By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
If your cat has ever pushed its face into a bowl of tahini or licked sesame oil off a wok, it was not the seed it was after. Cats are drawn to fat and the savoury smell of toasted oil. The seed itself does almost nothing for a cat, a strict carnivore built to run on meat. A few plain seeds are not dangerous, but they are not food a cat needs, and the dishes they come in are often more risky for cats than for dogs.
Key takeaways
- Plain sesame seeds are not toxic to cats, and a few licked off a plate are unlikely to cause harm.
- Cats are obligate carnivores and get no meaningful nutrition from seeds.
- Hummus, tahini dressings and takeaway sauces often contain garlic or onion, which cats are especially sensitive to.
- Fatty foods can upset a cat's stomach, and a cat that stops eating for a couple of days is at risk of serious liver problems.
- Related: sesame oil and cats, garlic and cats, onions and cats.
Why seeds do little for cats
A cat's body is set up for a high-protein, meat-based diet. Cats need certain nutrients that only come from animal tissue in useful amounts, including taurine, preformed vitamin A and arachidonic acid. They have a limited ability to turn plant fats into the forms they need. That is why plant seeds, however nutritious they are for people, add little for a cat eating a complete and balanced food.
Cats also cannot taste sweetness. Research has shown that the gene for one part of the sweet taste receptor does not work in cats, which helps explain why they ignore honey sesame snaps but go straight for the buttery or oily food next to them.
Small amounts of plain sesame
If your cat licks a few seeds off a cutting board or eats one off a bread roll, there is nothing you need to do. Tiny seeds are not a choking hazard for cats, and most pass straight through. You may see some in the litter tray. If you notice your cat seeks out the seeds or seeded crusts, keep them out of reach rather than letting it become a habit, since bread and seeds displace the meat-based food your cat actually needs.
Sesame foods that are risky for cats
Garlic and onion dishes
Cats are more sensitive than dogs to onion, garlic, leek and chives. These damage red blood cells and can cause anaemia. Powdered and cooked forms still count. Hummus, baba ghanoush, garlic tahini sauce, sesame chicken and many stir-fry sauces are common culprits. A lick is unlikely to matter. A cat that eats a spoonful of hummus or a piece of saucy chicken is worth a call to your vet.
Salty sauces
Soy sauce and teriyaki glazes are very salty for an animal the size of a cat. A lick causes thirst. Larger amounts can cause vomiting and, rarely, salt poisoning.
Fatty foods and oils
A cat that eats a lot of tahini, sesame oil or fried takeaway may vomit or have diarrhoea. Some cats go off their food afterwards. In cats, not eating is never something to wait out for long. Overweight cats that stop eating for several days can develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver), which needs hospital care. Vomiting and a poor appetite can also be signs of pancreatitis, which in cats often shows as quiet hiding and poor appetite rather than obvious pain (see pancreatitis in cats).
What to do if your cat ate sesame
- Work out what it was: plain seeds, bread, tahini, hummus, oil or a takeaway dish.
- Check the ingredients for garlic, onion and salt.
- Plain seeds or bread: no action needed beyond normal monitoring.
- Garlic or onion foods, a large amount of oil, or salty sauces: call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 for advice.
- Do not try to make a cat vomit at home. It is difficult, stressful and can be dangerous.
When it is an emergency
Take your cat to a vet urgently if it vomits repeatedly, hides and refuses food for more than a day, has pale or yellow gums, breathes fast at rest, has red or brown urine, or seems weak. Signs of anaemia from garlic or onion can appear several days after eating.
How vets help
Your vet will examine your cat, check hydration and may run blood tests to look at red blood cells, liver values and pancreatic markers. Treatment is supportive and depends on what is found. Cats that have stopped eating often need help to start again, which is one reason not to delay a visit.
Better treats for cats
If you want to share food, small pieces of plain cooked chicken, turkey or white fish (boneless and unseasoned) suit a cat far better than seeds. Commercial cat treats designed for the purpose are another option. Keep all treats to a small part of the day's food.
FAQ
Is sesame oil toxic to cats?
Not toxic, but it is pure fat. A lick is fine. A cat that drinks a puddle of it may vomit or have loose stools.
Can sesame seeds help with hairballs?
There is no evidence they do. Ask your vet about grooming, diet and hairball management options.
My cat chews the seeded crust of my toast every morning. Should I stop it?
It is not dangerous in itself, but it is empty food for a cat. Offering a small cat treat at the same time is a kinder habit to build.
Talk with a vet
If your cat has eaten a sesame dish and you are unsure about the ingredients, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you weigh the risk and decide on next steps. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Bauer JE. Metabolic basis for the essential nature of fatty acids and the unique dietary fatty acid requirements of cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2006;229(11):1729-1732.
- Li X, Li W, Wang H, et al. Pseudogenization of a sweet-receptor gene accounts for cats' indifference toward sugar. PLoS Genetics. 2005;1(1):e3.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and onion (Allium spp) toxicosis in animals.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feeding your cat.
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.
