Food safety

Can Cats Eat Brownies?

Toxic — call your vet now — Brownies for cats.

Toxic — call your vet now

Why: Brownies are chocolate baked goods — the chocolate is the danger. Theobromine and caffeine in chocolate are toxic to cats, and brownies concentrate them in a small, easy-to-eat piece. Dark chocolate brownies are the worst.

If your cat ate brownies: Call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Note how much was eaten and whether it was dark, milk or sugar-free chocolate. Vomiting, restlessness, a racing heart or tremors need emergency care.

Related: Chocolate, Cake, Candy

Why this verdict

Brownies are chocolate baked goods — the chocolate is the danger. Theobromine and caffeine in chocolate are toxic to cats, and brownies concentrate them in a small, easy-to-eat piece. Dark chocolate brownies are the worst.

If your cat ate brownies

Call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Note how much was eaten and whether it was dark, milk or sugar-free chocolate. Vomiting, restlessness, a racing heart or tremors need emergency care.

Related foods

Chocolate, Cake, Candy

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.