Tomato is an amazingly universal ingredient, present in most recipes. One of its main applications is to make the delicious tomato sauce – and in the process of cooking it, you may wonder… “Can I share this with my feline friend?” So, can cats eat tomato sauce?
Can cats eat tomato sauce?
Unfortunately, the answer is no, cats should not eat tomato sauce.
Some ripe red tomatoes, in small quantities, are ok for cats. However, the truth is that many ingredients commonly found in tomato sauce are dangerous. So unfortunately we do not recommend offering any kind of tomato sauce to your buddy.
Green tomatoes, leaves of the plant, stems and unripe tomato fruit are toxic to cats. The compound that causes the toxicity is called tomatine, which is related to solanine. When consumed in large quantities it is poisonous for them.
But that’s not the only problem with tomato sauce. The sodium levels, onions, garlic, chives, xylitol and other ingredients can lead to poisoning as well.
What are the signs of toxicity?
Onions and garlic contain components that will break down the red blood cells, which can lead to anemia as well as gastroenteritis.
Aside from that, tomato sauce can be pretty high in salt content, which can lead to more problems. Tomatine poisoning is also something you need to consider. So, summing up, if your cat ate some tomato sauce, these are the symptoms you need to watch for:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Drooling
- Pale gums
- Lethargy and weakness
- Panting
- Loss of appetite/weight loss
- Fainting/collapse
What to do if my cat ate tomato sauce?
If your cat has licked off a spoon of tomato sauce, it’s unlikely they will suffer from ill effects. Some loose stools and flatulence, at most.
However, if your cat has eaten more than that, we recommend you to keep a close eye on them for the next 2/3 days to make sure that they’re ok. The symptoms don’t always occur immediately and might be delayed by several days.
If you do witness any of these symptoms, take your cat to the vet immediately.
Additionally, if you have tomato plants at home, it’s best to keep your feline friends away from them!
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