If your cat has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital or an animal poison control service right away, even if your cat seems fine. Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.
Why
Garlic belongs to the Allium family, along with onions, leeks, chives and shallots. PetMD's veterinary guide names sodium n-propyl thiosulfate as the compound that damages red blood cells and makes them break down too quickly. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that this oxidative damage creates clumps in the cells called Heinz bodies and leads to anemia. Chopping, cooking and chewing release the harmful compounds, so cooked garlic is not safe either.
Garlic is more potent than onion, and cats are especially vulnerable to it. The Merck Veterinary Manual rates garlic as three to five times more toxic than onion and describes cats as the most susceptible species, followed by dogs. PetMD's guide estimates that for an average 10 to 12 lb cat, less than one small clove (about 4 to 7 grams), less than half a teaspoon of minced garlic or less than an eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder can be toxic.
Garlic offers cats no health benefit. PetMD's guide states plainly that garlic is not good for cats and is dangerous. Because the amount of garlic in cooked or prepared food is hard to measure, the guide recommends a vet visit after any ingestion.
Signs to watch for
- Signs may appear within a day or be delayed by a few days. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that red blood cells typically break down three to five days after exposure
- Vomiting, diarrhea or belly pain
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy or weakness
- Pale pink, white or yellow gums
- Fast breathing or a fast heart rate
- Red or brown urine
- Collapse in severe cases
What to do if your cat eats it
- Find out what your cat ate and roughly how much: fresh cloves, jarred minced garlic, garlic powder or garlic salt, or a dish made with garlic. Keep the packaging or recipe.
- Take your cat to a veterinarian right away, even if it seems fine, or call an animal poison control service such as Pet Poison Helpline or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
- Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.
- Your vet may want to repeat blood tests over the following days, because anemia can develop after a first visit where your cat looked well.
- Keep an eye on your cat's appetite, energy and gum color for the next week, and report any change.
Where cats actually find garlic
Garlic rarely reaches a cat as a whole clove, since PetMD's veterinary guide notes that most cats dislike its taste and smell. Exposure usually comes from savory food that smells of meat or fish. PetMD lists garlic cloves, jarred minced garlic, garlic powders and salts, and homemade or packaged foods containing garlic, including baby foods and broths. Common sources include:
- Broth, stock and gravy
- Baby food and other purees seasoned with garlic. Check the label before using one to tempt a sick cat to eat
- Leftover meat and fish dishes, marinated meats and seasoned roast chicken skin
- Garlic bread, pizza and pasta sauces
- Garlic salt, garlic powder and seasoning blends
- Garlic butter and garlic mashed potatoes
Is garlic powder worse than fresh garlic?
Garlic powder is more dangerous than fresh garlic. PetMD's veterinary guide describes it as highly concentrated, and the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that concentrated Allium products such as powders, dehydrated flakes and dry soup mixes are the forms most often involved in poisoning in cats and dogs.
The difference in dose is striking: PetMD's guide puts the toxic amount for an average cat at less than half a teaspoon of minced garlic, but less than an eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder. A sprinkle on a piece of meat can be enough to matter for a cat.
Is a little garlic good for cats?
Garlic is not good for cats in any amount. It is sometimes promoted as a natural supplement or flea remedy for pets, but PetMD's veterinary guide states that garlic offers cats no health benefits and is dangerous. Pet Poison Helpline lists cats among the species most sensitive to Allium plants.
The same caution applies to onions, leeks, chives, shallots and scallions. If a food lists any of them, or garlic or onion powder, among its ingredients, it is not a suitable treat for a cat.
How vets treat garlic poisoning
Garlic poisoning is diagnosed from the history of what the cat ate, its symptoms and a blood test that can show Heinz bodies and anemia. If the cat ate garlic within about two hours, PetMD's veterinary guide says the vet may try to make it vomit, although this is not always safe in cats. After that, treatment supports the cat while its body replaces the damaged red blood cells. PetMD notes that most cats recover if they ate a small amount and are treated promptly.
- Activated charcoal in some cases, to absorb what is left in the gut
- Repeated blood tests to track the red blood cell count
- IV fluids, which the Merck Veterinary Manual recommends to help protect the kidneys
- Hospitalization, oxygen, and a blood transfusion if the anemia is severe
Common questions
Is garlic good for cats?
No. Garlic belongs to the Allium family, along with onions, leeks, chives and shallots.
Is garlic bad for cats?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: vomiting, diarrhea or belly pain; loss of appetite; lethargy or weakness.
Are cats allowed to have garlic?
No, keep it away from your cat. If your cat eats some anyway: find out what your cat ate and roughly how much: fresh cloves, jarred minced garlic, garlic powder or garlic salt, or a dish made with garlic. Keep the packaging or recipe.
My cat ate a bite of garlic bread. Is that an emergency?
Call your vet or an animal poison control service now. Garlic bread contains garlic and often garlic powder, and PetMD's veterinary guide notes that the amount of garlic in prepared food is hard to measure, so any ingestion warrants a vet visit. Signs can take several days to appear, so do not wait for them.
Is cooked garlic safer than raw garlic for cats?
No. Garlic is toxic to cats whether it is raw or cooked. Roasted, fried and powdered garlic all still contain the compounds that damage red blood cells.
Are cats allergic to garlic?
Garlic poisoning is not an allergy. PetMD's veterinary guide explains that cats are not typically allergic to garlic; the problem is that their bodies cannot process it safely, so it damages their red blood cells.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- PetMD. Can Cats Eat Garlic? (Veronica Higgs, DVM)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Garlic.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.