Can Cats Eat Tomatoes? Tomato Toxicity in Cats

Despite being a nutritious food for people, tomatoes are toxic to cats, so it’s best to keep them away from your feline friend. Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family of plants, which means they contain solanine, a compound that’s toxic to cats. Ingesting even a small amount of tomato can lead to gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea, and in more serious cases, symptoms like lethargy, disorientation, and bradycardia (a slow heart rate).

While that may sound worrisome, we’ll cover the details of what’s known about the compounds in tomatoes that are toxic to cats, including research on the impact of different doses and forms of tomato consumption in cats, and expert perspectives on how to recognize and treat tomato toxicity. This knowledge can help cat parents understand the risks and make choices that will help keep their cats safe and healthy.

Tomato Plant Toxicity: Understanding the Risks

The tomato plant itself, including the leaves, stems, and unripe fruit, has higher concentrations of toxic compounds such as solanine and tomatine. If a cat eats any part of the tomato plant, they may develop symptoms like drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, dilated pupils.

In more serious cases, tomato plant toxicity can cause cats to experience neurological symptoms, bradycardia, and even organ failure, according to information provided by veterinarians. Therefore, it’s important to prevent cats from eating tomato plants and to get them medical help if they’re exhibiting signs of poisoning since even small amounts of the plant can cause these clinical symptoms. Although ripe tomatoes may be OK to eat in small quantities, the rest of the plant is highly toxic and cat owners should be mindful of this.

Ripe Tomatoes: Safe or Unsafe for Cats?

While the tomato plant is poisonous, the actual red tomato fruit is generally safe for cats in small amounts, says The Wildest. However, even ripe tomatoes have solanine and other compounds that can cause stomach upset if eaten in large amounts, according to BeChewy.

Because cats are obligate carnivores and don't need fruits and vegetables in their diet, experts say it's best to avoid giving tomatoes to cats regularly. If you do give your cat ripe tomatoes as a treat, make sure to remove the stems, leaves, and any unripe green parts to reduce the risk of poisoning.

Tomato-Based Human Foods: A Hidden Danger for Cats

Many human foods that include tomatoes, like sauces, ketchups, and soups, can be dangerous for cats because of other toxic additives, says Spot. Tomato sauces are often made with garlic, onions, and have high salt content, all of which are toxic to cats, according to The Tiniest Tiger.

Even small amounts of these tomato-based products can lead to gastrointestinal upset, neurological symptoms, and other health issues for cats, says Catster. Because the other ingredients in these foods can make the tomatoes more toxic, it's best to avoid giving cats any tomato-based human foods.

First Aid and Veterinary Treatment of Tomato Toxicity

If a cat has eaten any part of a tomato plant or a large amount of ripe tomatoes, immediate veterinary care is required, according to Tomato Plants Are Toxic To Cats 🐈. This is because the faster the cat can be treated, the more likely it is that the toxins can be removed from their system. This may include inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal to absorb the toxins.

In more serious cases, the cat may need to be hospitalized for supportive care, which can include fluid therapy, oxygen, and medications to help with symptoms and prevent organ damage, according to Tomato Is Poisonous To Pets | Poisonous Plant For Pets.

If you are waiting to get to the vet, you can also provide some at-home care, such as giving the cat small amounts of Pedialyte or calorie supplements to help with their energy levels, according to the expert advice in My cat ate tomato plant leaves and has been listless and depressed ever since. What should I do.. However, the sooner the cat can get to the vet, the better their chances of recovery, as time is of the essence when it comes to tomato toxicity.

Conclusion: How to Protect Your Cat From Tomato Toxicity

Tomatoes are a healthy fruit for people, but they can be dangerous for cats if they eat too much. According to The Spruce Pets, cats' digestive systems can't break down tomatoes properly, which can lead to an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea.

However, the real danger is in green tomatoes and the stems and leaves of the tomato plant, which contain higher levels of a compound called solanine, which is poisonous to cats. If a cat eats these parts of the plant, it can lead to severe gastrointestinal upset, weakness, bradycardia, and even organ failure, as reported by WagWalking.

Veterinary professionals advise that cats be given only small amounts of the ripe, red part of the tomato, if they're given tomatoes at all. They should be kept away from larger amounts of tomatoes and the plant parts, and if a cat shows any signs of illness after eating tomatoes, they should be taken to the vet immediately.

By understanding the potential dangers and taking appropriate precautions, cat owners can ensure the safety and well-being of their feline companions.