Tomatoes are a staple in almost everyone\u2019s diet. Whether they are used in a sauce, eaten in salads, or enjoyed raw, it\u2019s likely that your cat will come into contact with a tomato at some point in their lives!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s natural to want to share whatever you\u2019re eating with your cat. It\u2019s a great way to promote bonding between you and your feline friend and is also a great way to offer your cat a little taste of different foods.<\/p>\n
However, not all human foods are safe for cats, and some foods are only safe sometimes. Tomatoes, which are technically a fruit, seem like a pretty safe bet, but the reality is a little more complicated.<\/p>\n
So, can cats eat tomatoes?<\/p>\n
In this article, we\u2019ll cover the following:<\/p>\n
Tomatoes are a fruit (yes! A fruit!) that are indigenous to North America. While they are commonly found in cuisines all around the world, the history of tomato cultivate can be traced back to the ancient Aztecs. In fact, it wasn\u2019t until the 16th<\/sup> century that tomatoes were introduced to Europe and became immensely popular in Italian, Spanish, and French gastronomy.<\/p>\n Tomatoes<\/a> are an excellent source of a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin A, copper, potassium, and vitamin E. These are all vitamins that cats need (and likely already get from their cat food.)<\/p>\n While the stems and leaves of tomato plants are highly toxic, the fruit (the actual part you eat) is unlikely do your cat harm in small quantities.<\/p>\n Yes and no. Let\u2019s start with the basics: tomato plants are actually a part of the nightshade family, and many plants in this family are highly poisonous, even to humans.<\/p>\n However, there are some safe members of the nightshade family, such as tomatoes and potatoes.<\/p>\n Confused? Well, it\u2019s a little complicated.<\/p>\n While the tomato is not necessarily harmful for cats as long as they only eat a little bit, the leaves and stems of the tomato plant contain two properties called solanine and tomatine, which are very dangerous for cats.<\/p>\n Some sources will tell you that unripe tomatoes are poisonous for cats<\/a>, while ripe tomatoes are fine. Others will say that cooking the tomatoes removes the dangerous chemicals.<\/p>\n Most cats won\u2019t be interested in tomatoes. However, there are surely some cats that, for whatever reason, can\u2019t get enough of these red fruits. Another red fruit popular with cats is the apple<\/a>.<\/p>\n Because so much is still up for debate about how cats react to tomato, it\u2019s best not to give your cats tomatoes at all, and to make sure that any tomato plants are kept safely out of reach of your cat.<\/p>\n This als0 applies when your cat is begging you for a slice of pizza<\/a>.<\/p>\n This cat is enjoying a tiny taste of tomato, but notice how little he\u2019s eating!<\/p>\nCan Cats Eat Tomatoes?<\/h2>\n