Food safety

Can Cats Eat Carob Chocolate Substitute?

Safe in small amounts — Carob (Chocolate Substitute) for cats.

Safe in small amounts

Why: Carob looks and tastes a little like chocolate but contains no theobromine or caffeine, so it does not carry chocolate's toxicity. It is still sugary, so it is an occasional-treat ingredient only — and only in products made for pets, not human carob sweets.

Safe serving: A tiny amount of pet-made carob treat, occasionally.

If your cat ate carob (chocolate substitute): No action needed for a small amount of carob. If the product also contained xylitol or chocolate, call your vet.

Related: Chocolate, Brownies, Candy

Why this verdict

Carob looks and tastes a little like chocolate but contains no theobromine or caffeine, so it does not carry chocolate's toxicity. It is still sugary, so it is an occasional-treat ingredient only — and only in products made for pets, not human carob sweets.

Safe serving

A tiny amount of pet-made carob treat, occasionally.

If your cat ate carob (chocolate substitute)

No action needed for a small amount of carob. If the product also contained xylitol or chocolate, call your vet.

Related foods

Chocolate, Brownies, 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.