Can Cats Eat Garlic
NO, never! Garlic, a member of the Allium family, is highly toxic to cats. Even a small amount of raw garlic, as also those that are dried or powdered for culinary use as spices, are poisonous. In fact, it is 5X more potent than onion. Foods seasoned with garlic (garlic bread, garlic butter, sauce, sausage, etc.) are also not at all safe. Let us see why can’t cats eat garlic.
How is garlic bad for cats
The bulb (i.e., the actual garlic root), flowers, chives, and stems are all poisonous to the felines. Hence, never share even a bite of meat, fish, chicken, or any other food with raw or cooked garlic in it. This toxicity is primarily because of the presence of some chemical compounds viz. methyl disulfide, s-methylcysteine sulfoxide, allyl disulfide, and n-propyl disulfide.
Ingesting garlic causes a severe condition known as ‘hemolytic anemia’ in cats, which leads to gradual bursting of all the red blood cells. It can also result in gastroenteritis (inflammation of the intestines and the stomach), and even death.
Symptoms of garlic poisoning
- Stomach pain
- Weakness
- Liver damage
- Allergic reactions
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Anemia
- Discolored urine
- Asthmatic attacks
- Contact dermatitis (in case of skin exposure)
What to do if cats have garlic
If your pet somehow happens to consume it, contact your veterinarian at the earliest who might even suggest inducing vomiting.
Some cat owners make their pet consume Brewer’s Yeast (containing garlic), as well as garlic pills or tablets, to get rid of fleas and worms. But you must consult your pet doctor before taking such a decision.
In case of an emergency, contact the ASPCA helpline at (888) 426-4435.