Nuts & seeds
Can cats eat walnuts?
The same mould toxins affect cats, and walnuts offer nothing a cat needs.
Why Tremorgenic mycotoxins in mouldy walnuts (e.g. penitrem A); juglone in black walnuts
By Maya HartIf 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.
- Tremors can start within hours of eating mouldy walnuts.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting
- Tremors and twitching
- Seizures
- High temperature
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs Toxic
No. Mouldy walnuts can contain toxins that cause tremors and seizures, black walnuts are toxic, and even fresh walnuts are fatty and hard to digest. Keep them away.
Can dogs eat walnuts?Cats Toxic
No. The same mould toxins affect cats, and walnuts offer nothing a cat needs.
The details
Walnuts that fall in autumn and lie on damp ground are quickly colonised by moulds. Dogs that eat them can develop severe tremors that look frightening and need veterinary treatment, although most dogs recover. If you have a walnut tree, clear fallen nuts regularly.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat walnuts?
No. The same mould toxins affect cats, and walnuts offer nothing a cat needs.
What makes walnuts risky for cats?
Tremorgenic mycotoxins in mouldy walnuts (e.g. penitrem A); juglone in black walnuts.
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
vomiting, tremors and twitching, seizures, high temperature.
What should I do if my cat ate walnuts?
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. Tremors can start within hours of eating mouldy walnuts.
Is walnuts safe for dogs too?
No. Mouldy walnuts can contain toxins that cause tremors and seizures, black walnuts are toxic, and even fresh walnuts are fatty and hard to digest. Keep them away.
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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