Food safety

Can Cats Eat Skittles?

Not recommended — Skittles for cats.

Not recommended

Why: Skittles are pure sugar with flavourings and colourings — nothing a cat needs, and enough sugar to upset the stomach. Sugar-free versions may contain xylitol, which is toxic. Hard sweets are also a choking hazard.

If your cat ate skittles: A Skittle or two is not an emergency. Watch for an upset stomach. If they were sugar-free, check for xylitol and call your vet immediately.

Related: Candy, Xylitol (Birch Sugar), Caramel

Why this verdict

Skittles are pure sugar with flavourings and colourings — nothing a cat needs, and enough sugar to upset the stomach. Sugar-free versions may contain xylitol, which is toxic. Hard sweets are also a choking hazard.

If your cat ate skittles

A Skittle or two is not an emergency. Watch for an upset stomach. If they were sugar-free, check for xylitol and call your vet immediately.

Related foods

Candy, Xylitol (Birch Sugar), Caramel

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.