Updated: August 11, 2022 by Kristen Chapple
Coffee is something that became an important part in the life of most adults living in modern society. This is because we have many responsibilities and our work schedules are still quite tiring. Coffee helps us by adding a surplus of energy and the fact that it tastes so great isn’t bad either. So many different varieties have been developed over the years and perhaps you may want to give some to a tired cat or add some hot coffee into their bowl to warm them up. So can cats drink coffee? Let us find out together!
Effect On Cats
Cats would definitely not drink coffee if they were in the wild and from the point of view of health there aren’t any reasons to give them coffee. It is a laxative and energy drink for us but giving coffee to your cat for those reasons can end up very bad.
Caffeine
Caffeine can lead to poisoning in cats and since they are so small compared to us, they can get an overdose of this substance. The powerful stimulant leads to symptoms of restlessness, hyperactivity and an increased heart rate. At the same time the typical symptoms of poisoning are also present such as vomiting, increased blood pressure or even tremors, an irregular heartbeat or seizures.
This is a very serious condition and if it is left untreated it can be fatal. Speed is really important in this treatment and so you should rush to the vet as soon as you know your cat has drunk some coffee. The treatment is usually the administration of charcoals and an attempt to induce vomiting, depending on how serious the symptoms are.
Decaf is a better option perhaps as it doesn’t pose the risks of caffeine overdose but the chemicals in it can still be harmful for your furry friend.
Flavors
The amount of calories in flavored coffee drinks is typically much higher than in a regular cup of black coffee and this isn’t a very good thing for your pet. Too much sugar or empty calories in general can increase the risk of obesity and diabetes.
Remember that chocolate is extremely dangerous for cats even in small quantities so it is never a good idea to add some to their food or drink. To top all that, milk is problematic too since many adult cats are intolerant to lactose.
Short Answer:
It is forbidden to give your cat coffee since not only does it not offer any nutritional value but it can also poison your pet.
