chocolate poisoning q

My wife recently told me of a cat she once had who would share chocolate
pudding with her. And survived.

Yes, weird. But I bring this up because I feel there is a question here.
It is, besides, indirectly linked to how she learned (the hard way) about
chocolate poisoning.

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats (I believe it's the theophylline in it), but is anyone else
aware of why a cat would not be susceptible to this kind of poisoning, or
if there are other cases?

--
Dennis Carr - | I may be out of my mind,
http://www.dennis.furtopia.org | But I have more fun that way.
------------------------------------+-------------------------------

"Dennis Carr" wrote in message
news
My wife recently told me of a cat she once had who would share chocolate
pudding with her. And survived.

Yes, weird. But I bring this up because I feel there is a question here.
It is, besides, indirectly linked to how she learned (the hard way) about
chocolate poisoning.

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats (I believe it's the theophylline in it), but is anyone else
aware of why a cat would not be susceptible to this kind of poisoning, or
if there are other cases?

The chemical in chocolate that's toxic to cats (& dogs) is theobromine.
Milk chocolate contains the least amount of the chemical, dark chocolate
more, & bitter/baking chocolate contains the most.

Although I personally wouldn't feed it to my cats, minute amounts of milk
chocolate are not likely to cause any symptoms. Since pudding may have milk
chocolate in it - or maybe even chocolate flavoring Vs. real chocolate? - &
in small amounts, that's probably the explanation.

In one of Peter Gethers' books about his (late) cat Norton, he told of a
restaurant owner who set a dish of chocolate ice cream out for Norton on a
fairly regular basis, yet Norton never showed any ill effects. The amount
of theobromine that was in each serving was obviously not enough to have an
effect.

Larger amounts, esp. of darker chocolate can prove to be toxic, incl. fatal,
though.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Dennis Carr" wrote in message
news
My wife recently told me of a cat she once had who would share chocolate
pudding with her. And survived.

Yes, weird. But I bring this up because I feel there is a question here.
It is, besides, indirectly linked to how she learned (the hard way) about
chocolate poisoning.

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats (I believe it's the theophylline in it), but is anyone else
aware of why a cat would not be susceptible to this kind of poisoning, or
if there are other cases?

The chemical in chocolate that's toxic to cats (& dogs) is theobromine.
Milk chocolate contains the least amount of the chemical, dark chocolate
more, & bitter/baking chocolate contains the most.

Although I personally wouldn't feed it to my cats, minute amounts of milk
chocolate are not likely to cause any symptoms. Since pudding may have milk
chocolate in it - or maybe even chocolate flavoring Vs. real chocolate? - &
in small amounts, that's probably the explanation.

In one of Peter Gethers' books about his (late) cat Norton, he told of a
restaurant owner who set a dish of chocolate ice cream out for Norton on a
fairly regular basis, yet Norton never showed any ill effects. The amount
of theobromine that was in each serving was obviously not enough to have an
effect.

Larger amounts, esp. of darker chocolate can prove to be toxic, incl. fatal,
though.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Dennis Carr" wrote in message
news
My wife recently told me of a cat she once had who would share chocolate
pudding with her. And survived.

Yes, weird. But I bring this up because I feel there is a question here.
It is, besides, indirectly linked to how she learned (the hard way) about
chocolate poisoning.

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats

The acute lethal dosage of theobromine in cats is ~80-150 mg/kg. That
translates into ~320-600 mg for an average 4 kg (8.8 lb) cat. A cat would
have to eat at least one ounce of baking chocolate or 8-10 ounces of milk
chocolate to ingest a toxic dose.

Baking chocolate contains ~400 mg/oz of theobromine;
Dark chocolate: ~130-150 mg/oz;
Semisweet chocolate: ~140 mg/oz
Milk chocolate: ~40-60 mg/oz;
White chocolate: ~0.25 mg/oz

(I believe it's the theophylline in it),

The toxic ingredient in chocolate is theobromine - not theophylline.
Theophylline is in the same family (methylxanthine) as theobromine and is
also toxic to cats at higher doses than theobromine. Theophylline is used
at low dosages as a very effective bronchodilator in cats with bronchitis
and asthma.

Chocolate also contains caffine (in lesser amounts than theobromine), which
is also a methylxanthine and toxic to cats.

If I were you, I wouldn't feed chocolate to my cat. There are plenty of
other treats you can give a cat that she would enjoy much more.

Phil

"Dennis Carr" wrote in message
news
My wife recently told me of a cat she once had who would share chocolate
pudding with her. And survived.

Yes, weird. But I bring this up because I feel there is a question here.
It is, besides, indirectly linked to how she learned (the hard way) about
chocolate poisoning.

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats

The acute lethal dosage of theobromine in cats is ~80-150 mg/kg. That
translates into ~320-600 mg for an average 4 kg (8.8 lb) cat. A cat would
have to eat at least one ounce of baking chocolate or 8-10 ounces of milk
chocolate to ingest a toxic dose.

Baking chocolate contains ~400 mg/oz of theobromine;
Dark chocolate: ~130-150 mg/oz;
Semisweet chocolate: ~140 mg/oz
Milk chocolate: ~40-60 mg/oz;
White chocolate: ~0.25 mg/oz

(I believe it's the theophylline in it),

The toxic ingredient in chocolate is theobromine - not theophylline.
Theophylline is in the same family (methylxanthine) as theobromine and is
also toxic to cats at higher doses than theobromine. Theophylline is used
at low dosages as a very effective bronchodilator in cats with bronchitis
and asthma.

Chocolate also contains caffine (in lesser amounts than theobromine), which
is also a methylxanthine and toxic to cats.

If I were you, I wouldn't feed chocolate to my cat. There are plenty of
other treats you can give a cat that she would enjoy much more.

Phil

Dennis Carr wrote in message . ..
(...)

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats (I believe it's the theophylline in it), but is anyone else
aware of why a cat would not be susceptible to this kind of poisoning, or
if there are other cases?

A trivial addition to the other replies - theophylline is a component
of tea, so if your cat drinks the odd cuppa, only then might you be
interested in that ingredient...!

Steve.

Dennis Carr wrote in message . ..
(...)

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats (I believe it's the theophylline in it), but is anyone else
aware of why a cat would not be susceptible to this kind of poisoning, or
if there are other cases?

A trivial addition to the other replies - theophylline is a component
of tea, so if your cat drinks the odd cuppa, only then might you be
interested in that ingredient...!

Steve.

Dennis Carr wrote in message . ..
My wife recently told me of a cat she once had who would share chocolate
pudding with her. And survived.

Yes, weird. But I bring this up because I feel there is a question here.
It is, besides, indirectly linked to how she learned (the hard way) about
chocolate poisoning.

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats (I believe it's the theophylline in it), but is anyone else
aware of why a cat would not be susceptible to this kind of poisoning, or
if there are other cases?

You are typical of today's push-button knee-jerk liberal liars. You
just won't rest until you've stirred everybody and everything up and
you've PCed everything in your path. You're the same stupid idiots who
tell us not to feed our cats fish or not to give them milk. You are
also the same ones who are telling us now that it's all right for a
man to marry another man. All quite natural, you see. You just can't
wait to reshape society in your own narcissistic image.
Don't come in here with your PC trash again. I will be watching out
for you and you will be constantly and immediately rebutted to the
highest degree. Not everyone is a Jerry Springer Pro wrestling sitcom
loving zombie, prickweed. We won't quit giving our pets treats anymore
than we could be duped into voting for Hillary Clinton. We know who
you are and we know what you do. Keep away.



IBen

Dennis Carr wrote in message . ..
My wife recently told me of a cat she once had who would share chocolate
pudding with her. And survived.

Yes, weird. But I bring this up because I feel there is a question here.
It is, besides, indirectly linked to how she learned (the hard way) about
chocolate poisoning.

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats (I believe it's the theophylline in it), but is anyone else
aware of why a cat would not be susceptible to this kind of poisoning, or
if there are other cases?

You are typical of today's push-button knee-jerk liberal liars. You
just won't rest until you've stirred everybody and everything up and
you've PCed everything in your path. You're the same stupid idiots who
tell us not to feed our cats fish or not to give them milk. You are
also the same ones who are telling us now that it's all right for a
man to marry another man. All quite natural, you see. You just can't
wait to reshape society in your own narcissistic image.
Don't come in here with your PC trash again. I will be watching out
for you and you will be constantly and immediately rebutted to the
highest degree. Not everyone is a Jerry Springer Pro wrestling sitcom
loving zombie, prickweed. We won't quit giving our pets treats anymore
than we could be duped into voting for Hillary Clinton. We know who
you are and we know what you do. Keep away.



IBen

"IBen Getiner" wrote in message
om...
Dennis Carr wrote in message
. ..
My wife recently told me of a cat she once had who would share chocolate
pudding with her. And survived.

Yes, weird. But I bring this up because I feel there is a question
here.
It is, besides, indirectly linked to how she learned (the hard way)
about
chocolate poisoning.

It's widely grokked that chocolate in more than the minutest amount is
fatal to cats (I believe it's the theophylline in it), but is anyone
else
aware of why a cat would not be susceptible to this kind of poisoning,
or
if there are other cases?

You are typical of today's push-button knee-jerk liberal liars. You
just won't rest until you've stirred everybody and everything up and
you've PCed everything in your path. You're the same stupid idiots who
tell us not to feed our cats fish or not to give them milk. You are
also the same ones who are telling us now that it's all right for a
man to marry another man. All quite natural, you see. You just can't
wait to reshape society in your own narcissistic image.
Don't come in here with your PC trash again. I will be watching out
for you and you will be constantly and immediately rebutted to the
highest degree. Not everyone is a Jerry Springer Pro wrestling sitcom
loving zombie, prickweed. We won't quit giving our pets treats anymore
than we could be duped into voting for Hillary Clinton. We know who
you are and we know what you do. Keep away.



IBen

Hilary Clinton....Jerry Springer...homosexual marriages....What the hell was
that all about?

Jeannie