Food safety · 2 min read

Can cats eat Mince pies?

No — dangerous

No. Mince pies contain currants, sultanas, raisins, and usually brandy or rum. A classic Christmas kitchen-counter-theft emergency.

If your cat has just eaten mince pies

  1. Move your cat away from any remaining mince pie. Do not try to make them vomit at home — this is dangerous in cats and rarely works.
  2. Note how much was eaten and when, and keep the packaging or a photo of the plant/substance if you can.
  3. Call your vet immediately, even out of hours. Tell them your cat's weight, what they ate, and when.
  4. If you can't reach your vet, call Animal PoisonLine (01202 509000) — paid triage, 24/7 for guidance. They can advise on urgency and route you to emergency care.

What's the full picture?

The 'mincemeat' in modern mince pies is mixed dried fruit — currants, sultanas, raisins — soaked in alcohol and spices. All major ingredients are potentially harmful to cats.

Warm mince pies sitting on cooling racks are one of the most common Christmas-period emergency calls to vet hospitals.

Symptoms to watch for

0–12 hours
Vomiting, diarrhoea.
12–72 hours
Lethargy and changes in urine output if kidney injury develops.

Safer alternatives

  • A small piece of plain cooked chicken or turkey

Questions owners ask

My cat stole half a mince pie. How worried should I be?

Call your vet — half a mince pie contains enough dried fruit to be concerning, especially for a smaller cat.

If you're worried right now

Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet first. For poison advice, the Animal PoisonLine (UK) is on 01202 509000 — 24/7, charges apply. Your vet can also call the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) directly.

Christmas cake no Christmas pudding no Currants no Grapes no Raisins no Sultanas no

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published UK veterinary toxicology sources — International Cat Care, Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) references, RCVS-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.

This is general information written for UK cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.

Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know — corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.

Last reviewed: · By the What Can My Cat Eat? editorial team

↑ Top