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My 6 kg cat eats a small piece of ripe tomato with her dinner every day. Could this daily habit cause any long-term health issues?

Cats · Food safety

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

Short answer

A daily small piece of ripe red tomato is unlikely to cause poisoning, but it's not an ideal habit. Tomatoes offer no nutritional benefit for cats and can sometimes cause mild stomach upset or diarrhea in sensitive individuals. The real long-term risk is accidental ingestion of the toxic green parts — stems, leaves, or unripe fruit — if you're not meticulous every time. It's safer to avoid tomatoes altogether and stick to cat-specific treats. If you continue, watch for any changes in her stool or appetite, and stop immediately if she shows signs of discomfort.

Tomato — Food safety facts

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

Ripe red fruit is fine in small pieces. Green parts (leaves, stem, unripe fruit) contain solanine, which is toxic.

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

Tomato 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.

Tomato 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 Tomato food facts page.

Open the full food page: Tomato food facts →