Are grapes harmful to cats?

[erik316wttn]

I have a 6-month old kitten named Gizmo. Gizmo is a curious, active, and healthy little kitten who thinks the entire world is his plaything.

I like grapes. I often eat them when I'm on the computer. Of course, Gizmo needs to come up and see what I'm doing. For whatever reason he loves grapes (and water, too, that's kinda weird). He absolutely will NOT leave me alone until I give him his own personal grape for him to bat around and play with.

My question is: Is this a bad thing? He carries them in his mouth and bats them around until he gets bored with them. I don't think he eats them, but he can't not get some juice in his mouth from carrying them around. Should I stop giving him a grape so I can eat mine in peace?

[irateguy]

I dont know about cats but they are supposedly harmful to dogs so are onions and bakers chocolate

[MystyGlyttyr]

Our cats eat everything from grapes to potato peels to Doritos, and show no ill effects from any of it. Whenever my mom drops a grape, the cats take off with it until it's smushed too flat to roll or it vanishes in the dustpan.

I probably wouldn't let him have too much of it or anything but it's never hurt any of our cats.

[Thrifty]

I know something is really bad for cats, and I think it is grapes, let me check.

About.com
Grapes and Raisins

These foods' toxicity has mainly been found in dogs, in quantities of varying amounts. The ASPCA advises: "As there are still many unknowns with the toxic potential of grapes and raisins, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center advises not giving grapes or raisins to pets in any amount." That's good enough for me.

Grapes and raisins: Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.

from: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1276&articleid=1029

I would venture to say that just because a cat isn't showing any ill effects at the moment doesn't mean they won't show up later especially as it is involving the kidney's.

In the end I just wouldn't take the risk. Kinda like my grandpa smoked for 50 years and didn't get lung cancer so it is okay smoke, know what I mean?

[MystyGlyttyr]

Probably so. But then again, our cats are mutants. Hamlet has been chomping on everything for almost 13 years now and still kicks the crap out of the young whippersnapper cats. It wouldn't surprise me if the freak cats around here evolved to a point to be immune to grapes. ;)

[CanadaGirl]

We never had any problems with my parent's dogs; they loooove grapes. My kitten just plays with them for a bit and then attacks me or something. I don't think she likes the slightly bitter taste. She fights me for my damn fruit/jello cups, though. :)

[Mr. Rager!]

I don't have a cat that likes grapes, but I had a dog that loved grapes. She's get one or two whenever we'd buy grapes, and trust me, it wasn't often.

She lived a long healthy life... 16 years old for a blacklab is pretty damn good if you ask me.

[AirHostess]

My dog liked grapes but we had to peel them for him! Or he's just spit them out.