Nuts & seeds
Can cats eat hazelnuts?
Not toxic, but fatty, hard to digest and a choking risk.
Why Fat; mould on old nuts; chocolate in spreads
By Maya HartIf your cat ate some
- A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset.
- Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell.
- If your dog ate chocolate spread or a large amount, call your vet.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Choking or blockage
- Pancreatitis after a lot of nuts
How much, how often
Avoid.
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of the day’s calories. Work out your pet’s calories
Serving it safely
- Avoid whole nuts for small dogs
- Keep chocolate hazelnut spread well away
- Mixed nuts may contain macadamias, which are toxic
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs In moderation
Hazelnuts aren’t toxic, but their size and shape make them a choking and blockage risk for dogs, and they are high in fat. Chocolate hazelnut spreads are dangerous.
How much: Best avoided; at most a chopped nut.
Can dogs eat hazelnuts?Cats In moderation
Not toxic, but fatty, hard to digest and a choking risk.
How much: Avoid.
The details
The main danger with hazelnuts is mechanical: small dogs can choke, and whole nuts can block the intestine. Chocolate hazelnut spread is a much bigger worry, because it contains cocoa and is very fatty. Hazelnuts picked up in autumn from under trees can also be mouldy.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat hazelnuts?
Not toxic, but fatty, hard to digest and a choking risk.
How much hazelnuts can a cat have?
Avoid.
What makes hazelnuts risky for cats?
Fat; mould on old nuts; chocolate in spreads.
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
vomiting and diarrhoea, choking or blockage, pancreatitis after a lot of nuts.
What should I do if my cat ate hazelnuts?
A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset. Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell. If your dog ate chocolate spread or a large amount, call your vet.
Is hazelnuts safe for dogs too?
Hazelnuts aren’t toxic, but their size and shape make them a choking and blockage risk for dogs, and they are high in fat. Chocolate hazelnut spreads are dangerous.
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