# Can Cats Eat Cashews or Almonds? Nut Safety Can cats eat cashews? A plain, unsalted cashew is not toxic to cats, but it is not a good treat either. Nuts are high in fat and often loaded with salt, and they can be a choking hazard for a small mouth. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. ## Quick Answer - Plain, unsalted, unseasoned cashews are not poisonous to cats, but they offer no nutritional benefit and are too fatty for regular feeding. - Salted, roasted, honey-roasted, or flavored cashews should never be given because of added salt, sugar, and seasonings. - Almonds are also not toxic to cats, but they are hard, high in fat, and a choking risk. - A single small piece of plain cashew is unlikely to harm a healthy adult cat, but it can cause stomach upset. - Kittens, overweight cats, and cats with pancreatitis, diabetes, or kidney disease should not get nuts at all. ## Can Cats Eat Cashews? The Short Answer Cashews are not on any list of toxic foods for cats. The nut itself does not contain a poison that harms cats the way chocolate, grapes, or lilies do. So if your cat sneaks one plain cashew off the floor, you do not need to panic. That said, "not toxic" is not the same as "good for them." Cats are obligate carnivores. Their bodies are built to get energy and nutrients from animal tissue, not from plant fats and carbohydrates. A cashew delivers a lot of fat and calories with almost nothing a cat actually needs. The bigger problem is how cashews are usually sold. Most cashews people keep in the house are roasted and salted, or coated in honey, sugar, or spices. Those added ingredients are where the real risk lives. If you want to know whether your cat can have a nut-based product like almond milk, the answer depends on the additives, which is covered in our guide to [Can Cats Eat Almond Milk? Xylitol and Nut Concerns](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-food-safety/can-cats-eat-almond-milk-xylitol-and-nut-concerns). ## Are Cashews Bad for Cats? Yes, cashews are a poor choice for cats, even though they are not toxic. The main issue is fat. Nuts are dense in fat, and a cat's digestive system is not designed to handle a sudden load of plant oils. Eating too much fat can trigger vomiting, diarrhea, and in serious cases pancreatitis, which is a painful inflammation of the pancreas. There is also the salt problem. Salted cashews can push a small cat toward sodium overload. Too much salt can cause excessive thirst, tremors, and in severe cases neurological signs. Cats with heart or kidney disease are especially vulnerable to extra sodium. Finally, cashews are a choking and obstruction risk. Cats do not chew nuts the way people do. A whole cashew can lodge in the throat or cause a blockage if swallowed. This is one reason nuts are a bad idea for kittens in particular. ### Do Cashews Have Any Benefit for Cats? No. There is no nutritional reason to feed a cat cashews. Cats need taurine, arachidonic acid, and animal-based protein, none of which cashews provide in a usable form. Any calories from nuts simply replace calories from a balanced cat food. Some research has looked at compounds in cashew plants for antifungal activity against the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, but that work is about drug discovery, not about feeding cashews to pets [1]. It does not mean cashews treat or prevent any infection in your cat. ## Can Cats Eat Almonds and Cashews Together? Almonds are also not toxic to cats, so a cat that eats a small piece of plain almond and a small piece of plain cashew is unlikely to be poisoned. The concern is the same for both: fat, salt, and choking. Almonds are harder than cashews, which makes them more likely to crack a tooth or get stuck. Bitter almonds, which are not typically sold as snack food in the United States, contain compounds that can release cyanide, but the sweet almonds sold in grocery stores are not a cyanide risk in small amounts. There is one more angle worth knowing. Peanut and tree nut allergies run together in people, and cashew is a tree nut. Research on the proteins in cashew, pistachio, walnut, and peanut shows that shared structural features can support cross-reactivity between these nuts [2]. This matters for humans with nut allergies, and it is a reminder that nuts are biologically active foods, not neutral filler. Cats do not commonly develop this type of food allergy, but it is not well established how often cats react to nuts, so treat any new food with caution. ## Risks of Feeding Cashews to Cats ### Choking and Blockage A whole cashew or almond can get stuck in the throat or travel into the stomach and cause an obstruction. Signs include gagging, pawing at the mouth, drooling, repeated swallowing, or vomiting. A blockage is a surgical emergency. ### Stomach Upset and Pancreatitis Fatty foods are a common trigger for vomiting and diarrhea in cats. In some cats, a high-fat meal sets off pancreatitis. Signs include belly pain, hunched posture, appetite loss, and lethargy. Pancreatitis can be life threatening and needs veterinary care. ### Salt and Additives Salted cashews are the most common form people ask about. Extra salt is risky for any cat, and especially for cats with heart or kidney disease. Honey-roasted and flavored nuts add sugar and spices that can irritate the gut. Watch for other additives too. Some nut mixes and trail mixes contain raisins or chocolate, both of which are toxic to cats. Garlic and onion powder are sometimes used in seasoned nuts, and both can damage a cat's red blood cells. Sugar-free products may contain xylitol, which is a well-known and dangerous poison in dogs. A controlled study in cats did not find the same effects, so xylitol is not considered highly toxic to cats, but sugar-free foods still do not belong in a cat's diet. ### Mold and Storage Toxins Nuts can grow mold if stored poorly. A screening of commercial pet foods found that mycotoxins such as aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone were present but stayed below existing guidance values and maximum limits [3]. That study looked at commercial pet food, not table nuts, but it shows that mold toxins in food are a real category of concern. Feline immune cells were more sensitive to some of these compounds than canine cells, which suggests cats may handle certain food contaminants differently [3]. Throw out any nut that looks moldy, smells musty, or tastes stale. ## How to Offer Cashews Safely (If You Choose To) The safest approach is not to feed cashews at all. If you still want to let your cat try one, follow these rules. - Choose plain, unsalted, dry-roasted or raw cashews with no oil, salt, sugar, or seasoning. - Break it into a piece no bigger than a pea. A whole nut is a choking risk. - Offer one piece at most, and only as a rare event, not a routine treat. - Watch your cat for 24 hours for vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy. - Never leave a bowl of nuts where a cat can reach it. ### Which Forms to Avoid | Form | Safe? | Notes | |---|---|---| | Plain raw cashew | Not recommended | Not toxic, but high fat and a choking risk | | Plain unsalted roasted cashew | Not recommended | Same risks, slightly easier to chew | | Salted cashews | No | Extra sodium, risky for heart and kidney patients | | Honey-roasted or sugared | No | Added sugar and fat | | Flavored or spiced nuts | No | May contain garlic, onion, or other irritants | | Trail mix | No | Often contains raisins or chocolate, which are toxic | | Nut butter | No | High fat, often contains salt, sugar, or xylitol | | Almond | Not recommended | Harder than cashew, higher choking risk | | Cashew shell | No | Not edible, can cause mouth and gut injury | Cashew shells are never food. They contain irritating oils and can hurt a cat's mouth and digestive tract. ## What to Do If Your Cat Ate Cashews If your cat ate one plain, unsalted cashew, offer fresh water and watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or drooling. Most healthy adult cats will be fine. If your cat ate salted, flavored, or sugar-free nuts, or a large amount of any nut, call your veterinarian or a pet poison control service right away. Have the package ready so you can read the ingredient list. Your veterinarian will decide what treatment is needed based on your cat's weight and health, and will calculate any dose. If your cat is gagging, pawing at the mouth, having trouble breathing, or collapsing, this is an emergency. Go to the nearest veterinary emergency hospital now. ## Safer Treat Alternatives Skip the nut bowl and reach for something a cat can actually use. Small pieces of plain cooked chicken, a bit of cooked egg, or a commercial cat treat made for cats are all better choices. Freeze-dried single-ingredient meat treats are popular and easy to break into tiny pieces. If you want to offer a plant-based nibble, cooked plain pumpkin or a small piece of cooked carrot is safer than any nut. For more on which human foods fit a cat's diet, see our articles on [Can Cats Eat Shrimp? Raw Shellfish Bacteria Hazards](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-food-safety/can-cats-eat-shrimp-raw-shellfish-bacteria-hazards) and [Can Cats Eat Spinach? Calcium Oxalate Bladder Stones](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-food-safety/can-cats-eat-spinach-calcium-oxalate-bladder-stones). Portion control matters for every treat. Feeding instructions on cat food labels are not always a perfect match for a cat's true energy needs, and some labels can overestimate what a cat should eat [4]. Treats, including nuts, should stay a small fraction of daily calories. Your veterinarian can help you set a daily calorie target for your cat. ## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian Every cat is different. Weight, age, underlying disease, and medications all change how a cat handles an unusual food. No article can replace an exam and a conversation with your own veterinarian. Call your veterinarian the same day if your cat ate salted or flavored nuts, ate more than a small piece, or has any vomiting, diarrhea, or appetite loss. Go to an emergency clinic now if you see difficulty breathing, gagging that will not stop, collapse, tremors, seizures, or a swollen painful belly. Schedule a routine visit if your cat has repeated stomach upset after treats, or if you are unsure what a safe treat plan looks like for a cat with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, or a history of pancreatitis. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can cats eat salted cashews? No, cats should not eat salted cashews. The added sodium can cause excessive thirst and, in large amounts, neurological problems, and it is especially risky for cats with heart or kidney disease. Plain cashews are already a poor choice, and salt makes them worse. ### Can cats eat cashews raw? Raw cashews are not toxic, but they are still high in fat and a choking hazard. Raw nuts can also carry mold if they were stored poorly, and mold toxins are a known concern in food safety. If you must offer one, keep it to a pea-sized piece of plain nut and watch for stomach upset. ### Can kittens eat cashews? Kittens should not eat cashews. Their digestive systems are small and still developing, and a whole nut can easily cause choking or a blockage. Kittens also need their calories from a complete kitten food, not from fatty snacks. ### Can cats have cashews with salt? No. Salted nuts are one of the worst forms to share with a cat. Extra salt can upset a cat's fluid balance and is dangerous for cats with heart or kidney disease, so keep salted snacks away from your cat entirely. ### What happens if my cat eats a cashew? A single plain cashew usually causes nothing more than mild stomach upset, if anything at all. If your cat ate several nuts, or any salted or flavored nuts, call your veterinarian or a pet poison control service for guidance. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or lethargy over the next day. ## Related Articles - [Can Cats Eat Almond Milk? Xylitol and Nut Concerns](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-food-safety/can-cats-eat-almond-milk-xylitol-and-nut-concerns) - [Can Cats Eat Crab? Shell Hazards and Sodium](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-food-safety/can-cats-eat-crab-shell-hazards-and-sodium) - [Can Cats Eat Spinach? Calcium Oxalate Bladder Stones](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-food-safety/can-cats-eat-spinach-calcium-oxalate-bladder-stones) - [Can Cats Eat Shrimp? Raw Shellfish Bacteria Hazards](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-food-safety/can-cats-eat-shrimp-raw-shellfish-bacteria-hazards) - [Can Cats Eat Catnip? Nepetalactone and Safe Use Guide](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-food-safety/can-cats-eat-catnip-nepetalactone-and-safe-use-guide) - [Can cats eat chocolate toxicity and emergency response](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/can-cats-eat-chocolate) - [Can Cats Eat Nuts? Almonds, Walnuts and Peanuts Explained](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/can-cats-eat-nuts) - [Can Cats Eat Pecans or Walnuts? Nut Safety](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/can-cats-eat-pecans-walnuts) - [Can Cats Eat Peanuts? Salt, Shells and Safety](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/can-cats-eat-peanuts) ## References 1. [Bioactive flavonoids from Anacardium occidentale as promising natural inhibitors of Cryptococcus neoformans: a computational perspective on secondary metabolites against critical fungal pathogens](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41774165/). Archives of microbiology, 2026. 2. [Structure and IgE Cross-Reactivity among Cashew, Pistachio, Walnut, and Peanut Vicilin-Buried Peptides](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36728846/). Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2023. 3. [In vitro immunotoxicity of important mycotoxins detected in commercial dry dog and cat food in relation to internal exposure](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42144471/). Mycotoxin research, 2026. 4. [An investigation of feeding instructions on cat food labels in Belgium and comparison with European industry energy intake recommendations](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42219936/). The Veterinary record, 2026. ## Further Reading - [ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control) - [ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets) - [U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet](https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/potentially-dangerous-items-your-pet)