Why?
Cultivated mushrooms sold in stores, like button mushrooms, aren't toxic, but they offer a cat nothing and are harder to digest raw. The real danger is wild mushrooms: some species, such as Amanita mushrooms, contain toxins that destroy the liver or kidneys, and others cause digestive or neurological problems. Even experienced foragers make mistakes, and a cat playing outside can chew one without anyone noticing.
How much?
A small piece of cooked button mushroom, with no butter, garlic, salt or cream, once in a while. Mushrooms sauteed with garlic or in a cream sauce are off the table.
The risks
- Wild mushrooms: liver or kidney damage, sometimes fatal
- Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling or tremors, depending on species
- Mushrooms sauteed with garlic or shallots
- Cream sauces, which are fatty and salty
- Stomach upset from raw mushrooms
Your cat ate some: what now?
If your cat ate a small piece of plain cooked button mushroom, just watch it for 24 to 48 hours. If it chewed a wild mushroom from the yard or a walk, call your vet or an animal poison control center right away, without waiting for symptoms, which can take hours to appear, and don't make your cat vomit yourself. If you can, keep the mushroom or take a photo to help identify it.
Better options
As a treat, a bite of plain cooked chicken or egg suits a cat far better. For veggies, zucchini or cooked green beans carry no risk of a mix-up.
Common questions
My cat ate a wild mushroom, what should I do?
Call your vet or an animal poison control center right away, even if your cat seems fine. Keep the mushroom or a photo to help identify it, and don't try to make your cat vomit.
Can cats eat portobello or cremini mushrooms?
They're the same species as button mushrooms, just more mature, so the same rule applies: a small cooked, plain piece is fine now and then.
This information is general and does not replace advice from a veterinarian. If your cat has swallowed something toxic, call your vet or an animal poison control center right away, without waiting for symptoms.