Tomato

Why is it risky?

Ripe, red tomato flesh is generally safe for cats in small amounts. The danger comes from the rest of the plant (stems, leaves, and unripe green tomatoes) which contain solanine, a glycoalkaloid toxic in sufficient quantity. Most cats show little interest in tomato plants, which limits real-world risk, but exposure to garden plants should still be treated with caution.

Affected Systems

Digestive

Symptoms

Vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, weakness, low blood pressure. Severe poisoning is rare and usually requires large ingestion of green plant material.

What To Do

Ripe tomato ingestion in small amounts rarely needs action. If a cat chews on tomato plant leaves/stems or eats unripe tomatoes and shows symptoms, contact a vet.

Notes

Safe as an occasional tiny treat is ripe tomato flesh only, no seasoning, no stems/leaves. Keep garden tomato plants out of reach as a precaution.

Sources

→ ASPCA Animal Poison Control | https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/tomato-plant

→ International Cat Care | https://icatcare.org