Can dogs or cats eat cabbage?

May 4, 2023
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding your pet’s care, treatment, or medical conditions.

Can dogs eat cabbage?

Yes, cabbage is safe and healthy for dogs to eat in moderation. Part of the same family as broccoli and cauliflower (also safe for dogs!), cabbage is packed with healthy minerals, fiber, and vitamins — including Vitamin K, which promotes healthy blood clotting. Cabbage also contains antioxidants that help protect against diseases, including cancer.

When you serve cabbage to your dog, make sure it's cooked, as raw cabbage can be difficult for some dogs to digest. You should also make sure it's served plain without any seasonings or additives like salt, butter, or oil, as these could cause gastrointestinal illness. (And don't even get us started on garlic and onions, both of which are 100% toxic for dogs.)

Just keep in mind: While cabbage is healthy for dogs in moderate amounts, feeding them large quantities of cabbage may cause stomach upset or bloating due to the vegetable's high fiber content.

As always, before introducing a new food item into your pet's diet, consult with your veterinarian first! If your dog eats cabbage (or any food) and is showing signs of illness such as lethargy, diarrhea, or vomiting, reach out to your veterinarian immediately. If your pet requires veterinary care due to something they ate, pet insurance can help cover the cost of treatment.

Can cats eat cabbage?

Yes, cabbage is safe for cats to eat in moderation, though it's not a particularly common addition to the feline diet.

Cabbage is rich in essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, potassium and calcium, which are all beneficial to your cat's health. Just keep in mind, feeding your cat too much cabbage can cause digestive issues like gas, bloating or even diarrhea due to the vegetable's high fiber content.

And make sure the cabbage is cooked, as your cat might have more trouble digesting it in its raw form. Also, make sure it's prepared without any seasonings, oil, or butter, which could cause gastrointestinal illness. Some common complements to cabbage, like garlic and onion, are actually toxic for cats! Plain cabbage is always the way to go.

If you do feed your cat cabbage, make sure you only do so only in moderation, as an occasional snack. Remember, cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need to get most of their nutrients from meat-based foods. Vegetables like cabbage should never displace the meat in your cat's diet.

As always, before introducing a new food item into your pet's diet, consult with your veterinarian first! If your cat eats cabbage (or any food) and is showing signs of illness such as lethargy, diarrhea, or vomiting, reach out to your veterinarian immediately. If your pet requires veterinary care due to something they ate, pet insurance can help cover the cost of treatment.

Information Purposes Only

The suggestions offered here are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for pet-specific advice from your veterinarian. Never disregard your vet’s recommendations, or delay in acting on them, based on something you have read on this site. Regardless of how a food is rated here, any food that you give your pet can pose potential health risks, including allergic reactions, choking, or other health conditions such as bloat. Always monitor your pet while they’re eating, and never introduce a new food into your pet’s diet without first consulting your veterinarian. 

Pet Poison Emergency Protocol

If your pet is acting sick, call your regular veterinarian immediately. If your regular veterinarian is closed, call a nearby on-call veterinarian, animal urgent care, or veterinary emergency hospital. If your pet is not acting sick but you think they may have been exposed to a poison, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).

Food Safety Statuses

Safe

Could be given almost daily without harm

Safe in moderation

Not toxic, but should not be given regularly

Unsafe

Toxic or simply too risky to give to your pet