Cat Food Safety

Can Cats Eat Grapes & Raisins?

Updated April 20265 min readVet-reviewed sources

Grape and raisin toxicity is well-established in dogs, and veterinary evidence confirms cats are equally at risk. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center classifies grapes as toxic to both dogs and cats. While fewer feline cases are documented — partly because cats are pickier eaters and less likely to consume grapes voluntarily — the cases that do occur follow the same devastating pattern: acute kidney injury progressing to kidney failure within 24-72 hours. The toxic substance in grapes has never been definitively identified (tartaric acid is a leading hypothesis since 2021), meaning there is no antidote and no way to predict individual susceptibility. Some cats may eat a grape and appear fine; others may develop fatal kidney failure from the same amount. Because cats already have a high rate of chronic kidney disease as they age, the added renal damage from grape toxicity is particularly dangerous for felines.

Nutrition Facts — Grapes & Raisins

69calories per 100g
16g per 100gsugar
81%water
Unknown — tartaric acid suspected (2021 research)toxic Compound
Unknown — no safe threshold established for catslethal Dose
3-4x more concentrated than fresh grapes by weightraisin Concentration

Why Grapes & Raisins Are Good for Dogs

Risks & What to Watch For

Causes acute kidney failure in cats

Grape toxicity targets the renal tubules, causing acute kidney injury that can progress to complete kidney failure within 24-72 hours. Cats are already predisposed to kidney disease — approximately 30-40% of cats over age 10 have chronic kidney disease. The additional renal damage from grape ingestion can be especially devastating in cats with any pre-existing kidney compromise, even undiagnosed subclinical disease.

No safe dose exists

Veterinary toxicologists have not established a safe threshold for grape consumption in cats. The toxic response varies unpredictably between individual animals. Because cats are smaller than most dogs, even a single grape represents a proportionally larger dose relative to body weight. A raisin or two could be enough to trigger kidney failure in a 4 kg cat.

Raisins are even more concentrated and dangerous

Raisins are dried grapes with the toxic compound concentrated 3-4 times. A small handful of raisins contains the toxic equivalent of a much larger amount of fresh grapes. Raisins are also found in many foods cats might encounter — trail mix, baked goods, cereals, and snack bars — making accidental exposure a real risk.

Cats are already kidney-disease prone

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the leading cause of death in older cats. Unlike dogs, cats have a baseline vulnerability in their renal system. Adding grape toxicity on top of this predisposition compounds the risk dramatically. A cat with early-stage CKD (which may show no symptoms) could be tipped into acute renal failure by grape ingestion.

All grape products are toxic

Fresh grapes, raisins, currants, grape juice, wine, grape jelly, grape extract, and foods cooked with grape products — all carry the same toxicity risk. There is no processing method that removes the toxic compound. Keep all grape products completely away from cats.

How Much Grapes & Raisins Can Your Dog Eat?

All treats combined — including grapes & raisins — should make up no more than 10% of your cat's daily calories.

Dog SizeBreedsServingFrequency

How to Prepare Grapes & Raisins for Your Dog

1

Do not feed this food to your cat under any circumstances

5 Ways to Serve Grapes & Raisins to Your Dog

Breed-Specific Notes

ALL breeds — no exceptions

Every cat breed is potentially susceptible to grape toxicity. There are no known breed-specific protections. Because cats are generally smaller than dogs, the relative dose from even a single grape is proportionally higher.

Senior cats (all breeds, 7+ years)

Older cats are at the highest risk. Many senior cats have subclinical kidney disease that hasn't been diagnosed yet. Grape toxicity on top of existing kidney compromise can be rapidly fatal. Be especially vigilant about grape access in multi-pet households with senior cats.

Cats with diagnosed kidney disease (all breeds)

Any cat with known CKD, even early-stage, must be kept completely away from grapes and raisins. Their kidneys are already functioning below capacity, and any additional nephrotoxic insult could be catastrophic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. If ingestion occurred within the last 1-2 hours, your vet may induce vomiting or administer activated charcoal. Early IV fluid therapy can help protect the kidneys. Time is critical — the faster you act, the better the prognosis.

Both. The ASPCA classifies grapes and raisins as toxic to cats and dogs. While more canine cases are documented (because dogs are more likely to eat grapes), feline grape toxicity follows the same pattern of acute kidney injury. Veterinary toxicologists treat grape ingestion in cats with the same urgency as in dogs.

There is no established safe threshold. Because cats typically weigh 3-6 kg — much less than most dogs — even a single grape represents a proportionally larger dose. The unpredictable nature of the toxicity means some cats might tolerate a grape while others develop kidney failure. The only safe number is zero.

Early symptoms (6-12 hours): vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain. Progressive symptoms (12-48 hours): decreased or absent urination, dehydration, increased thirst. Late symptoms (48-72 hours): uremic breath (ammonia smell), oral ulcers, seizures, coma. Any of these symptoms after potential grape exposure warrants emergency veterinary care.

Artificial grape flavoring generally does not contain the toxic compounds found in real grapes and is unlikely to be harmful. However, any product made with real grape juice, grape extract, wine, or grape concentrate should be treated as toxic. When in doubt, avoid it.

While the per-grape toxicity may be similar, cats face compounding risks: they are smaller (so a grape is a proportionally larger dose), they are inherently prone to kidney disease (30-40% of senior cats have CKD), and their kidneys may already be compromised without showing symptoms. Grape toxicity can push borderline kidneys into failure.

Yes. Wine and grape juice contain the same toxic compounds as fresh grapes, plus wine contains alcohol, which is independently toxic to cats. Cats are extremely sensitive to alcohol — even a small amount can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Keep all grape and alcohol products away from cats.

Sources

ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Grape and raisin toxicity — cats and dogs toxicology report (2025)

Cornell Feline Health Center — Foods That Are Dangerous or Toxic to Cats (2024)

PetMD — Can Cats Eat Grapes? — veterinary reviewed toxicity guide (2025)

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine — Acute renal failure following grape/raisin ingestion in companion animals (2024)

International Society of Feline Medicine — Chronic kidney disease prevalence in domestic cats — epidemiological review (2023)

Dietary emergencies happen

If your cat eats something toxic, emergency vet visits can cost $1,000–$5,000. Pet insurance covers poisoning, food allergies, and digestive emergencies.

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