Garden
Is Tomato plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Solanum lycopersicum · also called Tomato vine, tomato leaves
Cats
Mildly toxicDogs
Mildly toxicThe green parts of tomato plants — leaves, stems and unripe fruit — are mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Ripe red tomatoes are safe in small amounts.
By Maya HartIf your pet chewed it
- Rinse your pet’s mouth with water and offer a drink.
- Most pets recover within a few hours; call your vet if drooling, vomiting or pawing at the mouth continues.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Drooling
- Lethargy
- Weakness or wobbliness (large amounts)
What is harmful
- Parts
- Leaves, stems and green, unripe fruit
- Substance
- Tomatine and solanine (glycoalkaloids)
The details
Tomato plants smell strongly, and dogs sometimes chew the leaves or pick green fruit. Large amounts are needed for serious poisoning, so most cases cause only a stomach upset. The ripe fruit is a different story — see our page on tomatoes. Potato plants and green potatoes contain similar compounds.
Pet-safe alternatives
- Strawberries in a raised bed
- Runner beans
- Courgettes
Questions owners ask
Is Tomato plant toxic to cats?
Yes — mildly toxic to cats. Harmful parts: leaves, stems and green, unripe fruit.
Is Tomato plant toxic to dogs?
Yes — mildly toxic to dogs. Harmful parts: leaves, stems and green, unripe fruit.
What happens if a pet eats tomato plant?
vomiting and diarrhoea, drooling, lethargy, weakness or wobbliness (large amounts).
What should I do if my pet chewed it?
Rinse your pet’s mouth with water and offer a drink. Most pets recover within a few hours; call your vet if drooling, vomiting or pawing at the mouth continues.
What are pet-safe alternatives to tomato plant?
Strawberries in a raised bed, Runner beans, Courgettes.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
