Food safety

Can Cats Eat Bbq Sauce?

Not recommended — BBQ Sauce for cats.

Not recommended

Why: BBQ sauce usually contains onion and garlic powder, sugar, salt and spices — several things cats should not eat. Even a small lick is not a poisoning emergency, but there is no safe serving and it can upset the stomach.

If your cat ate bbq sauce: A small lick is not an emergency — offer fresh water and watch for vomiting or diarrhoea. If your cat ate a large amount, or the sauce was sugar-free (possible xylitol), call your vet.

Related: Onion, Garlic, Sausage

Why this verdict

BBQ sauce usually contains onion and garlic powder, sugar, salt and spices — several things cats should not eat. Even a small lick is not a poisoning emergency, but there is no safe serving and it can upset the stomach.

If your cat ate bbq sauce

A small lick is not an emergency — offer fresh water and watch for vomiting or diarrhoea. If your cat ate a large amount, or the sauce was sugar-free (possible xylitol), call your vet.

Related foods

Onion, Garlic, Sausage

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.