What are the symptoms if a cat eats Black Pepper?

Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite, Sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and nasal irritation, Eye burning and redness

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⚠ Caution

Black Pepper

Q: Is Black Pepper toxic to cats?

Caution: potentially harmful. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is the most common table spice. It is not poisonous to cats, but it is a strong irritant and cats should not eat it. The compound that gives pepper its heat, piperine, irritates the lining of the mouth, nose, eyes and digestive tract. Cats are far more sensitive to it than people are. A trace of pepper in a bite of seasoned food is unlikely to cause more than a sneeze. Larger amounts, such as licking up spilled pepper or eating heavily peppered food, can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Inhaling ground pepper causes sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and nasal irritation, and pepper in the eyes causes burning and redness. Black pepper is sometimes used as a cat repellent for exactly this reason, which is not recommended. If your cat has eaten or inhaled pepper, offer water and wipe any powder from the face. Rinse the eyes gently with saline if pepper got into them. Contact your veterinarian if vomiting or diarrhea continues, if breathing seems laboured, or if eye irritation does not settle.

Piper nigrum

Also known as: Peppercorn, Ground Pepper, White Pepper, Piperine

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is the most common table spice. It is not poisonous to cats, but it is a strong irritant and cats should not eat it. The compound that gives pepper its heat, piperine, irritates the lining of the mouth, nose, eyes and digestive tract. Cats are far more sensitive to it than people are. A trace of pepper in a bite of seasoned food is unlikely to cause more than a sneeze. Larger amounts, such as licking up spilled pepper or eating heavily peppered food, can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Inhaling ground pepper causes sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and nasal irritation, and pepper in the eyes causes burning and redness. Black pepper is sometimes used as a cat repellent for exactly this reason, which is not recommended. If your cat has eaten or inhaled pepper, offer water and wipe any powder from the face. Rinse the eyes gently with saline if pepper got into them. Contact your veterinarian if vomiting or diarrhea continues, if breathing seems laboured, or if eye irritation does not settle.

Important Notes

Main hazard: Piperine, the compound that makes pepper hot, irritates the mouth, nose, eyes and digestive tract; cats are much more sensitive than people.

Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite after eating; sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and nasal irritation after inhaling the powder.

Why cats get exposed: Licking seasoned food or spilled pepper, or sniffing ground pepper; it is sometimes misused as a cat repellent.

Action: Offer water, wipe powder from the face, rinse eyes with saline if needed, and call a vet if vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulty or eye irritation persists.

Possible Symptoms Reported in Cats

Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite

Gastrointestinal · Within a few hours of eating pepper

Sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and nasal irritation

Respiratory · Immediately after inhaling ground pepper

Eye burning and redness

Dermal · Immediately after pepper contacts the eyes

Disclaimer: This summary was compiled from multiple sources and is for informational use only. It is not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Toxicity can vary based on the substance, amount, plant part, and individual cat. If you think your cat may have been exposed to a toxic substance, contact a veterinarian right away.