Grains & bread
Can cats eat pasta?
Plain cooked pasta isn’t harmful to cats, but it offers them nothing.
Why Onion and garlic in sauces; raw dough
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 ate pasta with a garlic or onion sauce, check the amount with your vet.
Signs to watch for
- Upset stomach
How much, how often
A piece or two.
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of the day’s calories. Work out your pet’s calories
Serving it safely
- Plain cooked pasta only
- No sauce, cheese or garlic oil
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs In moderation
A little plain cooked pasta is fine for dogs, but it is just starch. Pasta sauces are the real problem — many contain onion and garlic.
How much: A few pieces of plain pasta.
Can dogs eat pasta?Cats In moderation
Plain cooked pasta isn’t harmful to cats, but it offers them nothing.
How much: A piece or two.
The details
Tomato-based pasta sauces usually contain onion and garlic, which damage red blood cells in both dogs and cats. A licked plate is rarely a problem, but a bowl of leftovers can be.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat pasta?
Plain cooked pasta isn’t harmful to cats, but it offers them nothing.
How much pasta can a cat have?
A piece or two.
What makes pasta risky for cats?
Onion and garlic in sauces; raw dough.
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
upset stomach.
What should I do if my cat ate pasta?
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 ate pasta with a garlic or onion sauce, check the amount with your vet.
Is pasta safe for dogs too?
A little plain cooked pasta is fine for dogs, but it is just starch. Pasta sauces are the real problem — many contain onion and garlic.
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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