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Methodology

How we reach an answer.

The job is not to produce the most confident yes or no. It is to show what veterinary evidence actually supports.

1. Start from veterinary sources

Priority goes to animal poison-control organizations, veterinary manuals, university feline-health programs, and veterinary nutrition services. General pet blogs can point to a question, but they do not decide a verdict.

2. Name the mechanism

Every record says why: the toxin (theobromine, organosulfur compounds, xylitol, ethanol), the nutritional problem (lactose after weaning, unbalanced single foods), or the physical risk (splintering bones, choking hazards, salt load in a small body).

3. Respect the species

Cats are obligate carnivores with fast metabolisms and small bodies. Amounts that are trivial for a person — or even a dog — can matter for a cat, and several toxins hit cats harder, including the onion family.

4. Three honest states

Records use three top-level verdicts: Safe, Caution, and Danger. When evidence is thin or the risk depends on form and amount, the verdict is Caution with the limits spelled out — ambiguity is disclosed, not hidden behind a confident guess.

5. Review and corrections

Every record carries a review date and source IDs. The current launch set was source-reviewed on July 17, 2026; it has not been represented as reviewed by a veterinarian. Records are rechecked when a cited page changes or stronger evidence appears.

Launch source register

  1. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

    Multi-species veterinary toxicology list covering alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, citrus, coconut, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, milk and dairy, nuts, onions, garlic and chives, raw meat and eggs, salty snacks, xylitol, and yeast dough.

  2. Animal Poison Control ASPCA

    24/7 animal poison-control emergency service, reachable at (888) 426-4435, with triage guidance for suspected toxic exposures in pets.

  3. Poison List Pet Poison Helpline

    Veterinarian-maintained toxin database for dogs and cats, reachable at (855) 764-7661, with per-substance toxicity levels, signs, and species notes.

  4. Feeding Your Cat Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

    Feline nutrition fundamentals: cats are obligate carnivores; complete balanced cat food should be the diet base; treats should stay a small share of daily calories.

  5. Poisons Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

    Feline-specific poisoning overview covering common household toxin exposures in cats, clinical signs, and the need for prompt veterinary care.

  6. Food Hazards Merck Veterinary Manual

    Veterinary toxicology reference section on human-food hazards in companion animals, including bread dough, chocolate, ethanol, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, xylitol, and Allium species.

  7. Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals Merck Veterinary Manual

    Methylxanthine (theobromine and caffeine) toxicosis mechanism, dose ranges by chocolate type, clinical signs from gastrointestinal upset to arrhythmias and seizures, and treatment.

  8. Allium spp Toxicosis in Animals Merck Veterinary Manual

    Onion, garlic, leek, and chive toxicosis: organosulfur oxidants cause Heinz-body hemolytic anemia; cats are notably more sensitive than dogs; raw, cooked, and powdered forms are all hazardous.

  9. Raisin and Grape Toxicosis in Dogs Merck Veterinary Manual

    Grape and raisin ingestion associated with acute kidney injury; dose-response is unpredictable, anecdotal reports exist in cats, and conservative management treats any ingestion as potentially serious.

  10. Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs U.S. Food and Drug Administration

    Regulator warning on xylitol in sugar-free gum, candy, and peanut butter; documents severe hypoglycemia and liver injury in dogs, supporting a keep-away rule for all pets.

  11. Household Hazards American Veterinary Medical Association

    Veterinary association overview of common food and household dangers to pets, including chocolate, xylitol, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, alcohol, and unbaked yeast dough.

  12. Petfoodology Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University

    Board-certified veterinary nutritionist guidance on pet diets, treat limits (about 10% of daily calories), human-food snacks, and species-appropriate feeding for cats and dogs.