# Are Hops Plants Toxic to Cats? Are hops plants toxic to cats? Yes. Hops (Humulus lupulus) can trigger a life-threatening reaction in cats called malignant hyperthermia, and spent brewing hops are the most dangerous form of all. A cat that gets into hops needs emergency veterinary care right away, because the reaction can move fast. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. ## Quick Answer - Hops are toxic to cats, and the reaction is an emergency, not a wait-and-see problem. - Spent hops left over from brewing beer are the highest risk because cats are often attracted to the sweet smell and taste. - The classic sign is a rapidly rising body temperature, often with panting, agitation, and tremors. - Call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 immediately. - Do not make your cat vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to. ## Are Hops Plants Toxic to Cats? Yes, hops are poisonous to cats. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists hops as toxic, with an unknown toxic principle, and describes serious signs including panting, high body temperature, seizures, and death [1]. That record is written for dogs, but veterinary toxicologists recognize the same syndrome in cats, and cats may be even more sensitive to it. The plant itself is a climbing vine in the Cannabidaceae family, and the part people use is the cone-shaped flower, often called a hop cone [1]. You may run into hops in a few forms: - Fresh or dried hop cones from a garden or home brew supply shop - Hop pellets and plugs sold for brewing - Spent hops, the soggy leftovers after boiling wort - Herbal teas, tinctures, and supplements that list hops or Humulus lupulus - Home-brewed beer and the mash or wort that contains hops Any of these can cause problems. Spent hops are the worst offender because they sit in open buckets or compost piles, they smell sweet, and a cat may lick or eat a surprising amount before anyone notices. If you keep other plants at home, it helps to know which ones carry similar risks. Our guides to [plants toxic to cats](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/plants-toxic-to-cats) and [what plants can be toxic to cats](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/what-plants-can-be-toxic-to-cats) cover the common household offenders. ## What Is the Toxic Principle in Hops? The exact compound that causes the reaction in pets is not known [1]. What veterinarians do know is what happens after a cat eats hops: the body's temperature regulation goes haywire, muscles generate heat, and the cat's temperature climbs to dangerous levels. This is malignant hyperthermia, and it can progress within minutes to hours. It is worth separating that emergency from the other ways hops are studied. Hops contain compounds such as xanthohumol, which has been investigated for anticancer activity in laboratory cancer cell lines [2][3] and for effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet [4]. A hops extract has also been shown to change gut bacteria and reduce butyrate production in laboratory cultures of human gut microbes [5]. Those are research findings about specific compounds and extracts, not evidence that hops are safe for cats. None of them change the emergency advice. One more caution: hops are not the only plant that can cause sudden, severe illness in a cat. Grayanotoxins from plants in the Ericaceae family, such as rhododendrons and Pieris japonica, have caused poisoning in companion animals including cats, with vomiting and retching among the common signs [6]. If you are not sure what your cat ate, tell your veterinarian everything you have in the house and yard. ## Signs of Hops Poisoning in Cats The signs of hops poisoning come on fast and can look like panic or pain. Watch for: - Panting or open-mouth breathing - A body temperature that feels hot to the touch, or a measured temperature above normal - Restlessness, pacing, or frantic behavior - Tremors, twitching, or muscle rigidity - Vomiting or drooling - Weakness, wobbliness, or collapse - Seizures - Unresponsiveness or coma A normal cat temperature is roughly 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. In malignant hyperthermia, the temperature can shoot well above that. Heat like this damages organs and can be fatal, so this is not a "watch her overnight" situation. ### How fast do signs appear? Signs often start within 30 minutes to a few hours of eating hops, and they can worsen quickly. Some cats deteriorate in minutes. If you saw your cat eat hops, or you found chewed hop material and a sick cat, treat it as an emergency even if the cat seems only mildly off. ### Which cats are at risk? Any cat with access to hops is at risk. That includes cats in homes where someone brews beer, cats that roam into a neighbor's hop garden, and cats that sample herbal supplements or teas. Kittens and older cats may have less reserve to handle a crisis, but the reaction itself is not limited to any age or breed. ## What to Do Right Now Act first, ask questions later. Here is the order of operations. 1. Move your cat away from the hops. Put the plant, pellets, or bucket out of reach so your cat cannot eat more. 2. Call for help. Contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Have the product or plant with you if you can, and be ready to say how much you think your cat ate and when. 3. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian tells you to. Making a cat vomit at home can cause aspiration, choke the airway, or make things worse. Leave that decision to the professional on the phone. 4. Do not give any human medication. Never give a cat acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, or any other over-the-counter drug to lower a fever. These can be deadly to cats. 5. Keep your cat calm and cool on the way in. Do not wrap her in blankets. Offer a cool, quiet carrier and drive carefully. 6. Bring the evidence. Take the plant, the bag, the label, or a photo of the bucket with you. It helps the veterinarian know what and how much was eaten. If your cat is having a seizure, is unresponsive, or is struggling to breathe, skip the phone call and go straight to the nearest emergency hospital. Call ahead so they can prepare. ## How Veterinarians Treat Hops Poisoning Treatment focuses on cooling the cat safely and supporting the body while the toxin wears off. Depending on how sick your cat is, your veterinarian may: - Measure the body temperature and monitor it continuously - Start active cooling with cool water, fans, or cool intravenous fluids - Give intravenous fluids to support circulation and protect the kidneys - Use medications to control tremors, seizures, and muscle activity - Provide oxygen if breathing is affected - Run blood work to check organ function, blood sugar, and electrolytes - Hospitalize for close monitoring, sometimes for a day or more If your cat was seen within a short window and the veterinarian decides decontamination is safe, they may induce vomiting or give activated charcoal. That decision depends on the cat's condition, the amount eaten, and how much time has passed. Never try this at home on your own. Doses of any medication are calculated by your veterinarian based on your cat's weight, temperature, and overall health. There is no home dose you can safely use. ## Outlook After Hops Exposure The outlook depends on how much hops your cat ate, how fast the temperature rose, and how quickly treatment started. Cats treated early and cooled effectively often recover. Cats that reach very high temperatures or have seizures before treatment can have lasting organ damage or may not survive. Because the reaction can be so fast, the single biggest factor you control is time. If you suspect hops, call now. Do not wait to see if signs show up. ## Preventing Hops Exposure at Home Prevention is straightforward once you know where the risk lives. - Keep all hops, pellets, and brewing supplies in sealed containers inside a closed cabinet or a room your cat cannot enter. - Never leave spent hops in an open bucket, on the floor, or in an unsecured compost pile. Bag them and put them in a closed bin outside, or better, in a bin your cat cannot reach. - Clean up spills immediately, including wort, mash, and beer. - Keep home-brewed beer and fermenting vessels covered and out of reach. Alcohol is a separate danger for cats. - Check herbal teas, tinctures, and supplements for hops or Humulus lupulus on the label. - If you garden with hops, fence the area or grow them in a spot your cat cannot access. - Train yourself and everyone in the house to recognize the signs, so no one hesitates. If you want to fill your home with plants that are safer for cats, our list of [house plants toxic to cat](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/house-plants-toxic-to-cat) is a good place to start, and [are snake plants toxic to cats](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/are-snake-plants-toxic-to-cats) answers a question many owners ask about a very common houseplant. ## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian This article gives general guidance. Your cat is an individual, and only a veterinarian who examines her can tell you what she needs. Contact a veterinarian the same day if your cat ate a small amount of hops and seems completely normal, so the team can advise you on monitoring. Go to an emergency hospital now if your cat has any of these: - Panting, open-mouth breathing, or a hot body - Tremors, twitching, or seizures - Vomiting, drooling, or repeated swallowing - Weakness, wobbliness, collapse, or unresponsiveness - Known or suspected hops ingestion within the last several hours Schedule a routine visit if your cat had a hops exposure in the past and you want her kidney and liver values checked, or if you want help cat-proofing your home and brewing setup. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are hops poisonous to cats? Yes. Hops are poisonous to cats and can cause a rapid, dangerous rise in body temperature along with tremors, seizures, and collapse. The reaction can be fatal, so any suspected exposure is an emergency. ### Is hops bad for cats in small amounts? Even small amounts can be dangerous, and there is no safe amount to offer a cat. The reaction is unpredictable, and a cat that seems fine one minute can worsen quickly. Treat any amount as a reason to call a veterinarian or poison control. ### Is hops safe for cats if it is only in beer? No. Hops remain toxic in beer, and alcohol adds another serious danger for cats. Keep all beer, wort, and brewing leftovers away from your cat, and clean up spills right away. ### Can hops cause a fever in cats? Yes. A dangerously high body temperature is the hallmark of hops poisoning in cats. Never try to treat a fever at home with human medication, because common pain relievers can be deadly to cats. ### What should I do if my cat licked hops? Call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 right away. Do not induce vomiting or give any medication unless a veterinarian tells you to. Bring the hops container or a photo with you if you are told to come in. ## Related Articles - [Plants Toxic To Cats](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/plants-toxic-to-cats) - [What Plants Can Be Toxic To Cats](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/what-plants-can-be-toxic-to-cats) - [House Plants Toxic To Cat](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/house-plants-toxic-to-cat) - [Are Snake Plants Toxic To Cats](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/are-snake-plants-toxic-to-cats) - [What Kind Of Plants Are Harmful To Cats](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/what-kind-of-plants-are-harmful-to-cats) - [What Plants And Flowers Are Toxic To Cats](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/what-plants-and-flowers-are-toxic-to-cats) - [Is the Marijuana Plant Toxic to Cats? Leaves and Smoke](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/marijuana-plant-toxic-cats) - [Are Peace Lilies Toxic to Cats?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/peace-lilies-toxic-cats) - [Is Ivy Toxic to Cats? English, Devil's and Swedish Ivy](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/is-ivy-toxic-to-cats) ## References 1. [Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Hops](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/hops). ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. 2. [Xanthohumol, a prenylated flavonoid from Hops, exerts anticancer effects against gastric cancer in vitro](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30272303/). Oncology reports, 2018. 3. [Inhibition of breast cancer cell survival by Xanthohumol via modulation of the Notch signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29422966/). Oncology letters, 2018. 4. [Non-estrogenic Xanthohumol Derivatives Mitigate Insulin Resistance and Cognitive Impairment in High-Fat Diet-induced Obese Mice](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29330372/). Scientific reports, 2018. 5. [Dose-Dependent Alterations to In Vitro Human Microbiota Composition and Butyrate Inhibition by a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Hops Extract](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31438572/). Biomolecules, 2019. 6. [Grayanotoxin poisoning in animals following the ingestion of Ericaceae plants](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41544885/). Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997), 2026. ## Further Reading - [ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants) - [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)