stage can be
very unpleasant for both the cat and the owner of the cat, so it
is much better to be safe and to cut down chocolate consumption
of your cat to a minimum. If you do have worries that your cat
has consumed large quantities of human chocolate it would be
wise to consult your vet - pronto. Spotting the symptoms early
on can be very beneficial and can give the cat a much better
chance of surviving any poisoning which may have occurred.
If you wish to feed your cat chocolate, there are alternate
"chocolate" treats for cats which are produced by some pet food
manufacturers. They will either use a vegetable substitute made
to taste and look like chocolate, or they will take out the
theobromine, or use greatly reduced, safe levels in the
chocolate treats they produce. While a very small amount of
chocolate may not be harmful to some cats, it is always safest
to avoid giving any to them at all.
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