Food safety

Can Cats Drink Beer?

Toxic — call your vet now — Beer for cats.

Toxic — call your vet now

Why: Beer contains alcohol (ethanol), which is toxic to cats. Even a small amount can cause vomiting, disorientation, slow breathing and a dangerous drop in blood sugar and body temperature. Non-alcoholic beer is still not a drink for cats.

If your cat ate beer: Call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Do not try to make your cat vomit. Vomiting, wobbliness, slow breathing or collapse need emergency care.

Related: Alcohol, Coffee, Soda

Why this verdict

Beer contains alcohol (ethanol), which is toxic to cats. Even a small amount can cause vomiting, disorientation, slow breathing and a dangerous drop in blood sugar and body temperature. Non-alcoholic beer is still not a drink for cats.

If your cat ate beer

Call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Do not try to make your cat vomit. Vomiting, wobbliness, slow breathing or collapse need emergency care.

Related foods

Alcohol, Coffee, Soda

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.