Mustard is a popular condiment we use in sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, corn dogs, meats, cheeses, and an ingredient in sauces, marinades, glazes, and dressings. Is it safe for cats or dangerous?
Mustard is a popular condiment made using mustard plants in Brassica and Sinapis genera, in the crucifers, cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The specific species used are Sinapis alba (white or yellow mustard), Brassica nigra (black mustard), or Brassica juncea (brown, Chinese, Indian, Leaf, oriental, or vegetable mustard).
Besides the condiment, mustard seeds, stems, and leaves are also eaten in various places, especially Brassica juncea.
Is it safe or toxic?
To assess this condiment’s safety, we need to look at if the seeds are toxic or have any other harmful ingredients. Besides the ground seeds, we know that it does have wine, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, spices, flavorings, water, and other liquids.
Unfortunately, cats cannot eat mustard because, as Chewy notes, mustard seeds, “a component of the common condiment mustard can cause severe gastroenteritis, characterized by persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea.” Since it is made from seeds, you know why it is also unsafe.
Besides the seeds, it also has salt, which should be avoided in any foods given to your cats. The level of salt we can tolerate is much higher than what your feline endures.
Additionally, it does have alcohol, i.e., some wine, which is toxic to felines and will cause various symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, poor coordination, abnormal blood acidity, central nervous system depression, tremors, coma, or even death.
All these mean that you cannot give your feline mustard or let it any food that has this condiment as it is potentially poisonous or toxic to your felines, and it joins other foods that are toxic to cats like
- Rhubarb
- Tea and coffee (caffeine)
- Green tomatoes, tomato leaves, and potato leaves
- Chocolate
- Yeast dough
- Grapes and raisins
- Gum or candy
- Moldy food
- Xylitol
- Nicotine (found in tobacco)
- Mushrooms
- Nuts
- Garlic, onions, chives, and the rest of genus Allum species
- Apricot pits, leaves, and stems as well as apple pits
- Raw eggs
Mustard greens
Since they are a common vegetable in various cuisines across the world, including African, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Nepali, Japanese, Indian, and so on, it is good to know if these greens are safe for kitties or not.
ASPCA doesn’t list mustard greens as toxic to cats or dogs but only mentions that they are harmful to horses. While you will get varied opinions on their safety, we can confirm that mustard greens are not toxic to cats and dogs since whatever makes them poisonous to horses is isothiocyanates, which don’t affect dogs or cats.
However, if you feed mustard greens to your cat, feed them as a rare treat since they are higher in oxalic acids.
Also, offer your cats cooked or ground vegetables since it makes digestion easier. Remember, they don’t have teeth like ours to chew the food, and their enzymes to handle plant material are less active.
Get help
If you suspect your cat has eaten many mustard seeds or the condiment and has any abnormal signs like severe vomiting, diarrhea, among other symptoms, take her to your vet or call the following helplines.
- The American Association of Poison Control Centers (800) 222-1222
- The Pet Poison Helpline 1 (855) 764-7661
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (800)426-4435