Can cats eat tomatoes?
A small amount of ripe, red tomato flesh is generally considered safe for cats, but the green parts of the plant — the stem, leaves and any unripe fruit — contain a compound that can cause stomach upset and should be kept away from your cat. Most cats show little interest in tomato anyway, so it rarely comes up as a real concern.
Why ripe tomato flesh is usually fine
The ripe red flesh of a tomato, in a small amount, is not considered toxic to cats, though it offers very little nutritional benefit to an obligate carnivore whose diet should be built around animal protein rather than fruit or vegetables. A tiny piece occasionally is unlikely to cause any harm to a healthy adult cat.
This is not an invitation to make tomato a regular feature, though. Cats have no dietary need for it, and there is little upside to introducing a food that offers so little in return, even in its safest form.
Why the green parts are different
The stem, leaves and unripe green tomatoes contain a compound called solanine, which is part of the same family found in other nightshade plants and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or general stomach upset if eaten in any quantity. Ripening reduces the solanine content in the fruit itself considerably, which is why ripe flesh is treated differently from the plant.
If you grow tomato plants at home, it is worth keeping them out of reach of a curious cat, since the leaves and stem are the parts most likely to cause a problem rather than the fruit hanging on the vine.
What to do if your cat eats tomato plant
If your cat has eaten leaves, stem or an unripe green tomato, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling or lethargy over the following hours, and ring your vet if any of these appear or if you are concerned about the amount eaten.
A small nibble of ripe tomato flesh from your dinner plate is a different matter and rarely worth worrying about on its own, but there is no reason to actively offer tomato to a cat who has never shown an interest.
If you grow tomatoes at home
Cats that spend time in the garden or near indoor plants sometimes chew on leaves out of curiosity rather than hunger, which is worth bearing in mind if you grow tomato plants yourself. Keeping pots somewhere a cat cannot easily reach, particularly while plants are young and low to the ground, avoids the issue more reliably than hoping a cat loses interest.
The same caution applies to other plants in the same nightshade family, such as pepper and aubergine plants, which share a similar profile of being fine as ripe fruit but less suitable in their leaf and stem form.
Keeping tomato-based foods away from cats
Beyond the raw fruit and plant, be mindful of tomato-based sauces, ketchup and similar products, which often contain added salt, sugar, onion or garlic — none of which are suitable for cats regardless of the tomato content. A cat getting into a plate of pasta in tomato sauce is more of a concern because of those other ingredients than because of the tomato itself.
As with most human foods shared occasionally, the safest approach with cats is to keep deliberate sharing to genuinely plain, ripe ingredients in small amounts, and to treat anything mixed or seasoned as off-limits.
Make treat time better
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Common questions
- Can cats eat tomato leaves or stems?
- No, these should be avoided. The green parts of a tomato plant contain solanine, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or general stomach upset in cats, and offer no benefit that would justify the risk.
- Are green tomatoes bad for cats?
- Yes, unripe green tomatoes carry a higher level of solanine than ripe ones and are best kept away from cats. Ripening reduces this considerably, which is why a small amount of ripe red flesh is treated differently.
- My cat ate a tomato plant leaf — what should I do?
- Watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling or lethargy over the following hours, and ring your vet if you notice any of these or are concerned about how much was eaten. A single leaf is unlikely to cause serious harm, but it is worth keeping an eye on your cat.
- Do cats even like tomatoes?
- Most cats show little interest, since tomato does not offer the animal-based smell and taste that naturally appeals to an obligate carnivore. It is more often a case of a curious cat investigating something on a plate or in the garden than a food they actively seek out.
- Can cats eat tomato sauce or ketchup?
- It is better avoided. These products typically contain added salt, sugar, onion or garlic, all of which are unsuitable for cats regardless of the tomato base, so the sauce itself carries more risk than plain ripe tomato flesh would.
Related
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.