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My 6 kg cat eats a small lime wedge every morning. What will happen over time?

Cats · Food safety

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

Short answer

Yes, feeding lime daily is a bad idea. The acidity and peel oils will irritate her mouth and stomach repeatedly. Over weeks, this can lead to chronic drooling, appetite loss, or persistent vomiting. Stop giving it to her entirely and watch for those signs. If she starts drooling more than usual or skips a meal, call your vet.

Lime — Food safety facts

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

Same as lemon — acidic, and the peel oils cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea.

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

Lime 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.

Lime 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 Lime food facts page.

Open the full food page: Lime food facts →