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My cat weighs 4 kg and licked a tablespoon of leek from the stew, is it okay?

Cats · Food safety

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

Short answer

Yes, but watch for signs of vomiting. If any, call your vet. Toxic, same family as onion and garlic can cause red blood cell damage and anemia. Offer it plain, watch for vomiting, and call your own vet if anything seems off.

Leek & chives — Food safety facts

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

Toxic, same family as onion and garlic. Causes red blood cell damage and anemia.

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

Leek & chives 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

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.

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

Open the full food page: Leek & chives food facts →