Is Parsley toxic to cats?
Parsley is toxic to cats (S2 Irritant): the ASPCA lists furanocoumarins causing photosensitization — a sunburn-like skin reaction and dermatitis — and notes that large amounts are needed to cause the effect, so a garnish is not the concern; a cat grazing a whole pot is.
- TOXINfuranocoumarins
- WHAT TO EXPECTphotosensitization (sunburn-like skin reaction, dermatitis) — large amounts needed
- CALL THE VETCall your vet if a skin reaction appears or spreads, or your cat seems in discomfort after eating a large amount.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| photosensitization (sunburn-like skin reaction, dermatitis) — large amounts needed |
If your cat just ate it
Same tabletop look, minus the risk
3 tabletop plants graded S0 — non-toxic on record.
Care at a glance
FAQ
My cat licks parsley off a plate now and then — is that the S2 problem?
Not on the record — the ASPCA ties the effect to quantity. Its entry lists furanocoumarins as the toxic principle and the sign as "Photosensitization (sunburn, dermatitis), large amounts are needed to cause this effect." A garnish is not a large amount; a cat that grazes a whole pot over days is closer to what the record describes. The grade is S2 Irritant because the sign is a skin reaction, not a stomach one — there is no vomiting or diarrhea on this record at all. If your cat has been eating a lot of parsley and you see reddened or irritated skin, move the plant out of reach and call your vet if it persists.
Cilantro is sold as "Chinese parsley" — is it the same plant, with the same warning?
No. Cilantro is Coriandrum sativum and gets its own verdict: S0 Safe on our cilantro page, where the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic with no toxic principle on record. Parsley is Petroselinum crispum, and the ASPCA grades it separately: toxic principle furanocoumarins, sign "Photosensitization (sunburn, dermatitis), large amounts are needed to cause this effect" — S2 Irritant. The shared nickname is a market name, not a botanical one. The ASPCA's own aliases for parsley are "Italian Parsley, Hamburg Parsley, Turnip-rooted Parsley"; Chinese parsley is not among them. Check the botanical name on the label before you trust either verdict.
Does parsley cause vomiting or diarrhea?
Not on this record. The only clinical sign the ASPCA lists for parsley is "Photosensitization (sunburn, dermatitis), large amounts are needed to cause this effect" — a skin reaction to sunlight after eating a lot of it, caused by furanocoumarins. There is no gastrointestinal sign in the entry, and Pet Poison Helpline has no parsley entry to add one. So a pet that has eaten parsley and then vomits is showing something the parsley record does not describe; treat it as you would any vomiting and call your vet if it persists. What the record does ask you to watch for is reddened or irritated skin.
Is parsley toxic to dogs?
Mildly, and only in quantity. The ASPCA lists parsley as "Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses" with furanocoumarins as the toxic principle and one sign: "Photosensitization (sunburn, dermatitis), large amounts are needed to cause this effect." That is the entire record — a sunburn-like skin reaction after eating a lot, with nothing about the stomach. The grade is S2 Irritant on our parsley page for dogs because a skin reaction counts as an irritant sign. Keep the pot out of reach if your dog grazes; if you see irritated skin that persists, call your vet.