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Nuts & seeds

Can cats eat pecans?

No Toxic

The same risks apply to cats.

Why Mycotoxins from moulds (aflatoxin, tremorgenic toxins); juglone; fat

By Maya HartReviewed by Tailwise Editors ·

If your cat ate some

  1. Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine.
  2. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight.
  3. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.

Signs to watch for

  • Vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Tremors and seizures (mouldy nuts)
  • Pancreatitis
  • Blockage

Dogs and cats, side by side

Dogs Toxic

No. Pecans can carry moulds that produce toxins causing tremors and seizures, and they contain juglone and a lot of fat. They are also a choking and blockage risk.

Can dogs eat pecans?

Cats Toxic

No. The same risks apply to cats.

The details

Pecans are related to walnuts and share many of the same risks. Fresh, shelled pecans in small amounts often cause no more than a stomach upset, but old or fallen nuts can carry toxin-producing moulds. Because you can’t easily tell which nuts are mouldy, we take the conservative view and recommend no pecans for pets.

Pecan pie adds butter and sugar, and pralines sometimes contain chocolate.

Safer treats your cat can have instead

Questions owners ask

Can cats eat pecans?

No. The same risks apply to cats.

What makes pecans risky for cats?

Mycotoxins from moulds (aflatoxin, tremorgenic toxins); juglone; fat.

What are the signs to watch for in cats?

vomiting and diarrhoea, tremors and seizures (mouldy nuts), pancreatitis, blockage.

What should I do if my cat ate pecans?

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.

Is pecans safe for dogs too?

No. Pecans can carry moulds that produce toxins causing tremors and seizures, and they contain juglone and a lot of fat. They are also a choking and blockage risk.

Sources

  1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: people foods to avoid
  2. Merck Veterinary Manual: toxicology
  3. Pet Poison Helpline: poisons

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

More foods for cats

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