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My cat ate a small piece of raw onion. Is this an emergency?

Cats · Food safety
Short answer

Do not feed onions to cats under any circumstances. Onions are toxic and damage red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia. Powdered onion is even more concentrated. Signs may not show for 1–5 days after ingestion. Call your vet or the ASPCA poison hotline at 888-426-4435 right away, even if your cat seems fine.

Onion — Food safety facts

Do not feed · Cats · full breakdown on the linked food page

Toxic. Damages red blood cells (hemolytic anemia). Powdered onion is concentrated. Danger can appear 1–5 days later.

Open the full food page: Onion food facts →

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