Weight differences that matter most right now
Your 10 kg dog faces three immediate pizza threats: salt from cheese and pepperoni irritating his stomach, fats challenging his pancreas, and any onion/garlic powder slowly attacking his red blood cells. The cat at 4 kg would be at higher risk per ounce consumed, but mere sniffing transfers almost no actual substance—unlike the dog who ingested measurable amounts.
Focus first on the dog's likely symptoms: vomiting or diarrhoea within 2-6 hours from grease and salt, possibly with thirst and restlessness. These are uncomfortable but usually pass without lasting harm. The cat may groom pizza scent from her whiskers, but that microscopic intake won't reach toxic levels unless she actually bit into the slice.
Paw cleaning for the curious cat
Though your cat didn't eat the pizza, her paws might have touched sauce or grease while investigating. Cats meticulously clean their feet, potentially ingesting trace amounts later. Wipe her pads with a damp cloth—look for orange sauce stains between toes. One or two licks of residue won't harm her, but preventing further self-exposure eliminates any doubt.
Monitor her litter box instead of her behavior—cats hide illness well. Dark, tarry stools or urine that smells unusually strong could hint at minor irritation from any consumed grease. These would appear within 24 hours if they occur at all, though most sniffing-only cases show zero changes in elimination habits.
Shared space risks after the fact
Dogs often regurgitate fatty foods in hidden spots. If your dog vomits pizza later, the cat could find and eat that—creating secondary exposure. Scan your home for fresh vomit piles, especially behind furniture. Pizza vomit has a distinct smell blending cheese, tomato, and meat that's easy to identify once you're alert to it.
Also check water bowls—pepperoni makes dogs drink excessively, and shared water could transfer minuscule amounts of dissolved salt or spices to the cat. Dump and refresh all bowls to prevent this indirect exposure route. These are precautions, not panic triggers—the actual risk remains low unless the cat actively ate pizza herself.
Why future prevention looks different for each pet
Dogs need physical barriers like trash can locks because they'll actively seek pizza scraps. Cats, being more selective, usually stay safe with simple counter clearing—their disinterest in most human foods works in your favor. For this incident though, rest assured that one curious sniff from your cat doesn't equal the real ingestion risks your dog now faces.
Should your dog start vomiting tonight, separate him from the cat temporarily—not due to toxin transfer, but because stressed cats may stop eating when their routine is disrupted. The cat's calm demeanor after this event is a good sign she truly avoided consumption despite her investigation.
The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Pizza food facts page.