Is Alcohol Dangerous for Cats? Signs and Emergency Steps

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

Cats can slip into trouble with alcohol in ways owners rarely expect. A party glass left on a low table, a sweet cocktail, an unattended bowl of rum cake batter or even a dab of hand sanitizer on fur can add up. Because of a cat's small body size, a dose that seems trivial to a person may be significant for a cat.

How alcohol affects cats

Ethanol is absorbed quickly through the stomach and intestines. In a cat, it acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, causing loss of coordination, drowsiness and disorientation, much like in people. Because cats weigh only a few kilos, the amount needed to cause harm is small.

Ethanol also lowers body temperature and blood sugar and slows breathing and heart rate. In severe poisoning, a cat can become comatose, and there is a risk of death. Isopropyl alcohol, found in rubbing alcohol, is even more toxic than ethanol.

Hidden sources of alcohol

Alcohol is not just in drinks. Be aware of:

• Beer, wine, spirits, cocktails and sweet mixed drinks
• Raw bread or pizza dough, which produces ethanol as yeast ferments
• Fermented or overripe fruit
• Mouthwash and some oral rinses
• Hand sanitizers and rubbing alcohol
• Cough syrups and tonic medications
• Perfumes, colognes and some essential oil blends
• Desserts such as rum cake, tiramisu and boozy fruitcake
• Eggnog and cream liqueurs, which attract cats by their milk smell

Signs of alcohol poisoning

Signs usually appear within thirty minutes to an hour and may include:

• Wobbliness, stumbling or inability to stand
• Disorientation or odd behavior
• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Drowsiness or lethargy
• Low body temperature, which can make the ears and paws feel cold
• Slow breathing and slow heart rate
• Tremors or seizures
• Coma in severe cases

What to do

1. Remove the source and check the cat's mouth and fur.
2. Call a veterinarian or poison helpline right away. In the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Pet Poison Helpline answer around the clock, and fees may apply. Our US vet directory helps you find emergency care.
3. Keep your cat warm with a blanket while you arrange transport, because body temperature may be dropping.
4. Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to. A drowsy cat may inhale vomit.
5. Go to the clinic if advised, and bring the container or label to help estimate the dose.

Treatment

Veterinarians treat alcohol poisoning with supportive care. This may include intravenous fluids, warming, monitoring of blood sugar, medication to prevent vomiting and, in severe cases, help with breathing. Most cats recover with prompt care, though recovery can take a day or more. Because the effect is quick, the time between exposure and treatment matters a lot.

Preventing accidents

• Never leave glasses unattended, especially at gatherings. Cats jump onto tables and explore.
• Keep bread dough covered and out of reach, and bake it promptly.
• Store mouthwash, hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol in closed cabinets.
• Use pet-safe cleaning products rather than strong alcohol-based sprays on surfaces where your cat sits.
• Ask guests not to feed your cat anything, including a lick of a cocktail.

A word about milk-based drinks

Cream liqueurs and eggnog combine alcohol with dairy, which many cats find tempting. Many adult cats are also lactose intolerant, so the dairy can add diarrhea to the mix. See our guide on whether cats can drink milk.

How little is too little?

There is no safe dose for a cat, but the risk scales with body weight and the strength of the drink. A tablespoon of beer is a very different exposure from a tablespoon of spirits, and a small kitten is affected more than a large adult. Because cats are so small, vets treat any deliberate or accidental drinking of alcohol as a reason to call, and they use the alcohol percentage on the bottle to help estimate the dose.

Common household scenarios

• A party. Cocktail glasses with sweet mixers, especially creamy ones, are the most common source of feline alcohol exposure.
• Baking. Raw bread, pizza and pretzel dough rises in the stomach and produces alcohol, while also swelling the stomach.
• Cleaning and grooming products. A cat that walks through a spill of alcohol-based cleaner and then grooms can swallow it.
• Medicine cabinets. Some liquid cold remedies contain a substantial amount of alcohol.

If you are not sure what your cat got into, bring the container and call your vet.

More foods to keep away

Alcohol belongs on the same list as caffeine, grapes and raisins and onions and garlic. The free cat food and plant safety checker gives quick answers on many others. If you are ever unsure, call your vet or a poison helpline.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. Every cat is different. If your cat is unwell, or you are unsure about a symptom, diet change or medication, contact your veterinarian.