Can Cats Eat Hazelnuts?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
No. Keep hazelnuts away from cats. Hazelnuts are not named on the ASPCA list of toxic people foods, but the ASPCA warns that nuts with high oil and fat content can cause vomiting, diarrhea and potentially pancreatitis in pets. Whole hazelnuts are round and hard, and the most popular hazelnut product in American kitchens is a chocolate spread.
Why Hazelnuts Are a Problem for Cats
Hazelnuts, also called filberts, are mostly fat. The ASPCA's warning names almonds, pecans and walnuts, and hazelnuts carry the same kind of oil load. The Cornell Feline Health Center describes a cat's natural diet as high in protein, moderate in fat and very low in carbohydrates, all from animal sources. A few hazelnuts give a 10-pound cat a sudden dose of plant fat with nothing it needs in return.
Shape is a real concern. A whole hazelnut is about the size of a marble. WSAVA cautions against any treat with a size or shape that could cause choking, and a smooth, hard nut that size fits. In-shell hazelnuts are even harder.
Chocolate hazelnut spread is the version most likely to end up within a cat's reach, licked off a knife or a plate. It is mostly sugar and oil, and it contains cocoa. The ASPCA explains that chocolate contains methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures in pets. Hazelnut spreads usually contain milk powder too, and the ASPCA notes that pets make little lactase.
Signs to Watch For
After plain hazelnuts, the problem to expect is the one the ASPCA names for fatty nuts: vomiting and diarrhea. Cornell notes that cats with pancreatitis often show only vague signs such as lethargy and a poor appetite, and some vomit, lose weight or have diarrhea. After chocolate spread, watch for vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, tremors or seizures. A cat with a hazelnut stuck in its throat may gag, drool, paw at its mouth or struggle to breathe.
What to Do If Your Cat Ate Hazelnuts
If your cat ate chocolate hazelnut spread, swallowed a whole hazelnut, ate several nuts or seems unwell, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away. Do not try to make your cat vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to. Bring the jar or package and estimate how much is gone. If your cat is struggling to breathe, go straight to an emergency clinic.
If your cat has pancreatitis or another medical condition, or eats a special diet, ask your veterinarian about any nuts or spreads it eats.
Common Questions
Can cats eat chocolate hazelnut spread?
No. Chocolate hazelnut spread should be kept from cats. It contains cocoa, and the ASPCA lists chocolate as toxic to pets, with signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm and tremors. It is also mostly sugar and oil with milk powder. If your cat licked a knife, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center to check whether the amount matters.
What happens if my cat eats a hazelnut?
A cat that eats one plain hazelnut may have a mild upset stomach, but the bigger risk is choking, since a whole hazelnut is about the size of a marble. WSAVA warns against treats of the wrong size or shape. The ASPCA says fatty nuts can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Call your veterinarian if your cat gags, vomits or stops eating.
Can cats drink hazelnut coffee?
No. Hazelnut coffee contains caffeine, which the ASPCA groups with chocolate because both contain methylxanthines that can cause hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures in pets. Creamers add dairy and sugar. If your cat drank some, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and say how much was in the cup.
Can cats eat hazelnut milk?
Hazelnut milk is not a good drink for cats. It is usually sweetened, sometimes chocolate flavored, and it has none of the animal nutrients Cornell says cats rely on. A lick of plain unsweetened hazelnut milk is unlikely to cause trouble, but chocolate versions add cocoa. Fresh water is what a cat needs, so there is no reason to offer it.
Can kittens eat hazelnuts?
No. Kittens should not have hazelnuts. A whole hazelnut is a choking risk for a small throat, and the fat is a lot for a small stomach. Kittens also like to bat round objects across the floor and then mouth them, so keep nut bowls put away. If a kitten swallowed a hazelnut and is gagging, get to a veterinarian right away.