Can Cats Eat Tomatoes?
The short answer is, “Not recommended.” According to ASPCA, tomatoes have something called solanine which is not only toxic to cats, it’s also harmful to horses and dogs. If the stems and leaves are ingested, they are at risk of stomach issues, lethargy, slower heart rate and more.
Nevertheless, the ASPCA notes that the ripe fruit is secure. Tomato paste is sometimes added to commercial pet food brands’ ingredients lists, but since paste is typically made from small amounts of ripe tomatoes, this shouldn’t be a cause for alarm.
Meet the tomato: A healthy fruit for humans
Though many people are misinformed about how to classify tomatoes, they are a staple in the cuisine of many cultures worldwide.
The tomato is often called a vegetable. However, since it grows from a flower and has seeds inside, it is actually a fruit. Since tomatoes are primarily used in savory dishes, many people find it difficult to accept tomatoes as fruits because they are typically thought of as sweet treats.
We can group tomatoes with potatoes, eggplant, peppers, and even tobacco under the Nightshade family. The solanine alkaloid found in these plants is what makes them most well-known.
Alkaloids are nitrogenous chemicals that have effects on the human body and some animals (like cats). Cats are impacted by solanine when it comes to nightshades (as well as dogs and horses) Later on, we will delve deeper into the effects of solanine on cats.
Tomatoes aren’t the vegetable that many people believe them to be, but they’re still incredibly nutritious and beneficial to human health.
The best-known benefits of tomatoes are that they are a great source of vitamin C and potassium. Other bountiful benefits include folate, vitamin K1, lycopene, and fiber.
The main component of tomatoes, however, is water. This fruit’s composition is primarily made up of water (about 2095%), followed by fiber, carbohydrates, and other minor ingredients.
What kinds of tomatoes can cats safely eat?
If the leaves and stems are removed, cats can safely consume ripe, fresh tomatoes. How about cooked tomatoes, tomato sauce, or tomato paste?.
Although tomatoes by themselves might be safe, there are many other ingredients we use to season and cook them that are not good for our feline companions.
The most common offender is salt. Salt can be toxic to many pets, including cats.
Usually, symptoms of gastrointestinal distress, such as diarrhea and vomiting, accompany salt poisoning. There may also be a decrease in hunger, increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, lack of energy, and impaired coordination. In more severe cases, tremors, seizures, and comas are occasionally observed, and they may even be fatal.
Tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato soup, tomato paste, and related by-products should be avoided as they frequently contain large amounts of salt, especially when purchased from a store.
Added sugars should be avoided by pet parents as well, as cats cannot properly digest them. These simple carbohydrates have the potential to cause diabetes, problems controlling weight, and the frequently associated conditions like arthritis and dental problems.
Products labeled as sugar-free, like some ketchups, frequently contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol. While xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs, it’s unclear from research if cats are similarly affected. Cats shouldn’t come into contact with xylitol for your own safety.