cats and alchohol?

Does anyone elses cat do this? We recently discovred Karma like more like love alchohol. We drink every once and a while, wine and martininis. I first noticed it a few weeks ago, we left our wine glasses on the counter over night and the next morning while I was feeding her she knocked one over while trying to dip her paw. I thought it just be because there was liquid in the glass and she wanted to know what it was. Why she didn't get turned off by the smell I'll never know. Well I laughed told her no and took her off the counter. Then the following weekend we had friends over for martininis with blue cheese stuffed olives, same thing we left one glass half full with two olives at the bottom. I was making coffee and having my hangover glass of v8(will explain its importance soon), I heard her jump up like every morning, turned around and she had drank about half of what was left. Straight gin, She seemed to be going for the olives. Just like mom and dad. Well nedless to say we had a drunk kitty, walked into doors and everything. The next day just like mom and dad she drank v8 and orange juice. Very weird. She still seems to want alchohol but only after it has sat out and is in a glass. We have these little martini glasses that are big enough for one shot and she now thinks they are for her.
Does anyone elses cat do this? Our old cat never liked alchohol. She would taste cream based drinks but never enough to get drunk.

My cats also love alcohol (vodka). I set a mixed drink down and they're fighting each other trying to get to it and drink it. I'm sure alcohol can not be good for them so I have to be extra vigilant in keeping the glass out of their reach.

It is not good for them, nor is the olive in the glass. Please don't allow your cats to drink alcohol. They love lots of stuff that can harm them, garlic, chocolate, tomatoes- to name a few.

It can be very dangerous, because if they go to a place normally safe ONLY for cats (like the top of a cat tree, or out on the street) but are 'drunk' when they get there, then fall off, or aren't tuned in to cars coming... Plus the fact they crave it could mean there's a potential problem with e.g. diabetes (alc. is straight carbohydrate, of course), etc. etc.

I know its bad for them but like I said she would do it when I was not looking. Since then we try to not leave drinks out but when we've had too much its hard to remember. she is an infoor only cat now so cars are not a problem. Thw one time she got drunk we stayed with her the whole day. We work at hoe so we rarely leave. I just found it odd. All of the other cats I know or have known hated alchohol, especialy hard liquor. we did just discover she likes to smoke too. We normally smoke outside but due to me being on bed rest for the last month we had to move it inside. Today she walked up to the ashtry with a lit cigarette and took a big breath in. Again I know its really wrong but it was funny. She also hates clasical music but loves rock and roll like Janes Addiction. So go figure, she likes to party like a rock star.

Neither alcohol or 2nd hand smoke is good for your cats! I wouldn't let a small child have access to either nor would I let my cats. Forgive me for saying this but I don't see the humor in this at all. Call me a old fuddy duddy. but It is irresponsible on any owners part to let cats have booze! You know better and they don't...

Originally Posted by KarmasMom

I know its bad for them but like I said she would do it when I was not looking. Since then we try to not leave drinks out but when we've had too much its hard to remember. she is an infoor only cat now so cars are not a problem. Thw one time she got drunk we stayed with her the whole day. We work at hoe so we rarely leave. I just found it odd. All of the other cats I know or have known hated alchohol, especialy hard liquor. we did just discover she likes to smoke too. We normally smoke outside but due to me being on bed rest for the last month we had to move it inside. Today she walked up to the ashtry with a lit cigarette and took a big breath in. Again I know its really wrong but it was funny. She also hates clasical music but loves rock and roll like Janes Addiction. So go figure, she likes to party like a rock star.

Click to expand...

You may think its funny, but you are abusing your cat if you allow her to drink alcohol or be close to smoke. "having too much" is not an excuse. Cats are living beings who depend on us for their health and safety. Karma deserves to be more than entertainment for you.

I know this sounds strong and was not intended to hurt your feelings; however, this site is dedicated to the welfare of cats and if I have to choose between your feelings and your cat's welfare, I'll go with your cat 24 x 7!

Sleeves once tried to drink from a glass of wine I had on the table, needless to say I didn't leave it out again.
I know it seems hard because you're not 'letting' her drink it, however leaving out drink, goes hand in hand with 'cat proofing' your house when you first get your kitty. You have to make certain changes to protect your belongings and your cat, not leaving alchohol out is one of them.

Fred would have been a drunk if I had let him. He loved White Russians and beer, so we had to keep a good eye on him or he would sneak up and steal a sip right out of your glass. A guest inadvertantly left a WR on the end table, and before we realized it, Fred drank a good bit of it. He snoozed in the middle of the floor for several hours, and was a hurting thing when he woke up. Nothing as pitiful as a kitty with a hangover. My friend was so upset that Fred was sick from his drink that he sat on the couch and petted him for hours. Even a headache didn't keep him from tying to steal a sip.

Bach's Rescue Remedy is 10% alcohol. What are the thoughts on that?

Bach's Rescue Remedy I must admit I don't know much about and have never used it. But I think comparing Bach's Rescue Remedy to Alcohol is like comparing Oranges and Apples. Bach's Rescue Remedy is given to cats by the drops and the alcohol they would be consuming is minut and its given for a medical reason.
Letting your cats share cocktails with you well, need I say more.

My fiance and I smoke in the bathroom so that our cats can't get hurt. If you own a cat you have to change certain things in your life to protect them.

When I was drunk one day my friend gave my god a mixture of a bunch of alcohol.I was really angry with her, but there seemed to be no change in him. He never got sick thank god. He likes Baileys tho...irish cream....kinda makes sense since he absolutely LOVES milk. I always give him milk when we have it. DONT LET YOUR CAT DRINK ALCOHOL AND SMOKE! Here is what can happen to your cat from second hand smoke:
My dads ex gf always smoked in her room away from us kids. Her dog Sammy was always in the room with her, lying by the door. We had ornaments in that room, and the same ones in the living room. When the room wa spainted, we noticed one ornament was a dark, sickly yellow, the other was still white. The walls had even turned yellow from the smoke. Sammy was put to sleep a year ago because he had problems with his lungs from the smoke. He was taking about 4 or 5 pills a day and he wasnt allowed to run because if he did, he would start to cough and hack and couldnt stop for about 10 minutes. He had to constantly be laying down or walking slowly. He wasnt allowed to get excited. It was very sad to see him like that and he was extremely overweight and because he couldnt get excersize it made it worse. That was why he had be put to sleep.
Do you want that to heppen to your kittie?

Zissou loves the smell of alcohol. Only the smell. We always let her sniff the beer bottle or whatever when we are drinking. She has never shown any interest at all in drinking it though...I think it's weird that a cat would drink it. It seems like it wouldn't taste very good! I think our kitty likes the smell because it probably reminds her of the first 2 and a half months of her life when she lived with the other strays near the bars here. Kinda like how I like the smell of the same detergent my mom used. Sometimes she licks the sweat off the outside of the bottle though! I think she just wants to know everything we eat and whether she wants any.

Yes, smoking, alcohol, and other illicit substances are very bad for kitties. I almost took someone's cat away once and brought it to the no-kill I volunteered for because they were letting it eat massive quantities of marijuana, among other things. I'm pretty sure it has brain damage now. His parents ended up taking it. It drools all day.

Found out accidentally that Ginger likes one of the drinks I drink - was watching football with a drink when he jumped on my knee and tried to drink it out of the bottle as I was putting it in my mouth. I admit I gave him a slight amount, but when I realised he liked it and wanted more, I stoppped, and now don't drink those when he is around so that he can't beg for them. I don't like the cats begging for food full stop though.

My cat sophia loves malibu and pinneaple juice! Whenever I have cups with water or anything cold she dives right in and drinks right out of the glass!! I had set my malibu drink down and of course she went for it. She was really licking it up until I caught her and made her stop after that she was begging for some more! I do think it is very irresponsible to just let your cats have drinks when you are supposed to be watching and taking care of them. They depend on us to do what is right for them! I did think it was funny she chose to like this drink but I would never let her consume it over and over again just for my pleasure or humor!

I agree with all of you. Under normal circumstances I would not have found it funny. However and this is no excuse but if you knew my full situation for the last two months you would see I needed a good laugh. On that note I will tell you and you guys are the only ones who know. My husband and I had a baby on Dec. 18. We had to give her up for adoption because we can not afford a baby in any way. We are lucky to make enough money every month to feed ourselves and the kitty. Now like I said I normally would have been a bit more diligent but my heads not theere at the moment. I am much more carful than that. Since I was given a clean bill of health today we are moving the smoking back out side, thank god. I also know some of you are upset because I smoke and had a baby. I quite for the pregnancy and hubby stayed outside. The stress of the adoption is why I started again. Had she been able to come home with us I never would have started again and he would quit. Also we believe that when children are in the house there should be no alchohol on the property at all. That would meen we would have become 100% sober. If it was not for us being stupid and distracted it would not have happened but thanks to that I actually laughed for the first time in weeks. I still can't even watch any tv because every sitcom is family oriented and it makes me cry, don't even get me started on commercials. Karma has become VERY coddled. She now will only sleep when in my arms, she won't leave my side for anything. I don't even let her jump off things. She has learned that if she wants off of something to just cry and I will be there. Its becoming quite sick.

BTW smoking in the bathroom is just as bad, smoke travels even if you have the suction fan running. We learned that from the doctor. It is best outside.

I heartily agree with what's been said about allowing your cat to have access to liquor and cigarette smoke -- and excusing yourself by saying that you've drunk too much to remember to put the alcohol out of your cat's reach... well, with all due respect, that's just sad.

But you mentioned that the reason you're smoking inside the house is that you're on bedrest. WHAAAAT??? If you have a health problem so severe that you're on bedrest, why are you smoking at ALL?

No, this is none of my business... but I can't help wanting to smack you upside the head, so to speak. Please bear with me a moment:

Because of my father's ill health, I spend a lot of time around hospitals, and some of what I've seen has affected me deeply. I've seen people who have just had a heart-bypass, or a cancer surgery, or a limb amputated due to diabetes actually roll their wheelchairs down to the parking lot, IV drip bottles and all, to sit in the freezing wind and chainsmoke.

That's the depth of the addiction -- that even when they're standing face to face with their own mortality, these people still can't stop poisoning themselves! It's a sight that has made it impossible for me to go on denying my own self-destructive behaviors. Maybe it would do the same for you.

Please think it over... for your own sake, as well as your cat's. All good wishes...

Did you read my last post? I was on bed rest due to having a baby. One of the things I did during the last 6 weeks was get a complete physical and I am in perfect health so don't worry. I know smoking is addictive and we due plan on quiting. I know is no excuse for what I have done but right now I am lucky to be able to think straight.