Is Tomato safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Caution |
| Dogs | Caution |
Severity: Mild
Tomato is a staple of the backyard vegetable patch. University extension programs describe it as the most popular vegetable crop grown in home gardens, prized for its productivity and the range of dishes it goes into - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach states it plainly: tomatoes "are the most popular vegetable crop in the home garden." That popularity means a lot of American yards have a tomato plant growing somewhere within a pet's reach.
The ripe, red fruit itself is not a concern. The ASPCA is explicit that ripe tomato fruit is non-toxic to pets, so a stray slice from the kitchen is not an emergency. The rest of the plant is a different story: the stems, leaves, and unripe green fruit contain solanine, and VCA Hospitals lists green tomatoes among the human foods pet owners should keep away from dogs and cats. A pet that chews on the vine itself - not just an occasional fallen fruit - is getting exposure to solanine along with it.
Signs of solanine exposure include drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, weakness, dilated pupils, and a slowed heart rate. Households growing tomatoes should fence off the plants or otherwise keep curious pets from grazing on the leaves and stems, and keep an eye on any pet that has been chewing on the vine.
Facts and examples
- "Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are the most popular vegetable crop in the home garden," per Iowa State University Extension and Outreach's Yard and Garden guide to growing tomatoes. (source, verified 2026-08-01)
- VCA Hospitals lists "green tomatoes" among the human foods to avoid feeding pets, alongside grapes, onions, garlic, and other known hazards, consistent with the plant's green parts containing solanine while ripe fruit does not. (source, verified 2026-08-01)
Verdict re-verified against aspca.org, 2026-08-01 — confirmed unchanged. Source
This page is for general information only and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is showing symptoms, or you think they ate or touched something dangerous, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison-control hotline immediately.
Last verified 2026-08-01