Is it bad for them? · Onion / garlic / chives
My cat ate onion / garlic / chives — what now?
Enter your cat's weight and how much they ate. We'll calculate the dose, give you a clear severity level, and the right poison helpline for your country.
Fill in the form to see the dose
We'll calculate the mg/kg, severity, and the right poison helpline for your country.
If your cat just ate onion / garlic / chives
- 1Move your cat away from any remaining onion / garlic / chives so they can't eat more.
- 2Note the details a vet will ask for: your cat's weight, roughly how much they ate, and when.
- 3Don't try to make them vomit unless a vet or poison line tells you to — with some substances it causes more harm.
- 4Get advice now — enter the amount in the calculator above for a severity read, and call the helpline below.
About onion / garlic / chives toxicity in cats
Causes oxidative damage to red blood cells (Heinz-body anemia). Cats are markedly more sensitive than dogs. Cumulative exposure over days can be as harmful as a single large dose.
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Onion / garlic / chives and cats — common questions
Can onion / garlic / chives poison a cat?
Causes oxidative damage to red blood cells (Heinz-body anemia). Cats are markedly more sensitive than dogs. Cumulative exposure over days can be as harmful as a single large dose. How serious it is depends on your cat's body weight and how much they ate — use the calculator above for the exact dose and a clear severity level.
How much onion / garlic / chives does it take to harm a cat?
It depends on your cat's weight, how much they ate, and the exact form. Onion / garlic / chives comes in different forms (raw onion, raw garlic, cooked onion / onion powder) and the concentration varies between them, so the form matters as much as the amount. Enter the details above to get the dose in mg/kg and whether it lands in the low, moderate, high, or emergency range.
What should I do if my cat ate onion / garlic / chives?
Act quickly: note your cat's weight, roughly how much they ate and when, and keep any packaging. Don't try to make them vomit unless a vet or poison line tells you to. In US, contact Pet Poison Helpline on +1-855-764-7661 (24/7) or your nearest vet straight away.
How does the onion / garlic / chives toxicity calculator work?
Enter your cat's weight and how much they ate. We work out the dose in mg/kg from vet-reviewed thresholds, grade the severity, and show the right poison helpline for your country. It's free and needs no account.