Any loving and bordering on overprotective cat owner knows how stressful it can be to think about a pet accidentally encountering and eating a toxic substance. Whether it's the herb sage or the cords in your basement, always know what your sweet pet can easily and readily access.
Sage Safety
According to the ASPCA, a little dab of sage is not toxic to your furry friend. A second of chewing on the evergreen probably won't pose a major threat to your cat, if any. If your fluffball accidentally munches on and ingests a negligible amount of the herb -- think a couple of small bites -- he should be totally fine, so don't go into full-on freak-out mode. When it comes to anything more than that, however, take the matter more seriously.
Just to be totally safe, however, alert your veterinarian of any and all amounts of sage your kitty may have consumed. Extra caution never hurts. The bottom line is -- keep your cat away from sage.
Stomach Upset
Many herbs do consist of essential oils, and sage is just one of them. Excessive amounts of these oils can lead to tummy distress and discomfort in cats. For example, if your cat ate just a little too much sage, the poor thing may regret it later on when his stomach hurts and he's suffering from runny and frequent stools -- hello, diarrhea. If this happens to your little one, seek emergency veterinary attention immediately, just to be as careful as possible.
Central Nervous System
Unusually vast amounts of sage may occasionally even lead to physiological issues within the central nervous system in cats -- in extreme cases, of course. Because of this possibility, it's important to seek out urgent veterinary attention for your cat if you notice he had his paws on a significant amount of sage. Don't waste any time when it comes to potentially serious health consequences.
Other Herbs
Although a tiny amount of sage probably won't affect your cat, not all herbs are so mild on felines. Although onion and garlic may seem like totally friendly food items for you, they actually are indeed classified as toxic in cats. If a cat consumes onion, she may experience anything from throwing up to panting and rapid heart rate -- not good. Similarly, unassuming garlic may even trigger severe problems with a cat's red blood cells. The more you know about plant toxicity, the safer your cat may be. Knowledge is an excellent tool to have. Go get it!
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.
References
- ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats
- ASPCA: Herbs
- ASPCA: Animal Poison Control Chat Transcript
- ASPCA: Texas Sage
- Blue Mountain Humane Society: Plants and Pets Toxic Listing
- ASPCA: Is Garlic Toxic to Pets?
- ASPCA: Onion
- International Veterinary Information Service: Toxicants That Cause Central Nervous System Depression