Fruit
Can cats eat figs?
Not recommended. Cats gain nothing from figs, and the fig plant is listed as toxic to cats.
Why Ficin and ficusin (psoralens) in the sap and leaves
By Maya HartIf your cat ate some
- A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset.
- Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell.
- If your pet chewed fig leaves or got sap on the skin, rinse with water.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Drooling
- Skin irritation from the sap
How much, how often
Avoid.
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of the day’s calories. Work out your pet’s calories
Serving it safely
- Fresh, ripe fruit only, cut small
- Skip dried figs and fig rolls — very sugary
- Pick up fallen figs under trees
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs In moderation
A small piece of ripe fig is unlikely to harm most dogs, but figs are rich in fibre and sugar and often cause diarrhoea. The fig tree’s leaves and milky sap are irritants.
How much: A small piece of fresh fig, rarely.
Can dogs eat figs?Cats In moderation
Not recommended. Cats gain nothing from figs, and the fig plant is listed as toxic to cats.
How much: Avoid.
The details
The ASPCA lists the fig plant as toxic to dogs and cats because its leaves and sap contain irritant compounds. The ripe fruit contains far less, and a small piece is not considered dangerous, but it is a poor choice of treat because of its high fibre and sugar.
The weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), a popular houseplant, is a different species but has similar irritant sap.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat figs?
Not recommended. Cats gain nothing from figs, and the fig plant is listed as toxic to cats.
How much figs can a cat have?
Avoid.
What makes figs risky for cats?
Ficin and ficusin (psoralens) in the sap and leaves.
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
vomiting and diarrhoea, drooling, skin irritation from the sap.
What should I do if my cat ate figs?
A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset. Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell. If your pet chewed fig leaves or got sap on the skin, rinse with water.
Is figs safe for dogs too?
A small piece of ripe fig is unlikely to harm most dogs, but figs are rich in fibre and sugar and often cause diarrhoea. The fig tree’s leaves and milky sap are irritants.
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
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