- Mold toxins cause tremors/seizures
- 30 min–few hours
- Affects: Nervous system
Why this verdict for cats
Mold on food or in compost can produce toxins that cause tremors and seizures in cats. Treat ingestion as an emergency.
Warning signs to watch for
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Seizures
⚠ If your cat ate moldy food
Act immediately — don't wait for symptoms.
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline right away.
- Note how much was eaten and when.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to.
Mouldy food is one of the most under-recognised poisonings in dogs, largely because it happens somewhere nobody is watching: a compost heap, a bin bag, fallen fruit under a tree, or a forgotten sandwich behind the sofa. The toxins involved act on the nervous system, and they act fast.
How much is safe?
There is no safe quantity, and the amount of visible mould is a poor guide to the risk. The compounds responsible — tremorgenic mycotoxins such as penitrem A and roquefortine — are produced unevenly, so a small mouldy scrap can carry more toxin than a larger one. Mouldy bread, cheese, pasta, nuts (walnuts especially) and decomposing fruit are all documented sources. Compost is the classic and worst offender because it concentrates everything.
What happens if a cat eats too much?
Onset is quick, often within 30 minutes to two hours. It starts as restlessness and fine muscle tremors, then progresses to whole-body shaking, an unsteady drunken gait, muscle rigidity, and in severe cases continuous seizures. All that muscle activity drives the body temperature up dangerously, which causes damage of its own. Vomiting and drooling are common alongside. It is a distinctive picture, and a dog that is trembling uncontrollably after being loose in a garden should raise this suspicion immediately.
⚠ What to do if your cat ate moldy food
Go in straight away rather than waiting to see if the tremors settle (ASPCA 888-426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 on the way). Do not try to induce vomiting in a trembling or seizing animal — it can be inhaled. Most dogs recover well with prompt treatment: sedation or muscle relaxants to stop the tremors, cooling, IV fluids and sometimes a lipid infusion. The danger comes from delay, when hyperthermia and prolonged seizures start causing secondary damage.
⚠️ Worried your pet got into this?
Frequently asked questions
My dog raided the compost and is just a bit shaky — can I watch at home?
No. Tremors from mycotoxins escalate rather than settle, and body temperature climbs with them. This is one of the clearer go-now situations.
Is blue cheese a risk too?
Blue and mould-ripened cheeses contain roquefortine and are best avoided entirely, though the mould on spoiled food and compost is the more common cause of severe cases.
More pantry & snack foods for cats
By the CanMyPet Editorial Team · Reviewed against ASPCA Animal Poison Control, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Pet Poison Helpline · Last updated July 31, 2026.
Sources
- ASPCA — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- American Kennel Club — Dog Nutrition
- Pet Poison Helpline — Poison List