Can Cats Eat Avocado? What Poison Control Sources Say

Pet Poison Helpline says, “Avocado is non-toxic to dogs and cats.” The ASPCA and the Merck Veterinary Manual do not name cats on their avocado pages. The ASPCA says avocado “is primarily a problem for birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses and ruminants including sheep and goats.” Pet Poison Helpline also lists a risk from the seed, covered below.

Can Cats Eat Avocado?

Pet Poison Helpline's avocado page reads, “Avocados contain persin which is toxic to birds, rabbits, horses, and ruminants e.g., cows, goats.” The Merck Veterinary Manual calls persin “the toxic principle in avocado.” Its page lists the animals that are susceptible to avocado's effects on the heart and on the mammary glands of nursing mothers: “Cattle, goats, horses, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, sheep, budgerigars, canaries, cockatiels, ostriches, chickens, turkeys, lemurs, aye-ayes, and fish.”

The ASPCA's page on avocado says persin “can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, and more serious signs in other animals due to a wide range in sensitivity across species.” The ASPCA opens that page with avocado toast: “Different variations of avocado toast are sweeping the nation as a healthy meal choice, but there is not much awareness about the potential threat to pets.” It also says, “Although avocado is frequently found on lists of toxic foods for animals, it’s sometimes unclear how dangerous an avocado ingestion may be, what signs of toxicity to look out for, and what species are sensitive to avocado poisoning.” A US Library of Medicine study covers the toxicity of avocado fruits to cats.

Pet Poison Helpline's avocado page carries this disclaimer: “A number of factors (amount of substance ingested, size of the animal, allergies, etc.) determine what is toxic to a particular pet.” To limit the amount of avocado a cat can get to, start with the ASPCA's advice: “When using avocado in your diet, be sure to be mindful of its potential danger to your pets or animals on your farm.”

Which Parts Of The Avocado Are A Problem?

The Merck Veterinary Manual says, “Ingestion of avocado fruit, leaves, stems, and seeds has been associated with toxicosis in animals; leaves are the most toxic part.” The ASPCA lists the leaves, fruit, seeds and bark: “The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain persin.”

Pet Poison Helpline says, “Ingestion of the avocado seed can result in an intestinal obstruction.” In a household that also has a dog, the Merck Veterinary Manual says, “dogs ingesting the intact pit of the avocado fruit can develop foreign body obstruction of the GI tract.”

Can Cats Eat Avocado Oil?

The avocado pages from Pet Poison Helpline, the ASPCA, and the Merck Veterinary Manual do not mention avocado oil. If a cat has eaten avocado oil or a food made with it, call your vet or one of the poison control lines in the section on what to do, and have the product in hand.

Can Cats Eat Guacamole?

Pet Poison Helpline says, “Garlic, along with chives, onion, and leeks, belongs to the Allium family; all are poisonous to dogs, cats, and livestock.” It adds, “Certain animal species and breeds are more sensitive to Alliums including cats and Japanese breeds of dogs (e.g., Akita, Shiba Inu).”

Pet Poison Helpline's onion page says, “Poisonous doses of Alliums damage red blood cells leading to anemia and cause GI distress with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.” The ASPCA says, “Onion, garlic and chives are members of the Allium species of vegetables.” It adds that Allium species “can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage, which can lead to anemia (low red blood cells). Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk depending on the amount ingested.”

Is An Avocado Plant Poisonous To Cats?

The ASPCA says the leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain persin.

The ASPCA's toxic plant page for avocado (Persea americana) lists the toxicity as “Toxic to Horses,” the toxic principle as persin, and the clinical signs as “Respiratory distress, heart failure, edema.” It does not name cats.

What Signs Do The Sources List?

For dogs, the ASPCA lists “vomiting and diarrhea.” For the animals on its list, the Merck Veterinary Manual says nonlactating mammals, or animals that have ingested a large amount of avocado, “may develop myocardial insufficiency” and “may exhibit lethargy, respiratory distress, subcutaneous edema, cyanosis, cough, exercise intolerance, and death.” Cats are not among the animals Merck names, and its page gives amounts only for animals it does name, such as mice, goats, sheep, and budgerigars.

The seed brings the intestinal obstruction Pet Poison Helpline describes. The Allium ingredients in guacamole bring the signs listed above: anemia, and “nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.”

What To Do If Your Cat Ate Avocado

The ASPCA says, “If you suspect your pet has eaten any part of an avocado, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 as soon as possible.” The ASPCA says, “A consultation fee may apply.”

If your cat shows signs of discomfort after eating avocado, Pet Poison Helpline says, “If you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, call Pet Poison Helpline or seek immediate veterinary treatment.” Its number is (855) 764-7661, and its pages say an incident fee applies.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says, “Diagnosis of avocado toxicosis relies on history of exposure and clinical signs,” and “No tests are currently available to aid diagnosis of avocado toxicosis, and treatment is limited to addressing clinical signs.”

Our guide to permethrin poisoning in cats covers dog flea products, which are another poison for cats. Our list of harmful things for dogs gives the ASPCA and Merck lines on avocado next to twelve other foods and household items.

FAQ

Is avocado safe for dogs?

The Merck Veterinary Manual says, “Although a single case report exists of 2 dogs developing myocardial damage after avocado ingestion, dogs seem relatively resistant compared with other species.”

Which pets does avocado affect most?

The ASPCA's page on avocado poisoning says birds, horses and rodents are “especially sensitive to avocado toxicity,” and that sheep and goats “can also develop serious clinical signs.” Merck says, “Caged birds seem more susceptible to the effects of avocado, whereas chickens and turkeys seem more resistant,” and “Birds and livestock exposed to avocado plants or fruits are at greatest risk of avocado toxicosis.” It adds, “Myocardial injury can be extensive, especially in birds.”

The ASPCA lists the signs in birds as “weakness, depression, feather pulling and agitation,” and says that with larger exposures, “we can even see more severe symptoms such as respiratory distress and edema.” Merck says, “Horses may develop edema of the head, tongue, and breast region.” The ASPCA says of its people foods list, “The biggest concern is for cardiovascular damage and death in birds and rabbits. Horses, donkeys and ruminants can develop swelling of the head/neck in addition to cardiac concerns.”

Cats are more than just pets. They are essential members of our families. Let the world know how much you care for your furry feline friend with some cat apparel for humans.

Sources

• Pet Poison Helpline, Avocado
• Pet Poison Helpline, Garlic
• Pet Poison Helpline, Onions
• ASPCA, The Scoop on Avocado and Your Pets
• ASPCA, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• ASPCA, Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Avocado
• ASPCA Poison Control
• Merck Veterinary Manual, Avocado (Persea spp) Toxicosis in Animals
• Kovalkovicova N, et al. Some food toxic for pets. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 2009