Can Cats Eat Tomatoes?

Yes, small amounts of ripe red tomato flesh are generally considered non-toxic to cats, but green tomatoes, stems, leaves, and the tomato plant are toxic and can make cats sick.

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Monitor at Home

Ripe tomato flesh is usually low-risk — green parts are toxic

According to the ASPCA, the ripe fruit is non-toxic, but the tomato plant and unripe green tomatoes contain toxic compounds that can cause drooling, stomach upset, weakness, dilated pupils, and a slow heart rate. Because cats are obligate carnivores, tomatoes should only ever be an occasional tiny taste, not a regular food.

How urgent is this?

Emergency

Go to the ER now

  • ● Cat ate tomato plant leaves, stems, or a large amount of green/unripe tomato
  • ● Trouble breathing, collapse, tremors, seizures, or extreme weakness
  • ● Slow heart rate, severe lethargy, or repeated vomiting with worsening signs
Urgent

See a vet within 24 hours

  • ● Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, dilated pupils, or poor coordination after eating tomato plant material
  • ● Cat chewed on a garden tomato plant and you are not sure how much was swallowed
  • ● Cat ate tomato sauce, soup, or seasoned tomato products that may contain onion, garlic, salt, or spices
Monitor

Watch at home, call if it worsens

  • ● Cat licked or ate a very small amount of plain ripe red tomato flesh and is acting normal
  • ● Mild, brief stomach upset after a tiny amount of ripe tomato
  • ● Cat ate a small piece of ripe tomato with no stem, leaves, or green parts attached

How to Safely Feed Tomatoes to Your Cat

If you offer tomato at all, keep it to a tiny amount of plain, ripe red flesh only. Cats do not need tomatoes nutritionally, and many will do better skipping plant foods altogether.

  • Only offer fully ripe red tomato flesh — never green tomatoes, stems, leaves, or plant pieces
  • Serve a very small bite as an occasional taste, not a meal or frequent treat
  • Wash it well and remove all green parts before offering it
  • Avoid tomato sauce, salsa, soup, ketchup, or canned tomatoes with onion, garlic, salt, sugar, or spices
  • If your cat raids a tomato plant or develops drooling, vomiting, weakness, or dilated pupils, call your vet
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Common Questions

Can cats eat ripe tomatoes?
A small amount of plain ripe red tomato flesh is generally considered non-toxic to cats. Even so, tomatoes are not an important part of a cat's diet, so they should only be an occasional tiny taste.
What part of the tomato is dangerous for cats?
The ASPCA lists the tomato plant as toxic to cats, and the higher-risk parts include the stems, leaves, and unripe green tomatoes. These contain glycoalkaloid toxins that can cause hypersalivation, loss of appetite, severe gastrointestinal upset, depression, weakness, dilated pupils, and a slow heart rate.
Can cats eat tomato sauce or canned tomatoes?
It is best to avoid them. Many tomato sauces and canned tomato products contain onion and garlic, which are especially dangerous for cats, along with added salt, sugar, and seasonings that can upset the stomach.
Are tomatoes more risky for cats than dogs?
The tomato plant and green tomatoes are considered toxic to both cats and dogs. The bigger practical difference is that cats are often more sensitive to certain food toxins overall, and they are much more vulnerable than dogs to ingredients commonly added to tomato dishes, especially onion and garlic.
What should I do if my cat ate part of a tomato plant?
Call your veterinarian promptly, especially if your cat chewed leaves, stems, or green tomatoes. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinary professional specifically tells you to do so, and watch closely for drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, dilated pupils, or a slow heart rate.

Sources

  1. Tomato Plant — ASPCA
  2. Common Cat Hazards — Cornell Feline Health Center
  3. Summer Toxins to Avoid with Your Pet — VCA Animal Hospitals
  4. Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual
  5. Can Cats Eat Tomatoes? Ripe vs Green Safety — SpectrumCare

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice. Reading this content does not establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Every pet is different — always consult a licensed veterinarian before making decisions about your pet's health, diet, or care. If you'd like personalized guidance, you can talk to one of our vets. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your local emergency animal hospital immediately.

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