Cats should never drink coffee as it contains caffeine. Caffeine can be toxic to cats at higher levels. Therefore, the answer to the question “can cats drink coffee?” is always no.
Can Cats Drink Coffee?
The main reason cats should not drink coffee is because it contains caffeine. Caffeine is toxic to cats at high doses. This is because caffeine is a type of chemical known as methylxanthine. Chocolate also contains methylxanthine and should not be given to cats either.
If your cat only drinks a small amount of coffee, they’ll probably have milder symptoms like nervousness and increased heart rate. However, too much coffee can cause seizures and heart problems.
Another reason cats shouldn’t drink coffee is because of the other ingredients people often add to it. Cats should not consume milk and sugar (cats are actually lactose intolerant). Too much sugar will cause your cat to gain weight and can even lead to obesity.
Finally, cats shouldn’t be given coffee because it has no nutritional value to cats. Therefore, there are no positives to giving your cat coffee, only negatives.
How Much Coffee Will Kill a Cat?
First, you should always take your cat to the vet if your cat seems sick or is showing signs of coffee toxicity. However, you should still be aware of how much coffee will seriously harm or be fatal to your cat.
The general rule is about 10 milligrams per pound of body weight is enough to be very toxic and even fatal to a cat. This means a 10 pound cat would have to consume about 100 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of about one cup of coffee.
Symptoms of Your Cat Drinking Coffee
It’s good to be aware of the symptoms associated with coffee consumption in cats. As mentioned earlier, the danger coffee poses really depends on how much your cat has. In higher amounts it can be dangerous and even deadly.
You can expect symptoms to start about 30 to 60 minutes after your cat has drank coffee. These symptoms can last anywhere from 6-12 hours.
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Hyperactivity
- Vomiting
- Panting
- Tremers
- Seizures
Note that if your cat starts having tremors, seizures, or any other concerning behavior, take her to the vet immediately.
What Else Contains Caffeine that My Cat Can’t Have?
There are other foods and drinks that contain caffeine, some of which may surprise you.
- Espresso.
- Tea.
- Soda.
- Chocolate (cacao).
- Energy drinks.
- Supplements.
Do Cats Like Coffee?
Most cats don’t like coffee at all, so you don’t have to worry too much about them sneaking a sip out of your coffee cup. However, cats love milk and cream, really anything fatty. If you add milk or creamer to your coffee, you cat might drink some for that reason.
