Grapes

Q: Can cats eat Grapes? — CatToxic

Toxic: Never — can cause kidney failure. Treat as dangerous. Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure in cats. While grape toxicity is less extensively documented in cats than in dogs, veterinary consensus treats grape and raisin ingestion in cats as a serious emergency. The toxic compound has not been definitively identified, but the reaction can occur with any variety — seedless, seeded, red, green, or peeled. Even a small number of grapes can be dangerous. Cats are smaller than dogs and may be more susceptible to the unknown toxin.

Q: Symptoms to watch for

vomiting within a few hours, lethargy and weakness, loss of appetite, decreased or no urination, abdominal pain, kidney failure

Toxic

Verdict

Never — can cause kidney failure. Treat as dangerous.

Toxic principle: tartaric acid (2022 research identifies dog-specific renal transporter; mechanism may not apply to cats)

Source: ASPCA

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

Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure in cats. While grape toxicity is less extensively documented in cats than in dogs, veterinary consensus treats grape and raisin ingestion in cats as a serious emergency. The toxic compound has not been definitively identified, but the reaction can occur with any variety — seedless, seeded, red, green, or peeled. Even a small number of grapes can be dangerous. Cats are smaller than dogs and may be more susceptible to the unknown toxin.

Symptoms to watch for

• vomiting within a few hours
• lethargy and weakness
• loss of appetite
• decreased or no urination
• abdominal pain
• kidney failure

What to do

This is an emergency. Contact your vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) at once. If ingestion was recent, your vet may induce vomiting and administer IV fluids to protect the kidneys.

📞 US ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435

Related foods

Raisins

Dangerous

Never — concentrated kidney toxin, even more dangerous than grapes.

Fruits

Avocado

Toxic

Avoid — persin in skin and pit is toxic; flesh is risky.

Fruits

Lemons

Caution

Avoid — essential oils and citric acid cause GI upset.

Fruits

Grapefruit

Caution

Avoid — psoralen and essential oils are toxic.

Fruits

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