Information regarding dangers of chocolate for cats (and dogs)
I'm glad everyone seems to be pointing the toxic nature of chocolate out - less animals in danger. Here is some info from the About Cats website:
Chocolate
It's becoming more widely known that chocolate is very toxic to both cats and dogs. Theobromine is the offending substance here. Janet Tobiassen Crosby, D.V.M. has an excellent article on the symptoms, effects, and treatment of chocolate toxicity
What makes chocolate toxic, anyway?
Chocolate is made from the fruit (beans) of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic compound in chocolate. (Caffeine is also present in chocolate, but in much smaller amounts than Theobromine.) Both Theobromine and Caffeine are members of a drug class called Methylxanines.
Theobromine and caffeine effects on the body:
Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant
Cardiovascular stimulant
Increase blood pressure (mild)
Nausea and vomiting
Are some chocolates more toxic than others?
Yes. Unsweetened (baker's) chocolate contains 8-10 times the amount of Theobromine as milk chocolate. Semi-sweet chocolate falls roughly in between the two for Theobromine content. White chocolate contains Theobromine, but in such small amounts that Theobromine poisoning is unlikely. Caffeine is present in chocolate, but less than Theobromine.
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I also agree that cats should not go outside - stats show that it shortens their life by MANY years due to poison (accidental or intentional by neighbors), predators, cars, FIV, FELV, etc. We don't open the door and let our dogs out unsupervised - a tiny fragile animal such as a cat deserves the same protection and security.
Christie