This cat blog will answer the major question, “Can cats eat tomatoes?” we will also discuss the major threats of consuming unripe tomatoes for your cat, whether cats can eat tomato sauce, and what you can do if your cat consumes unripe tomatoes.
Can cats eat tomatoes?
No, cats cannot eat tomatoes. It is not healthy for your cat to eat unripe tomatoes. It has solanine and tomatine and both are toxic for your cat to consume. It can cause nerve damage and stomach upset in your cat. You should immediately take your cat to the vet if you suspect that your cat has eaten unripe tomatoes.
What are the major threats to consuming unripe tomatoes?
Following are the major threats to consuming unripe tomatoes:
Stomach upset
The first problem is stomach upset in your cat which is why your cat becomes sluggish and appears weak after eating tomatoes. Following are the clinical signs of stomach upset in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Nervous damage
The next problem is the nervous signs of toxicity. Tomatine and solanine can cause red blood cell lysis which can lead to tissue necrosis. The most sensitive tissue of the body is the brain which can be damaged by a slight problem in the body.
Due to the nerve damage, there are a few signs your cat will be showing such as:
- Confusion
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Incoordination
If these signs appear you have to give the best therapy to your cat for the betterment of your cat otherwise it can lead to permanent damage or death of your cat.
The other signs due to toxicity are:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Can cats eat tomato sauce?
No, cats cannot eat tomato sauce because of the following reasons:
Salt
The first ingredient is the salt in the tomato sauce. Salt can cause a sharp rise in blood pressure which can lead to a heart attack if not treated in time. Salt poisoning is another thing you should consider if your cat has eaten tomato sauce.
Following are the clinical signs of salt poisoning in your cat:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pale mucous membrane
- Sunken eyes
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
You should consider it an emergency and take your cat to the nearest hospital.
Seasonings
The next thing is the seasonings. Seoanings are not healthy for your cat because it causes red blood cell lysis which can lead to hypoxic conditions in your cat. In hypoxic conditions, the tissue starts decaying, and eventually, death is sure. Following are the clinical signs of tissue hypoxia in your cat:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased breathing rate
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sunken eyes
- Pale mucous membranes
Xylitol
Xylitol is the killer because it can cause a sharp drop in the blood sugar level of your cat. The sharp drop in blood sugar level can lead to the collapse of your cat. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is used in human products such as tomato sauce. It is healthy and safe for you but not for your cat.
Following are the major clinical signs of xylitol toxicity in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Confusion
- Increased heart rate
- Increased breathing rate
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
Can cats eat ripe tomatoes?
Yes, cats can eat ripe tomatoes but in moderation. A small number of ripe tomatoes will not cause any problems for your cat but consuming more than that can lead to problems in your cat as described above in the article.
What can you do if your cat consumes unripe tomatoes?
If your cat consumes unripe tomatoes then the first thing you should do is not panic in this situation. It must be hard to calm down but you need to act more swiftly and wisely.
The next thing is to call your vet and seek his advice. If your vet tells you to bring the cat to the vet hospital, do not hesitate to follow the advice as it can save the life of your cat. When you arrive at the vet, give him proper history as it can help in the treatment of your cat.
After a careful exam of your cat, your vet will go for some tests. This will further clarify the condition of your cat. If your cat shows severe clinical signs immediate therapy will be needed in this case.
Your vet will go for fluid therapy to dilute the toxins, antibiotics, and antibiotics depending upon the condition of your cat.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we answered the major question, “Can cats eat tomatoes?” we also covered the major threats of consuming unripe tomatoes for your cat, whether your cat can eat tomato sauce, and what you can do if your cat consumes unripe tomatoes.
References
https://www.pawtracks.com/cats/are-tomatoes-bad-for-cats/
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/seizures-and-epilepsy-in-cats
