My cat snatched a ripe tomato slice from a guest's plate at a summer BBQ — is this a problem with

Short answer

The ripe tomato slice itself is low risk in a small amount, but the main concern at a BBQ is the seasoning. The tomato might have been seasoned with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, or oils that are unhealthy or toxic for cats. Plain, ripe red tomato flesh is generally safe in tiny quantities. Watch your cat for vomiting, diarrhoea, or excessive thirst over the next 12 hours. If the tomato was part of a heavily dressed salad or kebabs, it's best to call your vet and describe what else it might have eaten.

Tomato — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Cats · full breakdown on the linked food page

Ripe red fruit is fine in small pieces. Green parts (leaves, stem, unripe fruit) contain solanine, which is toxic.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Tomato is not poisonous to cats, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

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

Open the full food page: Tomato food facts →

My cat snatched a ripe tomato slice from a guest's plate at a summer BBQ — is this a problem with the seasoning or the tomato itself?

Tomato — Food safety facts

Owners also ask