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My 12-pound nursing cat just licked two whole cloves from the counter — should I worry?

Cats · Food safety

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

Short answer

Not an emergency, but call your vet today. Two whole cloves are unlikely to cause serious harm to a 12-pound nursing cat, but cloves contain eugenol, which is irritating and can affect the liver in quantity. Watch for vomiting, drooling, or a decrease in appetite over the next several hours.

Cloves — Food safety facts

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

Contain eugenol, which is irritating and can affect the liver in quantity.

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

Cloves 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 Cloves food facts page.

Open the full food page: Cloves food facts →