Candy — Food safety facts
Do not feed · Cats · full breakdown on the linked food page
Sugar-free candy is the worst case — xylitol causes rapid, life-threatening hypoglycaemia in dogs.
Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Do not feed), so the notes below hold for either pet.
Candy should not be given to cats at all. Even a small amount can do harm, so there is no portion small enough to be safe.
Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or oil to “dilute” it. Note the food and roughly how much was eaten, then call your vet or a pet poison hotline and follow their advice on whether to bring the pet in straight away.
Why these cautions matter
Even a gram or two of xylitol can trigger a sharp drop in a dog's blood sugar, and larger exposures go on to damage the liver.
Added sugar brings empty calories, and over months that means weight gain and dental disease — both far harder to undo than to avoid.
Candy has no place in everyday feeding: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged after this and watch the litter box and how quickly they finish the next meal.
The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Candy food facts page.