Suspect poisoning? US: ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · UK: 01202 509 000 · Severe symptoms → nearest emergency vet now.

Is it harmful if my 5 kg cat licks a teaspoon of store-bought hummus off my plate every day?

Cats · Food safety

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

Short answer

Yes, daily hummus is a bad idea. Even small amounts regularly add up the garlic, lemon, and tahini, which can irritate her stomach and potentially damage red blood cells over time. She might develop chronic mild vomiting or diarrhea you don't immediately link to the snack. Stop offering it entirely. If she's been eating it daily and seems off her food or lethargic, mention this habit to your vet. Plain chickpeas are a safer very occasional treat.

Hummus — Food safety facts

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

Chickpeas are fine but hummus brings garlic, lemon and tahini. Small taste only.

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

Hummus 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.

Why these cautions matter

Garlic and onion damage a pet's red blood cells and can bring on anaemia. Signs are often delayed for several days, so looking fine straight afterwards does not rule it out.

Hummus 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 Hummus food facts page.

Open the full food page: Hummus food facts →