Sweets & snacks
Can cats eat sugar-free gum (xylitol)?
Keep it away. Cats appear much less sensitive to xylitol than dogs, but gum is a choking and blockage risk and has nothing to offer them.
Why Xylitol (also sold as birch sugar)
By Maya HartIf your cat ate some
- This is an emergency.
- Go to your vet or an emergency clinic now — blood sugar can fall within 30 minutes.
- Bring the packet so the vet can check the xylitol content.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting
- Weakness and wobbliness
- Collapse
- Seizures
- Signs of liver damage a day or two later
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs Toxic
No. Xylitol, a sweetener in sugar-free gum, mints, some peanut butters and toothpaste, causes a rapid, dangerous drop in blood sugar and can damage the liver. One or two pieces of gum can poison a small dog.
Can dogs eat sugar-free gum (xylitol)?Cats Toxic
Keep it away. Cats appear much less sensitive to xylitol than dogs, but gum is a choking and blockage risk and has nothing to offer them.
The details
In dogs, xylitol triggers a large release of insulin, and blood sugar can drop within half an hour. Higher doses can also cause liver failure. The amount in sugar-free gum varies from a fraction of a gram to over a gram per piece.
Xylitol turns up in surprising places: some peanut butters, chewable vitamins, nasal sprays, baked goods and “sugar-free” syrups. Check the label on anything sweet before your dog can reach it.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat sugar-free gum (xylitol)?
Keep it away. Cats appear much less sensitive to xylitol than dogs, but gum is a choking and blockage risk and has nothing to offer them.
What makes sugar-free gum (xylitol) risky for cats?
Xylitol (also sold as birch sugar).
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
vomiting, weakness and wobbliness, collapse, seizures, signs of liver damage a day or two later.
What should I do if my cat ate sugar-free gum (xylitol)?
This is an emergency. Go to your vet or an emergency clinic now — blood sugar can fall within 30 minutes. Bring the packet so the vet can check the xylitol content.
Is sugar-free gum (xylitol) safe for dogs too?
No. Xylitol, a sweetener in sugar-free gum, mints, some peanut butters and toothpaste, causes a rapid, dangerous drop in blood sugar and can damage the liver. One or two pieces of gum can poison a small dog.
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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