Can cats eat onions or garlic?
🚩 When to see a vet
- Your cat ate onion, garlic, chives or leeks, or food made with them
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Your cat seems unwell in any way after eating them
In an emergency, call your vet or nearest emergency animal clinic.
🚨 Poison emergency: call now
- Trouble breathing
- Collapse
- Seizures
- Bloated belly or retching with nothing coming up
- Suspected poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, lilies for cats, grapes)
- Heavy bleeding
- Male cat straining to pee
- Pale gums
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply)
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (a fee applies)
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (a fee applies)
No. Onions, garlic, chives and leeks belong to the Allium family, which is poisonous to cats. Cats are more sensitive than dogs. These foods can upset the stomach and damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. If your cat eats any, call your vet or a pet poison hotline.
What the sources say
Onion, garlic, chives and leeks belong to the Allium family, and all are poisonous to dogs, cats and livestock. [2]
These plants can upset the digestive tract and harm red blood cells. Losing too many red blood cells is called anemia. [1]
Cats react to smaller amounts than dogs do. For dogs, the danger grows with how much they eat. [1]
Pet Poison Helpline lists nausea, vomiting and diarrhea among the effects of a poisonous dose. [2]
Garlic is in the same family and carries the same risk. [3]
FAQ
Is a little garlic in food OK for cats?
Our sources say Alliums are poisonous to cats and cats are more sensitive than dogs. Ask your vet or a poison hotline about any amount.
Are cooked or powdered onions safer?
Our sources list onion, garlic, chives and leeks as toxic without exceptions for cooking. Call your vet.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, checked Oct 13, 2026
- Pet Poison Helpline: Onions, checked Oct 13, 2026
- Pet Poison Helpline: Garlic, checked Oct 13, 2026
We summarize these sources in our own words. Dosing or home treatment amounts are never given here. Ask your vet.
