Cats hate the smell of garlic but the scent won't harm them or other animals. Garlic does contain thiosulphate which can be toxic to cats if eaten in large amounts as it can cause damage to their red blood cells leading to hemolytic anemia. However, as almost all cats hate garlic this is a very rare occurrence.
Is it safe for dogs and cats to eat garlic? Garlic is an acceptable ingredient for human food. But while the smell of garlic makes most of us hungry, it can be harmful to our dogs and cats.
Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks may be the basis of many culinary masterpieces. but today's Pet Poison Prevention Week article explains why this “fearsome foursome” is bad news for cats and dogs.
The primary toxic property in garlic is n-propyl disulfide, found in active form in all vegetables of the Allium spp family. So can cats eat food with garlic in it? No way. It doesn't matter if it's fresh or cooked garlic, or garlic salt or powder—it's all toxic to cats.
The chemicals in garlic enter your cat's bloodstream and begin to rupture red blood cells, which will quickly lead to hemolytic anemia, a very dangerous condition. Some of the symptoms you may observe include vomiting, breathing difficulties, diarrhea, and pale gums.
A lot of cats dislike the strong, sharp smells of citrus peels such as lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit. Sprinkling vinegar and rubbing raw onions in key parts of the garden have also been known to keep cats at bay.
The primary toxic property in garlic is n-propyl disulfide, found in active form in all vegetables of the Allium spp family. So can cats eat food with garlic in it? No way. It doesn't matter if it's fresh or cooked garlic, or garlic salt or powder—it's all toxic to cats.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
No, smell is ok. Ingesting is not. So eat your onions. Just don't feed them to your cat or dog.
A lot of natural living sites recommend that you give your pet garlic as a flea control tool, but garlic is highly toxic to cats and can cause life-threatening anemia.
Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang, are poisonous to cats.
Symptoms of Garlic Toxicity in Dogs and Cats
While vomiting and diarrhea may occur within one day, it may take several days to a week after your pet eats garlic for symptoms of anemia to appear.
As it turns out, our canine companions have a good reason to stay away from the intense-smelling bulbs. Garlic is in the Allium family, along with onions, leeks, and chives, all of which are toxic to dogs and can even fatally poison them in larger amounts.
“Most cats don't enjoy the taste of raw garlic,” Dr. Schaible said. While you shouldn't expect your cat to beg for a clove of garlic, it's obviously a super common ingredient in many dishes — so think twice before giving your cat table scraps.
Oils that are harmful to cats include, but are not limited to: wintergreen; sweet birch; citronella oils and candles; citrus (d-limonene); pine; ylang-ylang; peppermint; cinnamon; pennyroyal; clove; eucalyptus; tea tree (melaleuca); thyme; oregano; and lavender.
If your cat was recently poisoned by garlic or onions, the vet will likely induce vomiting using activated charcoal. Your cat will then be monitored to determine whether he needs supportive care such as IV fluids or oxygen therapy. In severe cases, cats may need complete blood transfusions in order to survive anemia.
Some of the most toxic food for cats include onions & garlic, raw eggs & meat, chocolate, alcohol, grapes and raisins. Avoid feeding your cat table scraps, especially around the holidays, as these may contain potentially toxic ingredients.
Citrus or lemon scents (orange peels, lemon peels), garlic, ammonia, vinegar, coffee grinds, pipe tobacco, mustard, citronella, or eucalyptus all deter cats as well. The scents diminish over time, so re-applying is necessary.
Frankincense oil has a calming and centering effect. It is one of the few essential oils that are definitely safe to use with cats, alongside cedarwood, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, cardamom and spearmint.
A small amount of onion or garlic in some sauce is not likely to cause problems. However, eating a clove of garlic or a green onion may cause digestive upset. Eating any type of onion on a regular basis could cause anemia.
Can cats eat cheese? According to experts, yes — but only in moderation. If you give your cat cheese at all, just give them a small piece once in a while, about the size of a dice.
Can cats eat bananas as a nutritious snack? Again, the answer is yes, but in moderation. Because they are calorie-rich, bananas are not at the top of the cat treat list, and your cat may not even want to eat bananas.
Try orange and lemon peels, cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil. You can either sprinkle drops directly onto your flower beds or soak a cotton wool around it and place at entry points. One sniff and they'll be gone.