Quick answer
Key points
- Chocolate, coffee and caffeinated drinks contain methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures and even death.
- Garlic, shallots, onions and spring onions can damage red blood cells, and cats are the most sensitive.
- Grapes, raisins and tamarind can damage a dog's kidneys, while every part of a true lily can damage a cat's kidneys.
- Xylitol in sugar-free gum and human toothpaste can drop a dog's blood sugar within minutes.
- If your pet may have eaten something toxic, contact a vet at once and do not try to make it vomit yourself.
When should you see a vet?
- Contact or go to a vet immediately if your pet may have eaten chocolate, xylitol, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, alcohol or any part of a lily, even if it seems well.
- Vomiting or diarrhoea after eating something unusual.
- Trembling, seizures, staggering or marked weakness.
- Restlessness, heavy panting or a very fast heartbeat.
- Pale or yellowish gums, or reddish-brown urine, in the days after eating onion or garlic.
- A cat that is quiet, drooling or vomiting after being near lilies.
Contact your nearest veterinarian or animal clinic. This site cannot assess your animal’s condition. Choosing a vet
In this guide (11)
Which foods are dangerous for cats and dogs?
Foods to keep away from pets include chocolate, coffee and caffeinated drinks, xylitol, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, alcohol, macadamia nuts and bones. ASPCA Animal Poison Control lists them among the human foods pets should not be given, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also names them as hazards. Cat owners should watch for two more things: lilies, which can damage a cat's kidneys, and milk, which often upsets digestion. How harmful each one is depends on what it is and how much is eaten. The safest approach is not to share these foods at all and to store them where your pet cannot reach them.
Evidence: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ↗ · US FDA — Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet ↗
Why are chocolate, coffee and tea dangerous for dogs and cats?
Chocolate, coffee and caffeinated drinks contain methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. ASPCA says the darker the chocolate or the higher the caffeine content, the greater the risk. Cocoa powder and baking chocolate are the most dangerous, and white chocolate contains the least. The FDA notes that caffeine is also found in tea, soft drinks and energy drinks. The Merck Veterinary Manual says signs of chocolate poisoning usually begin 6–12 hours after eating and can last up to 72 hours in severe cases. Because signs can be delayed, call a vet even if your pet still seems well.
Evidence: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ↗ · US FDA — Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version) — Food Hazards ↗
Are onions and garlic dangerous for cats and dogs?
Yes, onions and their relatives in the Allium genus can damage red blood cells and cause anaemia, and cats are the most sensitive species. ASPCA and the Merck Veterinary Manual name garlic, onions, chives and leeks; shallots (bawang merah) and spring onions (daun bawang) belong to the same genus. Merck says raw, cooked, dried and powdered forms can all be toxic, and poisoning in cats and dogs is most often linked to concentrated forms such as onion or garlic powder. So leftovers cooked with onion or garlic, fried shallots (bawang goreng) and powdered seasonings should not be shared. Signs of anaemia often appear only days later, such as weakness, pale or yellowish gums, reddish-brown urine or collapse.
Evidence: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual — Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals ↗
Can dogs eat grapes, raisins or sugar-free sweets?
No, grapes, raisins and tamarind can damage a dog's kidneys, and xylitol in sugar-free products can make its blood sugar drop fast. The Merck Veterinary Manual links this kidney damage to tartaric acid in these fruits. Vomiting or diarrhoea usually starts 6–12 hours after eating, and kidney failure can develop within 24–72 hours. Tamarind (asam jawa), common in Indonesian cooking, has also caused kidney failure in dogs. There are anecdotal reports of kidney failure in cats after eating grapes or raisins, although no published case reports, so keep these fruits away from cats too.
Xylitol is a sweetener found in some sugar-free gum and sweets, baked goods, cough syrup, mouthwash and toothpaste. The FDA explains that in dogs it triggers a surge of insulin, so blood sugar can fall steeply within 10–60 minutes. Signs start with vomiting, followed by weakness, staggering, collapse and seizures, and larger amounts can also damage the liver. Check labels, especially on products sold as sugar-free, and use only pet toothpaste for pets. The FDA says xylitol does not seem to be as dangerous for cats, but these products should still be kept well out of any pet's reach.
Evidence: Merck Veterinary Manual — Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis in Dogs ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version) — Food Hazards ↗ · US FDA — Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs ↗ · ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ↗
Can cats drink milk, and can dogs have chicken bones?
It is best not to, because many cats are lactose-intolerant, and bones can injure or block the gut of both cats and dogs. The Cornell Feline Health Center does not recommend milk as a treat for cats because dairy products can cause digestive problems. ASPCA explains that pets lack enough lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar, so milk can cause diarrhoea. For bones, ASPCA warns of injury or blockage in the digestive tract that may need surgery. The American Kennel Club adds that cooked bones, such as leftover chicken or rib bones, splinter into sharp shards that can cause choking and damage the mouth, throat and intestines.
Alcohol is also dangerous. ASPCA says alcoholic drinks and foods containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, poor coordination, breathing difficulty, tremors, coma and even death, and that alcohol is absorbed quickly. Macadamia nuts are a particular danger to dogs: within 12 hours they can cause vomiting, weakness, tremors, wobbliness and fever. Do not put bones or leftovers in a bin your pet can raid. If your pet swallows any of these, contact a vet straight away.
Evidence: Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat ↗ · ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ↗ · American Kennel Club — Can Dogs Eat Bones? Be Careful Before Giving Your Pup a Bone ↗ · US FDA — Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version) — Food Hazards ↗
Why are lilies dangerous for cats?
Every part of true lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis), including the pollen and the water in the vase, can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. The FDA explains that chewing a small piece of leaf or petal, licking a few pollen grains off the fur or drinking vase water can lead to kidney failure in less than three days. Named types include Asiatic, Easter, Oriental, Stargazer and Tiger lilies. Early signs within 0–12 hours are reduced activity, drooling and vomiting. ASPCA says kidney injury can be prevented with aggressive treatment at a veterinary hospital, but it is often fatal if treatment is delayed beyond 18 hours. If you have a cat, it is best not to bring these lilies home.
Evidence: US FDA — Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination ↗ · ASPCA — Which Lilies Are Toxic to Pets? ↗
What should you do if your cat or dog eats something toxic?
Contact or go to a vet straight away, even if your pet still seems well, because some poisons cause signs only hours or days later. The FDA advises calling a vet right away if your pet may have eaten something dangerous, and ASPCA suggests noting how much was eaten. Also be ready to say what the food was, when it was eaten and what signs you have seen. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that calling ahead helps the clinic prepare for your arrival.
Do not try to make your pet vomit and do not give any medicine yourself. The Merck Veterinary Manual says home attempts to induce vomiting are not recommended for xylitol poisoning because signs can start very quickly, and each poison needs different handling. Let the vet decide what is needed. To prevent a repeat, keep chocolate, coffee, sugar-free sweets, toothpaste and medicines in closed cupboards, and do not give pets leftovers cooked with seasonings.
Evidence: US FDA — Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet ↗ · ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version) — What to Do in a Dog or Cat Emergency ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version) — Food Hazards ↗
Sources & references
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ↗
- US FDA — Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet ↗
- Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version) — Food Hazards ↗
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals ↗
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis in Dogs ↗
- US FDA — Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs ↗
- Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat ↗
- American Kennel Club — Can Dogs Eat Bones? Be Careful Before Giving Your Pup a Bone ↗
- US FDA — Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination ↗
- ASPCA — Which Lilies Are Toxic to Pets? ↗
- Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version) — What to Do in a Dog or Cat Emergency ↗
References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.
Cite this page
PanduanHewan. (2026, 25 September). Foods that are dangerous for cats and dogs. PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/foods-dangerous-for-cats-and-dogs/