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Can Cats Eat Tomato Sauce? Vet-Reviewed Toxicity Guide

Written by: Christian Adams

Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

Can Cats Eat tomato-sauce

Can Cats Eat Tomato Sauce? Vet-Reviewed Toxicity Guide

VET APPROVED

Dr. Marta Vidal-Abarca Photo

REVIEWED & FACT-CHECKED BY

Dr. Marta Vidal-Abarca

Veterinarian, BVSc GPCert (Ophthal) MRCVS

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

It’s dinner time, and you’re serving up your signature dish of spaghetti with jarred tomato sauce because who has time to make tomato sauce from scratch? A dollop of sauce accidentally hits the floor, and your cat, waiting patiently by your feet, immediately licks it up.

Now, your immediate concern might be, is the tomato sauce safe for your cat to eat? The short answer is that while ripe tomatoes are safe, many ingredients commonly found in tomato sauce are dangerous for cats. 

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The Healthy Tomato

The tomato contains a high concentration of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been proven to provide health benefits to people. The highest concentration of lycopene is in the tomato skin. The redder the skin, the more lycopene is present.

Ripe tomatoes are safe for cats, but the green parts of the tomato plant are toxic due to the presence of solanine.

Tomato Sauce
Image by: Catkin, Pixabay

The Toxic Tomato Plant

Tomatoes are botanically classified as fruit that belongs to the Solanaceae family and are called nightshade vegetables. The tomato plant contains solanine, which can be toxic for animals if eaten in large amounts. While poisoning won’t typically result when cats eat a small amount of the tomato plant, ingestion can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, weakness, and lethargy.

Therefore, it is best to keep your cat away from tomato plants, but if you suspect your pet may have eaten part of a plant, you should contact your vet as soon as possible.

The Tomato and Your Cat

The red, ripe tomato is the tastiest and safest part of the tomato plant for your cat unless they’re allergic, which is not very common. Tomatoes contain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and potassium, and are also a good source of dietary fiber.

However, it is recommended that you stick with a good-quality, balanced cat food that has the right amount of nutrients rather than adding human foods to supplement their diet. If you are planning on feeding your cat any of your food or you think they could benefit from supplements, always follow the advice of your vet.

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Tomato Sauce
Image Credit: TJENA, Pixabay

Tomato Sauce and the Cat

Now that you know more about tomatoes and your cat, let’s look more specifically at tomato sauce. Most red sauces have basic ingredients that are not harmful to your cat, such as ripe tomatoes, olive oil, and seasonings like basil. However, homemade and jarred tomato sauces can sometimes contain oregano, which is harmful to cats, and other dangerous ingredients for pets, such as onions and garlic, especially the powdered forms.

Both onions and garlic contain compounds that damage the red blood cells, which can lead to anemia and gastroenteritis (diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain). Garlic is about 5 times more toxic than onions, and considering most tomato sauces contain garlic, it would be safer to keep your cat away from tomato sauce in general. Leeks and chives also belong to the same family as onions and garlic and should be avoided if they are in your sauce.

So, if your cat licks tomato sauce off the floor or your finger or even manages to stick their head in the pot when your back is turned, and if the sauce has onions or garlic in it, particularly in the most concentrated form (powder), these are the signs you need to watch for:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Drooling
  • Abdominal pain

As well as signs of anemia such as:

  • Pale gums
  • Increased heart rate
  • Lethargy and weakness
  • Increased breathing rate
  • Panting
  • Loss of appetite/weight loss
  • Fainting/collapse

The negative signs from eating onions and garlic don’t normally occur immediately and are usually delayed by several days. If you do witness any of these symptoms or suspect your cat may have ingested these ingredients, take them to your vet immediately.

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Conclusion

Ultimately, tomatoes are okay for your cat, but tomato sauce is not. It should be kept from your cat unless you’ve made it yourself and know exactly what is in it. Try to educate yourself about what ingredients and foods are toxic for your cat and which signs your cat might exhibit while experiencing a toxic reaction. Please consult with your vet if you have any questions or concerns regarding your cat’s health and diet.

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