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My 3 kg cat just chewed and swallowed a 2-inch piece of raw rhubarb stem I was cutting — what are the three things I must do in the next 30 minutes?

Cats · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

First, remove any remaining plant pieces from her reach. Second, call your vet or an animal poison control center immediately — tell them your cat's exact weight, that she ate a raw stem (not a leaf), and the approximate amount. Third, watch her closely for the first signs: excessive drooling, pawing at her mouth, or vomiting. Do not induce vomiting unless your vet explicitly instructs you to. Have her carrier ready and keep her in a quiet room while you get advice; stress can worsen some reactions.

Rhubarb — Food safety facts

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

Leaves contain high levels of oxalates that can cause kidney failure; the stems are also risky in quantity. Keep rhubarb away from pets.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Do not feed), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Rhubarb should not be given to cats at all. Even a small amount can do harm, so there is no portion small enough to be safe.

Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or oil to “dilute” it. Note the food and roughly how much was eaten, then call your vet or a pet poison hotline and follow their advice on whether to bring the pet in straight away.

Why these cautions matter

A heavy salt load drives up thirst and urination, and in the worst cases leads to sodium ion poisoning, which is a genuine emergency.

Rhubarb has no place in everyday feeding: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged after this and watch the litter box and how quickly they finish the next meal.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Rhubarb food facts page.

Open the full food page: Rhubarb food facts →