Herbs & spices
Can cats eat chives?
Cats are especially sensitive to alliums. Keep chives — including pots on the windowsill — away from cats.
Why Organosulfur compounds that cause oxidative damage to red blood cells
By Maya HartIf your cat ate some
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine.
- Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight.
- Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- Pale gums
- Fast heart rate and breathing
- Dark urine
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs Toxic
No. Chives are an allium, like onions and garlic, and can damage red blood cells in dogs. A sprinkle on food is unlikely to harm, but don’t feed them.
Can dogs eat chives?Cats Toxic
No. Cats are especially sensitive to alliums. Keep chives — including pots on the windowsill — away from cats.
The details
Chives are easy to overlook because they appear in small amounts as a garnish. The danger comes from pets nibbling herb pots, or eating dishes such as cheese-and-chive dips or omelettes. Cats that like to chew grassy plants may be drawn to them.
Poisoning is usually mild after a small amount, but the effects are cumulative, and anaemia can take days to show.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat chives?
No. Cats are especially sensitive to alliums. Keep chives — including pots on the windowsill — away from cats.
What makes chives risky for cats?
Organosulfur compounds that cause oxidative damage to red blood cells.
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea, lethargy, pale gums, fast heart rate and breathing, dark urine.
What should I do if my cat ate chives?
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.
Is chives safe for dogs too?
No. Chives are an allium, like onions and garlic, and can damage red blood cells in dogs. A sprinkle on food is unlikely to harm, but don’t feed them.
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
More foods for cats
Cinnamon
- Dogs
- In moderation
- Cats
- In moderation
Garlic
Nutmeg
Ginger
- Dogs
- In moderation
- Cats
- In moderation