Food safety · 2 min read

Can cats eat Nutmeg?

No — dangerous

No. Nutmeg contains myristicin, a neurotoxin that causes tremors, seizures, hyperthermia, and hallucinations in cats. Christmas baking and eggnog are the usual UK exposure routes.

If your cat has just eaten nutmeg

  1. Move your cat away from the nutmeg.
  2. Don't induce vomiting at home — this is dangerous in cats.
  3. Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet immediately.
  4. If you can't reach a vet, call the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 — 24/7, charges apply.
  5. Note how much nutmeg was eaten, when, and your cat's weight.

What's the full picture?

Myristicin is the active compound — it's a psychoactive substance at high doses in humans and a serious toxin for cats. Even relatively small amounts (half a teaspoon for a 4 kg cat) can cause significant effects.

The main UK exposure scenarios are Christmas cake, carrot cake, mulled wine leftovers, and eggnog — all traditional foods using nutmeg. A cat that gets a bite of Christmas cake should be treated as a mixed exposure (raisins, nutmeg, alcohol).

Whole nutmegs used for freshly-grating are concentrated — a cat that chews or swallows a whole nutmeg is a medical emergency.

Symptoms to watch for

1–6 hours
Tremors, rapid heart rate, vomiting, disorientation.
6–24 hours
Seizures, hyperthermia in severe cases.

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 Cinnamon caution Vanilla extract 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

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