Can dogs and cats eat Coffee and caffeine?
Caffeine is related to the toxin in chocolate and overstimulates the heart and nervous system. Coffee grounds, beans, caffeine tablets and energy drinks are the main risks.
Why
Methylxanthines (caffeine)
Signs to watch for
- restlessness, hyperactivity
- vomiting
- racing heart
- panting
- tremors
- seizures
Good to know
A lick of milky coffee is unlikely to cause problems; concentrated sources (grounds, pods, beans, tablets, energy drinks) can be serious.
If you think your pet has been poisoned
If you suspect your dog or cat has eaten or touched something poisonous, contact your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately, even if your pet seems fine – some poisons take hours or days to show signs, and early treatment works best. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to, as this can cause more harm. Take the packaging, label or a piece of the plant with you, and note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when.
Sources
Sources
Checked against these sources in October 2026.