Alcohol
Verdict
Deadly — cats have zero tolerance for ethanol.
If your cat ate this
Cats hide symptoms — don't wait and see. Even small amounts of certain substances can be fatal to a cat. Act fast.
- 1. Call your veterinarian immediately
- 2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
- 3. Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (consultation fee applies)
A consultation fee may apply for poison control hotlines.
Verdict
Alcohol affects cats far more severely than humans or even dogs. A cat's small body size means even a teaspoon of spirits can cause dangerous blood alcohol levels. Cats lack the liver enzymes to metabolize ethanol efficiently. Even small amounts — beer, wine, spirits, rubbing alcohol, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, or foods cooked with alcohol — can cause central nervous system depression, dangerously low blood sugar, respiratory failure, and death.
Symptoms to watch for
- • vomiting
- • disorientation
- • difficulty walking or stumbling
- • slow breathing
- • low body temperature
- • seizures
- • coma
What to do
Treat as a veterinary emergency. Call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a veterinarian. Keep all alcoholic beverages and alcohol-based products well out of reach.
📞 US ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435