By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Pizza night often ends with a box left open on the coffee table, and cats are skilled at stealing a corner of crust or a string of melted cheese. If your cat has had a nibble of Domino's cheese pizza, it is unlikely to be an emergency. Pizza is still not a suitable food for cats. The sauce may contain garlic or onion, the cheese is rich dairy, and the whole thing is salty and fatty.
Key takeaways
- A bite of plain cheese pizza is unlikely to cause serious harm, but it is not a safe habit.
- Pizza sauces may contain garlic or onion. Check the chain's ingredient and allergen information for the product you bought.
- The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that cats are the most sensitive species to onion and garlic.
- Cheese contains lactose, which many cats do not digest well.
- Garlic bread, garlic dips and meat toppings carry more risk than plain cheese pizza.
- Related reading: garlic bread and cats.
What is in a cheese pizza?
A cheese pizza is a wheat dough base, a tomato sauce and mozzarella or a cheese blend. Recipes differ between countries and change over time. Pizza sauces typically contain tomato, herbs, salt and sugar, and many contain garlic or onion. Domino's and other chains publish ingredient and allergen information, which is the best place to check what is in the version you ordered.
Garlic and onion in the sauce
The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that onions, garlic and their relatives can damage red blood cells and cause anaemia. Cats are the most susceptible species, and concentrated forms such as powders are a particular concern. Signs are often delayed by several days. The Pet Poison Helpline notes that cats are even more sensitive to these foods than dogs.
A thin smear of sauce on a crust is a small exposure. A cat that eats a whole slice, licks sauce from the box, or gets into garlic bread or garlic dipping sauce is taking in more.
Cheese and lactose
The Cornell Feline Health Center notes that many cats are lactose intolerant. The ASPCA explains that because pets lack significant amounts of lactase, dairy can cause diarrhoea or digestive upset. Melted mozzarella is also very fatty, and RSPCA Australia lists fatty foods as harmful to cats.
Salt and the base
Pizza is salty, and RSPCA Australia lists salt among foods harmful to cats. The Pet Poison Helpline describes salt poisoning in pets, with vomiting and diarrhoea and, in severe cases, stumbling, tremors and seizures. One bite will not cause salt poisoning, but a cat that eats several slices may need attention.
The crust is cooked dough, so it does not carry the risk of raw yeast dough. It is still refined starch that cats do not need.
Signs to watch for
In the first day:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Increased thirst
- Reduced appetite
Over the following days, after sauce or garlic toppings:
- Lethargy or weakness
- Pale gums
- Fast breathing
- Dark or reddish urine
When to call a vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline
Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738) if:
- Your cat ate a whole slice or more
- Your cat ate garlic bread, garlic sauce or toppings with onion
- Your cat seems unwell at any point over the next few days
Seek emergency care for collapse, breathing difficulty, pale gums or seizures.
Do not try to make your cat vomit at home. The Pet Poison Helpline warns that salt should never be used to induce vomiting.
How vets help
Your vet will ask what was eaten, how much and when. If you can, have the order details or the chain's allergen information handy. Most cats that nibble a corner need only monitoring. If garlic or onion exposure is a concern, your vet may suggest checking red blood cells over the following days.
Prevention
- Close pizza boxes and put leftovers in the fridge.
- Flatten and recycle empty boxes promptly.
- Keep garlic bread and dipping sauces covered.
- Feed your cat before the pizza arrives, so they are less keen to beg.
FAQ
My cat licked the cheese off my pizza. Is that okay?
A lick of cheese is unlikely to cause harm. Watch for loose stools.
Is pizza crust safe for cats?
Plain baked crust is not toxic, but it offers no nutrition a cat needs.
What about pepperoni or ham pizza?
Processed meats are salty and fatty, and are often seasoned with garlic. Keep them away from cats.
How long after eating pizza would signs appear?
Tummy upset usually shows within a day. Signs of onion or garlic toxicity can take several days.
Talk with a vet
If your cat got into the pizza box and you want help working out the risk, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Feline Safety.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding Your Cat.
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I feed my cat?.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Salt.
- Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia, 1300 869 738). Animal Poisons Helpline | 24/7 Pet Poisoning Advice.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.