Apricot (seeds)

Symptoms reported in cats

Most serious first.

1. 1
   Shock / Collapse / Weakness Rapid (10–60 minutes). · Hypotension (low blood pressure) and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) can lead to sudden weakness, staggering, and collapse. Death can occur quickly if untreated.
2. 2
   Seizures (Convulsions) and Muscle Tremors Rapid. · As the brain is deprived of usable oxygen, the cat may experience tremors and violent convulsions, eventually lapsing into a coma.
3. 3
   Respiratory Distress (Difficulty Breathing, Panting, Tachypnea, Hyperventilation) Rapid; typically within 10–60 minutes to a few hours after ingestion. · Signs include panting, gasping for breath, or rapid breathing. This occurs because the cyanide toxin prevents cells from utilizing oxygen (cellular hypoxia), even though the blood is fully oxygenated.
4. 4
   Bright Red Gums/Mucous Membranes Rapid (minutes to hours). · The gums and tongue may appear unusually bright red or pink (often described as "cherry red"). This coloration results from an abundance of oxygen in the blood that the tissues are unable to absorb due to the toxin blocking cellular respiration.
5. 5
   Dilated Pupils (Mydriasis) Rapid (minutes to hours). · Enlarged pupils are a classic sign of cyanide poisoning often appearing alongside respiratory and cardiovascular distress.
6. 6
   Vomiting, Salivation (Excessive Drooling), and Diarrhea Minutes to hours. · Salivation is frequently noted as an early sign. While GI obstruction is a risk if a whole pit is swallowed, chemical toxicity causes these symptoms due to systemic poisoning.

Important notes

The fleshy part of an apricot is entirely safe for cats and does not contain toxic compounds. The danger lies in the pit (stone): when a cat chews or crushes it, enzymes break down amygdalin — a cyanogenic glycoside — releasing highly toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Cyanide binds to cytochrome c oxidase, a critical enzyme in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, halting cellular respiration at the level of every cell. Because the heart and brain have the highest energy demands, they are the first organs to fail. Swallowed whole, the pit also presents a severe choking and intestinal obstruction hazard.

• Symptoms: Vomiting, rapid or laboured breathing, low blood pressure and shock, lethargy, muscle weakness, seizures, coma, and potentially fatal cardiac and respiratory failure — symptoms can appear rapidly.
• Safe part: Fruit flesh only — remove the pit, stem, and leaves entirely before offering a small piece as a treat.
• Physical hazard: Swallowing a whole pit can cause throat or intestinal obstruction requiring surgery.