Can cats eat avocado?

Updated 12/05/2023

Avocados: they’re a popular foody staple for many a millennial. But before you decide to share your morning avo toast or guacamole centerpiece with Fluffy, it’s important to ask yourself this: can cats eat avocados, or is avocado poisonous to cats? Let’s avo look…

Are avocados safe for cats?

According to the Pet Poison Helpline, avocados do contain a toxin called persin. This is a fungicidal toxin. While it's unlikely that a small amount of avocado will cause much harm to your feline friend, too much can be toxic and could lead to some unpleasant symptoms (more on that in a moment). 

While the risk in cats (and canines) is small, persin can be fatal for many other animals, including horses, rabbits, goats and birds. Not to mention, the stone can pose a serious choking hazard and can damage cat’s teeth if they attempt to bite it. 

Our bottom line? It's just not worth the risk. Not to mention, avocado is high in fat, which is never good for our feline friends - it can cause stomach upset and lead to weight gain. Sorry, Kitty, you'll be sticking to kibble at brunch…

Can my cat eat avocado?

While the Pet Poison Helpline advises the effects are mild in cats, it’s unclear how much avocado is too much. As it’s poisonous to many other animals, it’s safest to keep it off your kitty’s menu.

Can cats eat avocado oil?

Again, while a bit of avocado oil is unlikely to cause your kitty much harm, we wouldn't recommend it. For a healthy, thriving kitty, it's best to keep your cat on a complete, balanced diet of high-quality animal protein. Their diet should be mainly meat as they are obligate carnivores.

What to do if your cat eats avocado

According to the Pet Poison Helpline, provided your kitty hasn’t ingested a large amount of avocado, it's unlikely to cause them much harm. That said, it's always a good idea to speak with your vet if your cat has eaten something it shouldn't have, for further help and advice relating to your kitty. 

If your cat has consumed an avocado-containing product, like guacamole, it’s particularly important to speak with your vet as it may have added ingredients like onions or garlic in it, which are most definitely toxic to cats. 

Symptoms of avocado toxicity

If you’ve caught your kitty nibbling away at some avocado, any effects are likely to be mild (provided they have only ingested a small amount). That said, it’s worth keeping an eye on your cat for any signs of gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, decreased appetite, or any changes in behavior (such as lethargy or hyperactivity). It goes without saying that if your cat is displaying any of these symptoms, do contact your vet as soon as possible.

Meet our veterinary expert, Emma

This article has been checked by veterinarian Emma Chandley, BVetMed MRCVS PGCertSAS. Emma graduated from the Royal Vet College in London in 2011. She has a keen interest in surgery and went on to do a postgraduate certificate in small animal surgery and was then awarded advanced practitioner status in the same discipline.

Other foods that are not safe for cats 

There are plenty more ‘human’ foods that our feline friends should avoid, including: 

• Onions
• Garlic
• Tomatoes
• Coffee and other caffeinated products
• Cherries
• Chocolate 
• Grapes 
• Raisins 
• Citrus fruits 
• Raw meat, fish and eggs 

For more advice on what cats can and can’t eat, head this way.