Food safety · 2 min read

Can cats eat Thyme?

Caution

Caution. Fresh culinary thyme in small amounts is low-risk, but the essential oil is toxic to cats, and 'creeping thyme' and related garden species contain higher concentrations of problematic compounds.

If your cat has eaten thyme

  1. For a nibbled leaf: monitor for vomiting and drooling.
  2. For a larger ingestion or essential oil exposure: call your vet or the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000.
  3. Remove any diffusers if concentrated oil is involved.

What's the full picture?

Culinary thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is mildly unsafe for cats in amounts significantly larger than a sprinkling on food. The main concern is the essential oils (thymol, carvacrol), which cats metabolise poorly.

Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) used as ground cover in UK gardens is a specific concern — some cats will chew on it, and larger ingestions can cause drooling, vomiting, and incoordination.

Thyme essential oil — used in room sprays, natural pest control, or diffusers — is toxic and should not be used in cat households.

Symptoms to watch for

0–12 hours
Drooling, vomiting, wobbliness with larger amounts or oil exposure.

If you're worried right now

Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet first. For poison advice, the Animal PoisonLine (UK) is on 01202 509000 — 24/7, charges apply. Your vet can also call the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) directly.

Basil yes Essential oils no Mint caution Parsley caution Rosemary yes

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published UK veterinary toxicology sources — International Cat Care, Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) references, RCVS-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.

This is general information written for UK cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.

Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know — corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.

Last reviewed: · By the What Can My Cat Eat? editorial team

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