Herbs & spices
Can cats eat garlic?
Cats are especially sensitive to garlic; even the garlic powder in human foods can cause anaemia over time.
Why Thiosulphates and disulphides
If 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
- Weakness and lethargy
- Pale gums
- Fast breathing
- Dark urine
- Vomiting
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs Toxic
No. Garlic is roughly five times as potent as onion and harms red blood cells in the same way. Supplements sold "for fleas" are not a safe exception.
Can dogs eat garlic?Cats Toxic
No. Cats are especially sensitive to garlic; even the garlic powder in human foods can cause anaemia over time.
The details
Garlic is often recommended online as a natural flea remedy or health supplement for dogs. There is no good evidence it repels fleas, and the dose that might be “safe” varies too much between animals to recommend it.
A clove accidentally eaten by a large dog is unlikely to cause serious harm, but regular small amounts — in table scraps, for example — can build up. Talk to your vet about proven flea prevention instead.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat garlic?
No. Cats are especially sensitive to garlic; even the garlic powder in human foods can cause anaemia over time.
What makes garlic risky for cats?
Thiosulphates and disulphides.
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
weakness and lethargy, pale gums, fast breathing, dark urine, vomiting.
What should I do if my cat ate garlic?
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 garlic safe for dogs too?
No. Garlic is roughly five times as potent as onion and harms red blood cells in the same way. Supplements sold "for fleas" are not a safe exception.
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
Ginger
- Dogs
- In moderation
- Cats
- In moderation
Cinnamon
- Dogs
- In moderation
- Cats
- In moderation