By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Celebrations and cats are a classic combination for a vet clinic phone line. Cake gets left on the coffee table, the cat gets there first, and someone wonders whether to panic. The honest answer is that it depends on the cake. A lick of plain vanilla sponge or buttercream is very unlikely to cause harm beyond a mild stomach upset. Chocolate mud cake, Christmas fruit cake, rum-soaked cakes and anything with macadamias are a different story.
Key takeaways
- Plain cake is not toxic to cats, but it is sugar, fat and flour with nothing a cat needs.
- Chocolate cakes contain theobromine and caffeine. Cocoa-heavy cakes are more concerning than milk chocolate decorations.
- Fruit cakes, Christmas cakes and puddings may contain raisins, sultanas and currants, and often alcohol.
- Raw cake batter has raw egg, and yeasted cake dough can expand and produce alcohol.
- Sugar-free cakes may use sweeteners. Check the label.
- Related reading: chocolate and cats, chocolate cake and cats.
Plain sponge, butter cake and buttercream
These are the least worrying. They are rich in sugar, butter and sometimes cream, so they can cause vomiting or diarrhoea, but they are not poisonous. The ASPCA notes fatty foods can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and may contribute to pancreatitis in some pets, while Cornell Feline Health Center notes that in most cats with pancreatitis no cause is found. Cornell also notes many cats are lactose intolerant, so cream fillings and frosting can add to the upset.
Cats cannot taste sweetness, as research on their sweet receptor gene has shown. They are usually after the butter and cream.
Chocolate cake and chocolate decorations
Merck Veterinary Manual explains that the risk from chocolate comes from theobromine and caffeine. Cocoa powder has the highest concentration, followed by baking chocolate, dark chocolate and milk chocolate, while white chocolate has a negligible amount. Mud cakes, brownies and ganache made with cocoa or dark chocolate are therefore more concerning than a milk chocolate button on a birthday cake.
Signs usually appear within 6 to 12 hours and can include vomiting, diarrhoea, thirst, restlessness, a racing heart, tremors and seizures.
Fruit cake, Christmas cake and pudding
The RSPCA lists grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants among foods harmful to cats, and specifically mentions Christmas cakes. Research in cats is limited. A 2022 study of 13 cats that ate grape products found two developed mainly stomach-related signs and none developed kidney injury. Pet Poison Helpline notes dogs are the only species positively identified as sensitive so far. Even so, the toxic dose is unknown, so vets treat these exposures with caution.
Fruit cakes are often fed with brandy or rum. Pet Poison Helpline notes alcohol can cause rapid wobbliness, lethargy and vomiting in cats.
Nut cakes
Macadamia, walnut and other nut cakes are rich and fatty. The RSPCA lists nuts, including macadamia nuts, as harmful to cats.
Sugar-free and "keto" cakes
Some use xylitol or other sweeteners. Xylitol is dangerous to dogs. A 2018 study in six healthy cats found no toxic effects, but that is limited evidence. Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline if your cat ate a sugar-free cake.
Raw batter and dough
Raw cake batter contains raw egg and flour. The ASPCA notes raw eggs can carry Salmonella and E. coli. Yeasted cakes such as babka or bienenstich use dough that can rise in the stomach and produce alcohol, which Pet Poison Helpline notes is dangerous to cats as well as dogs.
Signs to watch for
- vomiting or diarrhoea
- restlessness, pacing, panting or a fast heartbeat
- tremors, twitching or seizures
- wobbliness, unusual sleepiness or low body temperature
- a swollen belly or retching
- reduced appetite or hiding
When it is an emergency
Call your vet or emergency clinic straight away if your cat:
- ate chocolate cake, brownie, ganache or cocoa
- ate fruit cake, Christmas cake or pudding
- ate a cake containing alcohol, macadamia nuts or sweeteners
- ate raw dough or batter and seems bloated, wobbly or sleepy
- has tremors, seizures or collapses
Take the packaging or recipe with you. Out of hours, call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738. Do not make your cat vomit at home unless a vet or the helpline tells you to.
How vets work out the risk
Your vet will ask what type of cake, how much and when, and your cat's weight. For chocolate cakes, they will estimate how much cocoa or chocolate was involved. If the exposure is significant and recent, they may empty the stomach in the clinic using medicines suitable for cats. Some cats need monitoring, fluids, heart checks or medicine to control tremors. For fruit cake, your vet may recommend blood tests to check kidney values. Your vet will tailor care to your cat.
Prevention at parties
- Keep cakes in a closed cupboard, oven (turned off) or cake box until serving.
- Put leftover slices away straight after.
- Ask guests not to share food, and give your cat a quiet room during the party.
A cat-friendly celebration
If you want to include your cat, offer its favourite cat treat or a small portion of its usual wet food. Keep treats within Cornell's guide of no more than 10 to 15 percent of daily calories.
FAQ
My cat licked the icing off a cupcake. Should I worry?
Plain buttercream or icing is unlikely to cause more than mild upset. Check whether it was chocolate, and watch for vomiting or diarrhoea.
Is carrot cake OK?
Carrot cake often contains sultanas and walnuts, and cream cheese frosting. It is best avoided.
Can I make a cake for my cat?
Skip baking. A little of your cat's usual food, served in a fun way, is safer.
How long after eating chocolate cake would my cat show signs?
Merck notes signs usually appear within 6 to 12 hours. Call your vet straight away rather than waiting for signs.
Talk with a vet
If your cat has got into the party food and you are unsure what to do, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you decide quickly. For signs like tremors or collapse, go straight to your nearest clinic. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals.
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I feed my cat?
- Dijkman MA, et al. Incidence of Vitis fruit-induced clinical signs and acute kidney injury in dogs and cats. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2022;63(6):447-453.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Feline Safety.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Alcohol.
- Jerzsele A, et al. Effects of p.o. administered xylitol in cats. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2018;41(3):409-414.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Bread Dough.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feline Pancreatitis.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
- Li X, et al. Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar. PLoS Genetics. 2005;1(1):e3.
- Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia, 1300 869 738). Animal Poisons Helpline: 24/7 Pet Poisoning Advice.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.