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My 6 kg cat chewed on a sprig of fresh mint three hours ago and is now drooling more than usual — should I be worried?

Cats · Food safety

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

Short answer

Probably not — drooling is likely just mild stomach irritation from the mint, which is usually harmless in small amounts. Signs from a few leaves show up within a few hours and pass on their own. Keep a towel handy for drool, watch her through the night, and call your vet if she starts vomiting or seems lethargic.

Mint leaves — Food safety facts

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

A few fresh leaves are harmless. Concentrated mint oils or a lot of leaves can irritate the stomach.

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

Mint leaves 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.

Mint leaves can turn up now and then, but not as a daily habit: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged 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 Mint leaves food facts page.

Open the full food page: Mint leaves food facts →