can cats get drunk

Can Cats Get Drunk? Why You Should Never Give A Cat Alcohol

  • Posted by Dan
  • 2 minute read

Yes, cats can get drunk.

They have very low tolerance levels for alcohol, just a few sips can be enough to get them ‘drunk’ without you even noticing.

Cats should never drink alcohol as it is extremely dangerous for them and can result in potentially fatal ethanol poisoning.

Even as much as one tablespoon of an alcoholic drink can cause extreme liver damage and depression of the nervous system which can cause fatal brain damage.

Alcohol poisoning in cats is rare as cats typically do not enjoy the taste or smell of alcohol.

Alcohol poisoning is more commonly caused by a cat eating or drinking something that the cat likes which is mixed with alcohol for example a creamy cocktail.

The Dangers Of Alcohol Poisoning In Cats

Alcohol is toxic to cats.

The ethanol contained in alcohol causes depression of their Central Nervous System (CNS).

The CNS controls most fun functions of the brain and mind so the CNS slowly shutting down can be extremely dangerous to the point of being fatal.

Ethanol poisoning can cause unconciousness, potential respiratory failure and death.

In short you should never ever allow your cat to consume alcohol.

Signs Of Drunkeness In Cats

a drowsy cat

If your cat has ingested alcohol then it is vital that you watch out for warning signs which may suggest they are suffering from alcohol poisoning.

A drunk cat will initially behave in a similar way to a drunk human, they may:

  • Be unsteady on their feet
  • Fall over
  • Have trouble standing back up
  • Vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Lethargy
  • Drowsiness
  • Slow reflexes

20 minutes or so after consuming the alcohol more severe symptoms may set in, these can include:

  • Excessive urinating
  • Excessive thirst
  • Slow heart rate
  • Shallow breathing
  • Seizures
  • Shaking
  • Unconsciousness
  • Paralysis

If you notice any of these signs get your cat to the vet immediately, alcohol poisoning can kill your cat.

Safe Ways To get Your Cat ‘Drunk’

If for some reason you are keen to get drunk with your cat or see how your cat would behave in an intoxicated state then a couple of safe alternatives are catnip and specially made wine for cats.

Cat Wine

Cat’s can’t drink wine so if you are keen to enjoy a glass with your cat then Wine for cats is a good choice.

It is an alcohol-free catnip-based drink made by Apollo Peak which provides a safe alternative.

man trying to get a cat to drink from bottle

There are ten different wine types available including Purssecco, Meowgarita, Meowtini and more!

Depending on how tolerant your cat is to catnip you can choose a weaker drink such as the Pinot Meow (rated 4/10 for effectiveness), or one of their stronger varieties like the Meowmosa (rated 10/10 for effectiveness).

Regardless of which drink you choose all of them are completely safe for your cat, the temporary euphoria casesd by catnip will soon pass without causing them any ill effects.

Catnip

A good dose of catnip will also have the same effect.

A few ways to give your cat catnip are:

  • Sprinkle some catnip on the floor or in their food.
  • Get them a catnip toy
  • Fill an old sock with catnip (we do this for our cat Whisky)

Also Read: Is CBD Good For Cats?

As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small fee from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This helps us run the site, so thanks for your support!