Fruit
Can cats eat grapes and raisins?
Cats seem to eat grapes far less often than dogs, but kidney injury has been reported and the same tartaric acid is present. Keep them out of reach.
Why Tartaric acid (the likely cause of kidney injury)
By Maya Hart
If your cat ate some
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine.
- Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight.
- Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.
- Treatment works best when it starts within a few hours.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting within a few hours
- Diarrhoea and loss of appetite
- Lethargy and weakness
- Drinking and urinating less than usual
- Belly pain
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs Toxic
No. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and there is no known safe amount — some dogs have been poisoned by a handful.
Can dogs eat grapes and raisins?Cats Toxic
No. Cats seem to eat grapes far less often than dogs, but kidney injury has been reported and the same tartaric acid is present. Keep them out of reach.
The details
Grape poisoning is unusual because it does not depend on dose in any predictable way. For years vets could not explain why one dog ate a whole bunch without harm while another developed kidney failure after a few raisins. Research published in 2021 pointed to tartaric acid, which varies between grape varieties and ripeness — which is why every exposure is treated as an emergency.
Watch for hidden sources too: fruit cake, hot cross buns, trail mix, granola bars and some breakfast cereals all contain raisins.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat grapes and raisins?
No. Cats seem to eat grapes far less often than dogs, but kidney injury has been reported and the same tartaric acid is present. Keep them out of reach.
What makes grapes and raisins risky for cats?
Tartaric acid (the likely cause of kidney injury).
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
vomiting within a few hours, diarrhoea and loss of appetite, lethargy and weakness, drinking and urinating less than usual, belly pain.
What should I do if my cat ate grapes and raisins?
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to. Treatment works best when it starts within a few hours.
Is grapes and raisins safe for dogs too?
No. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and there is no known safe amount — some dogs have been poisoned by a handful.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
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