Easter eggs could be deadly to a cat and chocolate should be kept out of reach of pets, senior vets have warned.
Just two grams of chocolate — about the size of a small chunk or a few chocolate buttons - could be toxic to our feline friends, Cats Protection’s Central Veterinary Officer Sarah Elliott cautioned.
She said:
“Eating even a small amount of chocolate could raise a cat’s heart rate and increase loss of bodily fluids, both of which could be fatal.
“Caffeine in chocolate can affect the central nervous system and cause muscle twitching, but the main danger is theobromine."
Signs of poisoning can be seen within 30 minutes to two hours after ingesting the chocolate and can include vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive urination, irregular heartbeat and seizures.
Cat owners shouldn’t confuse curiosity in their own treat as a cat’s craving for chocolate.
Unlike dogs, a cat’s tongue cannot detect sweetness from sugar and it is more likely the cat is just curious or attracted to the fat content of food made for humans.
Chocolate is just one food that poses a risk to cats. Coffee, nuts, grapes, garlic and coconut water can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea or dehydration. Even milk and cheese can bring on sickness and digestive problems as many cats are lactose intolerant.
Kerri Graffham, Manager at Cats Protection’s Mitcham Homing Centre, said:
“We are here to provide support on many matters related to better cat welfare and people sometimes ask if it’s ok to feed a cat food meant for people or to say their cat has eaten something they shouldn’t.
“It can be anything, from plants such as lilies that are toxic to cats to chocolate or even plastic.
"But our advice is always the same; if you suspect that your cat has eaten something they shouldn’t, contact your vet immediately. If you wait, it could be too late.”
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