By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Last updated: 30 October 2026
Cereal bars live in school bags, handbags and car consoles, which puts them well within reach of a nosy cat. Golden Grahams S'mores Treats are a chocolate and marshmallow bar made with Golden Grahams cereal. Cats are not drawn to sweetness, but the crinkly wrapper and the smell of a half-eaten bar can be enough to get their attention.
Key takeaways
- The bar contains a chocolate flavoured coating made with cocoa powder and milk chocolate flavoured chips. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to cats.
- The amount of cocoa in one bar is likely to be small, but cats are small too, so call your vet for advice if your cat ate a meaningful piece.
- Each bar has 26 g of total sugars. Cats have no need for sugar, and rich foods can upset their stomach.
- Chewed wrappers can cause a blockage in the gut.
- Do not make your cat vomit at home. Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738.
What is in a Golden Grahams S'mores bar?
General Mills lists the ingredients as Golden Grahams cereal (whole grain wheat, corn and sugars), corn syrup, a chocolate flavoured coating made with cocoa powder, milk chocolate flavoured chips containing cocoa, high fructose corn syrup, fructose, marshmallows (made with gelatin), crisp rice, canola oil and sugar. A bar has 26 g of total sugars.
There is no xylitol and no raisins or nuts listed. The ingredients to think about are the cocoa and the sugar.
Why the chocolate matters
The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that the toxic compounds in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine, both methylxanthines. The amount varies with the type of chocolate. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate are the most concentrated, milk chocolate has less, and white chocolate is a negligible source.
The coating and chips on this bar are described as chocolate flavoured, so the level of cocoa is probably lower than in a block of dark chocolate. Even so, the label does not give the cocoa content, and a vet will want to know how much your cat ate and how much it weighs. Signs of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 6 to 12 hours, according to Merck. See our guides to chocolate and milk chocolate.
Sugar and marshmallow
Cats cannot taste sweetness, according to research published in PLoS Genetics, so there is nothing in the sugar for them. A sugary, sticky bar can cause vomiting or diarrhoea. Marshmallow is mostly sugar and gelatin, and a chewy lump could be hard for a cat to swallow.
Wrappers and blockages
A wrapper that smells of chocolate is very tempting to chew. Plastic and foil cannot be digested. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes gut obstruction as an emergency, with signs that can include vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that a reduced appetite is another common sign of a foreign body. Read more in our guide to foreign bodies in dogs and cats.
Signs to watch for
Possible chocolate effects:
- vomiting or diarrhoea
- restlessness or hyperactivity
- a racing heart, panting or excessive thirst
- tremors or seizures
Possible wrapper blockage:
- repeated vomiting
- not eating
- a sore tummy or diarrhoea
What to do now
- Gather the wrapper and anything left of the bar, and estimate how much is missing.
- Check whether any wrapper is missing too.
- Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738, even if your cat seems fine.
- Do not make your cat vomit at home unless a vet or the Helpline tells you to.
When it is an emergency
See a vet straight away if your cat:
- has tremors, seizures or collapses
- is panting, very restless or has a racing heart
- vomits repeatedly or stops eating after chewing a wrapper
How vets approach it
Your vet will consider the amount of cocoa, your cat's weight and how long ago it happened. Merck notes that in severe chocolate cases, signs can last up to 72 hours. For a possible wrapper blockage, VCA notes vets may use X-rays or ultrasound, and surgery may be needed if the gut is blocked. Treatment depends on what the examining vet finds.
Prevention
- Keep lunch boxes, school bags and handbags zipped and off the floor.
- Put empty wrappers straight into a lidded bin.
- Remind children not to share snacks with the cat.
FAQ
My cat licked the marshmallow. Is that a problem?
A lick of marshmallow is unlikely to cause more than a mild upset. Watch for vomiting and call your vet if you are unsure.
Is a tiny crumb of the coating dangerous?
A crumb is unlikely to cause chocolate poisoning, but if you are not sure how much was eaten, call your vet for advice.
Are other cereal bars safer?
Check the label. Look for chocolate, raisins, nuts, xylitol and dried fruit, and keep wrappers out of reach.
Talk with a vet
If your cat got into a snack bar and you are not sure how much it ate, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you decide what to do next. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- General Mills Convenience. Golden Grahams S’mores Treats Chocolate Marshmallow Bar.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals.
- Li X, et al. PLoS Genet. 2005;1(1):e3. Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Small Animals.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Ingestion of Foreign Bodies in Cats.
- 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.