Cats and Onions: A Deadly Combination
Feb 12,2025 | puaintapets
As a cat owner, you may be aware that certain human foods are off-limits for your feline friend, but onions are one of the most dangerous items you can feed them. Whether raw, cooked, powdered, or in any form, onions are toxic to cats and should never be included in their diet. Even small amounts of onions can cause severe health issues, including hemolytic anemia, a condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced.
In this article, we will explain why onions are harmful to cats, what symptoms to watch for if your cat consumes onions, and what steps to take if you suspect onion poisoning. Let’s dive into the facts about onions and their dangerous effects on cats.
Why Are Onions Toxic to Cats?
Onions contain a compound called thiosulfate, which is toxic to cats (and dogs, too). This compound damages the red blood cells in a cat’s body, leading to hemolytic anemia. Unlike humans, cats are unable to properly break down and process thiosulfate, making them highly susceptible to onion poisoning.
Onions in all forms—raw, cooked, or powdered—contain thiosulfate, and even small amounts can cause harm. This includes ingredients in dishes such as soups, sauces, and even baby food that may contain onion powder or onion-based flavoring.
Onions are toxic to cats, mainly because they contain n-propyl disulfide, a substance that destroys red blood cells in cats and causes hemolytic anemia. Here are the specific reasons why:
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Destruction of red blood cells
When cats eat onions, the n-propyl disulfide in the onions will be converted to a highly reactive oxidant through the intestinal tract, and this oxidant will attach to the cat's red blood cells, leading to the destruction of the red blood cells, which affects the oxygen transport, and then leads to the rupture of the blood cells.
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Anemia
The destruction of red blood cells will lead to anemia, causing the cat to show symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. In severe cases, it may lead to organ damage, failure or even death.
Related: Anemia in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
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Lack of detoxification enzymes
Cats lack the enzymes to digest thiosulfate and cannot effectively break down the toxic substances in onions, so even a small amount of onions may cause serious toxic effects on cats.
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Other Effects
In addition to n-propyl disulfide, onions also contain other compounds that may be harmful to cats, such as allicin and aryl sulfide, which may further exacerbate the toxic effects on cats.
Precautions
Not only onions, but other members of the onion plant such as garlic, green onions and leeks are also toxic to cats and should all be avoided from exposure and consumption by cats.
If you suspect that your cat has accidentally ingested an onion, you should contact your veterinarian immediately and provide as much information as possible about the cat's weight, the amount and time of onion ingestion, so that your veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms of Onion Poisoning in Cats
If your cat eats onion, whether in a small or large quantity, it’s important to recognize the symptoms of poisoning so you can seek prompt veterinary care. Onion poisoning can manifest over several days, and its symptoms may include:
- Lethargy: Your cat may appear unusually tired or weak.
- Vomiting: Onion poisoning can irritate your cat’s stomach, leading to vomiting.
- Diarrhea: Some cats may experience gastrointestinal upset.
- Pale Gums: The breakdown of red blood cells can lead to pale or even yellowish gums.
- Increased Heart Rate: As anemia sets in, your cat’s heart may beat faster to compensate for the reduced oxygen in their bloodstream.
- Dark Urine: A sign of hemolytic anemia is dark-colored urine due to the destruction of red blood cells.
- Breathing Problems: Cats with severe anemia may have difficulty breathing or appear to be gasping for air.
If your cat displays any of these symptoms after eating onions, contact your veterinarian immediately. The earlier you seek medical attention, the better the chances of a full recovery.
How Onions Affect Cats' Health
1.Hemolytic Anemia
The most serious consequence of onion ingestion in cats is hemolytic anemia. Thiosulphates cause the red blood cells in a cat's body to rupture. As these cells break down, the cat's body loses its ability to carry oxygen effectively. Symptoms of hemolytic anemia in cats can include weakness, lethargy, pale gums, rapid breathing, and an increased heart rate. In severe cases, it can be life - threatening.
2.Gastrointestinal Distress
Even in small amounts, onions can also cause gastrointestinal problems in cats. Cats may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite. These symptoms can be an early indication that the cat has consumed something harmful, like onions.
How Much Onion is Dangerous?
There is no "safe" amount of onion for cats. Even a small amount, such as a few pieces of chopped onion or a bit of onion - flavored food, can potentially cause toxicity. Different cats may also have different levels of sensitivity to the toxins in onions, but it is always best to err on the side of caution and keep all onions and onion - containing products away from cats.
What to Do If Cat Eats Onion?
1. Observe the state of the cat
- Observation time
After the cat has eaten the onion, its status needs to be closely observed for at least 24 hours, as the symptoms of onion poisoning may appear only after several hours to days.
- Observation content
Observe whether the cat has symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, difficulty in breathing and blood in urine. If these symptoms occur, take your cat to the vet immediately.
2. Take first aid measures
- Induce vomiting
If you find that your cat has just eaten onions, you can try to induce vomiting. However, inducing vomiting should be done with caution and preferably under the guidance of a veterinarian, as inducing vomiting may lead to esophageal damage or other complications in cats.
Also Read: How to Induce Vomiting in A Cat
- Feeding antioxidants
You can feed your cat some antioxidants such as Vitamin E or Vitamin C to help reduce the damage of onions to the cat's body.
3. Prompt medical attention
- Promptly send the cat to the doctor
If your cat shows any abnormal symptoms or you are not sure how much onion your cat has eaten, you should take your cat to the veterinary hospital immediately. The veterinarian will treat the cat according to its specific condition, which may include gastric lavage, use of antidotes, and fluids.
- Inform the veterinarian of the situation
When seeking medical attention, the veterinarian should be informed of the circumstances under which the cat ate the onion, including how much was eaten, how long ago it was eaten, and other information, so that the veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
4.Follow-up care
- Dietary adjustments
During the recovery period, the cat's diet should be adjusted to give easily digestible, nutritious food and avoid feeding onions or other food toxic to cats again.
- Observation of recovery
After the cat recovers, it is still necessary to continue to observe its condition to ensure that it is fully restored to health. At the same time, the management of the cat's diet should be strengthened to prevent similar situations from recurring.
How to Prevent Onion Poisoning in Cats?
1. Dietary management
Avoid feeding onion and related foods
Do not feed your cat any form of onion, including raw onion, cooked onion, onion powder, onion rings, etc., as well as foods containing onion ingredients, such as certain baby foods, pizza, burgers, etc.
Choosing the right cat food
Choose cat food that is specifically designed for cats and make sure its ingredients do not contain onions or other substances that are toxic to cats.
Pay attention to food storage
Store food properly to avoid cats coming into contact with leftovers or other food waste that may contain onions.
2. Environmental Management
Kitchen safety
Keep cats out of the kitchen when cooking to prevent them from coming into contact with onions or other toxic food being handled.
Litter box management
Use garbage cans with lids and clean up kitchen garbage in a timely manner to prevent cats from rummaging through the garbage cans for food.
Placement of food
Place onions and other food toxic to cats in places where cats cannot reach, such as the refrigerator or high cabinets.
3. Daily supervision
Observe the cat's behavior
Closely observe the cat's behavior. If you find abnormal behavior or symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, etc., you should seek medical attention.
Regular body check
Take your cat to the veterinarian for regular body checkups to ensure its health.
4. Education and publicity
Know the dietary taboos for cats
Learn which foods are toxic to cats and raise awareness of cat dietary safety.
Sharing Knowledge
Share the knowledge of cat dietary safety with your family and friends to ensure that they too will not feed your cat toxic food.
FAQs
Conclusion
Onions are highly toxic to cats, and even small amounts can cause serious health problems, including hemolytic anemia. All forms of onion, including raw, cooked, or powdered, should be kept away from your feline friend. If you suspect your cat has consumed onions, it’s essential to seek immediate veterinary attention.
By following simple precautions—such as avoiding feeding your cat human food, checking labels for onion ingredients, and ensuring your cat stays away from onion-containing dishes—you can help keep your cat safe from the dangers of onion toxicity.
Stay vigilant and always prioritize your cat’s health by keeping harmful foods, like onions, out of their reach.
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