Chives
Allium tuberosum · Amaryllidaceae
How it looks
Chives are an herb and vegetable whose hollow, slender, cylindrical leaves grow in clumps from the base. Cutting the leaves releases a pungent onion-or-garlic scent. The flowers are small pink-to-purple blooms gathered into a ball at the tip of the flower stalk.
Caution — monitor for GI symptoms
All parts of Chives contain N-propyl disulfide, which causes oxidative damage to red blood cells (Heinz body anemia). This can lead to bloody urine and a hemolytic crisis, so an immediate vet visit is needed.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- 1–4 hours after ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells, anemia
- Action
- Consult a vet and monitor. Go in immediately if symptoms worsen.
Guide for parents
Chives are a familiar vegetable from balcony gardens and kitchens, but they act as a potent toxin for cats. Like garlic and onion, chives are an Allium plant, and sulfur compounds such as N-propyl disulfide oxidatively damage a cat's red blood cells and cause anemia. This is not a vegetable to shrug off as "a little nibble is fine."
The three alliums
Chives belong to the Allium genus along with garlic and onion, and all three destroy red blood cells the same way. Chives are no milder for being chives; the risk is identical across all three, so none should ever be given to a cat.
How cats get exposed
Raw chives, cooked chives, savory pancakes or side dishes with chives in them, and batter all count as dangerous. The most common exposure is sharing human food, so never offer anything made with chives. If you grow them on a balcony, fully separate the pot from your cat's paths and don't leave trimmed chives or root pieces on the counter.
How symptoms progress
Stomach signs like vomiting or diarrhea may appear first, within 1–4 hours. The dangerous part — anemia — emerges gradually over a day or two: pale gums, lethargy, rapid breathing, or reddish urine are signs that red blood cells are being destroyed.
What to do right now
If you suspect ingestion, don't wait even if your cat looks fine — go to the vet. Anemia shows up late, so the fact that exposure happened is itself a key diagnostic clue to share with the vet.
Details
- Scientific name
- Allium tuberosum
- Common name
- Chives
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- N-propyl disulfide, Thiosulfates
- Source
- ASPCA
Related plants
Same plant family· Amaryllidaceae
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