Food safety

Can Cats Eat Candy?

Not recommended — Candy for cats.

Not recommended

Why: Candy is sugar or sugar substitutes. Sugar causes stomach upset and tooth decay; sugar-free candy is worse — it may contain xylitol, which is toxic to pets. Hard candy is also a choking hazard.

If your cat ate candy: A small piece of sugary candy is not an emergency — watch for an upset stomach. If it was sugar-free, check for xylitol and call your vet immediately.

Related: Chocolate, Xylitol (Birch Sugar), Skittles

Why this verdict

Candy is sugar or sugar substitutes. Sugar causes stomach upset and tooth decay; sugar-free candy is worse — it may contain xylitol, which is toxic to pets. Hard candy is also a choking hazard.

If your cat ate candy

A small piece of sugary candy is not an emergency — watch for an upset stomach. If it was sugar-free, check for xylitol and call your vet immediately.

Related foods

Chocolate, Xylitol (Birch Sugar), Skittles

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.