A small piece of ripe tomato flesh is not toxic, but the green parts — stems, leaves, and unripe green tomatoes — contain solanine and tomatine and are toxic to cats. Keep any tomato ripe, plain, and tiny, and never let a cat near the plant or green fruit.
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Caution — ripe flesh only, no green partsAmount, form, or frequency matters
Can cats eat tomatoes? 🍅
A small piece of ripe tomato flesh is not toxic, but the green parts — stems, leaves, and unripe green tomatoes — contain solanine and tomatine and are toxic to cats. Keep any tomato ripe, plain, and tiny, and never let a cat near the plant or green fruit.
Source-linked record · Last reviewed July 17, 2026 · Not veterinary advice
Why this answer
Tomatoes are nightshades, and the leaves, stems, and unripe green fruit contain solanine and tomatine, glycoalkaloids toxic to cats, while the ripe red flesh holds only trace amounts and is generally safe in a small bite. Sauces add salt, garlic, and onion, so the safest tomato is a plain ripe morsel, and the plant itself should be off-limits.
Watch for
Vomiting or diarrhea after green tomato or plant parts
Drooling or belly pain from the toxin
Lethargy or weakness in a larger exposure
How much is okay
At most a small piece of ripe, red flesh, rarely — never green tomato, leaves, stems, or seasoned tomato sauce.
Serve it safely
Offer only ripe red flesh in a tiny amount, seeds and skin removed if your cat is sensitive.
Keep tomato plants, green tomatoes, and prunings away from cats.
Skip tomato sauce, ketchup, and dishes with added garlic, onion, or salt.
Sources and evidence notes (3)
Poison List
Pet Poison Helpline — Veterinarian-maintained toxin database for dogs and cats, reachable at (855) 764-7661, with per-substance toxicity levels, signs, and species notes.
People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Multi-species veterinary toxicology list covering alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, citrus, coconut, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, milk and dairy, nuts, onions, garlic and chives, raw meat and eggs, salty snacks, xylitol, and yeast dough.
Poisons
Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine — Feline-specific poisoning overview covering common household toxin exposures in cats, clinical signs, and the need for prompt veterinary care.
Answer card
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Remove access. Take the food away and move your cat to another room.
Note the facts. What was it, roughly how much is missing, and when? Keep the packaging.
Call before symptoms. For chocolate, onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, alcohol, or anything sugar-free (xylitol), call a hotline or your veterinarian now — early treatment is easier and cheaper.
Never do this
Do not induce vomiting, feed milk, salt, or oil, or wait overnight to "see how it goes". Signs of chocolate or Allium poisoning can take hours to days to appear.
Go to an emergency vet immediately if
Your cat is collapsing, twitching or seizing, struggling to breathe, drooling heavily, vomiting repeatedly, or wobbly on their feet.
Outside the US? Call your local emergency veterinary clinic — keep the number saved in your phone.
Effective: July 17, 2026
Can Cats Eat It? provides general educational information for cat owners. It is not veterinary, diagnostic, treatment, or emergency advice.
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