Dates

Dates are extremely sugary and cats handle sugar poorly, so even a little can cause vomiting and diarrhoea; **the hard, pointed stone can choke or obstruct the gut, so always pit it**, and cats have no need for this fruit.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, loose stools, poor appetite, lethargy and hiding; after a stone is swallowed, retching, repeated swallowing or trouble swallowing.

Stop feeding and monitor; **contact a vet immediately** if a stone was swallowed or vomiting, diarrhoea or lethargy continues, and never induce vomiting at home.

At most a rare nail-sized piece of pitted date; skip dates completely for cats that are diabetic, overweight or have had pancreatitis, and never feed processed versions stuffed with nuts or chocolate.

Dates are extremely sugary, so even a little can cause vomiting or diarrhoea, and repeated helpings are linked to obesity and pancreatitis; **the hard stone can choke or obstruct the gut, so always pit it**. Diabetic and overweight dogs should avoid dates.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, loose stools, abdominal pain, poor appetite, lethargy; after a stone is swallowed, retching, repeated swallowing, drooling or trouble swallowing.

If only a small piece of pitted flesh was eaten, stop feeding and watch; **contact a vet immediately** if a stone was swallowed or vomiting, abdominal pain or lethargy continues, and never induce vomiting at home.

At most a rare, nail-sized piece of pitted date within about 10% of daily energy intake; dates themselves contain no xylitol, but processed versions such as dates stuffed with nuts or coated in chocolate should never be fed.