My cat ate garlic – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine, Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet today

Call your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Garlic is poisonous to cats.

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Note what was eaten, how much and when.
Bring the packaging.
Remove what is left.
Keep your cat calm.

Don't

Do not make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Garlic belongs to the Allium family.^[2] Alliums are poisonous to cats.^[2]

Signs to watch for

anemia

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What sign should I watch for?

Anemia.

What should I do now?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet, note what, how much and when, and bring the packaging.

Sources

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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