Can Cats Eat Celery?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Cats can eat small amounts of plain cooked celery. Raw celery chopped very fine works too. Celery is mostly water and fiber, and a nibble is fine for most adult cats when nothing is added. It is not a food cats need. A review in Nutrition Research Reviews links cats' needs for taurine, arginine, preformed vitamin A and a high level of protein to an evolutionary diet of animal tissue, and celery covers little or none of them.
What Celery Offers a Cat
Celery stalks are watery and very low in calories, with some fiber and small amounts of vitamins and minerals. Cats get their vitamins from a complete cat food and need preformed vitamin A, according to the same review, so celery adds little. Some cats are drawn to the crunch or the smell of the leaves and will chew on a stalk the way they chew on grass. That interest is fine to indulge in tiny amounts, as long as the celery is plain and cut small.
How Much Celery Can a Cat Have?
For a 10-pound adult cat with no food allergy and no medical condition, about 1 teaspoon of finely chopped or soft cooked celery is plenty. That adds only a few calories. WSAVA advises keeping treats under 10 percent of daily calories, which is around 24 treat calories a day for a cat this size, and it says treats should never replace a complete and balanced meal. Kittens, seniors and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis or food allergies should check with the vet first.
How to Serve It
Wash the stalk and peel off the long, stringy fibers along the outside with a vegetable peeler. Those strings do not break down easily when a cat chews. Chop the celery into pieces smaller than a pea, or steam a short length until soft and then chop it. A few celery leaves are fine if they are washed and plain. Skip celery that comes with dips, peanut butter, cream cheese or ranch dressing, and skip celery salt, which is mostly salt. Soup, stuffing and stock that contain celery usually contain onion and garlic too, and the ASPCA warns those can damage a cat's red blood cells. Give one small taste first and watch for vomiting or loose stool.
Check with your veterinarian before sharing celery with a cat that has a medical condition or a special diet.
Common Questions
Can cats eat celery leaves?
Yes, a few washed, plain celery leaves are fine for most adult cats. Some cats chew them the way they chew grass. Keep the amount small, about a teaspoon chopped, and do not offer leaves that were cooked into soup or stuffing, since those dishes usually include onion and garlic, which the ASPCA warns can damage a cat's red blood cells.
Why does my cat like celery?
Many cats seem to enjoy the crunch and the strong smell of celery, especially the leaves. It may also be the same urge that leads some cats to chew on grass. Whatever the reason, the interest is fine to indulge in tiny portions. Chop the celery small, remove the strings, and keep it within the daily treat allowance WSAVA recommends.
Can cats eat celery with peanut butter?
No, keep the peanut butter off. It is high in fat and calories, and any product sweetened with xylitol is a real concern, since the ASPCA warns that xylitol can cause low blood sugar and liver damage in pets. A small piece of plain celery is enough. If your cat ate peanut butter that lists xylitol, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Can kittens eat celery?
Kittens do better without celery. They need the full ration of a complete kitten food for growth, and WSAVA notes that treats should never replace a complete and balanced meal. Celery strings are also harder for a small mouth to handle. Ask your veterinarian before offering vegetables to a kitten.
Can cats eat celery every day?
A teaspoon of plain chopped celery fits within an adult cat's daily treat allowance, but a daily habit is not needed. Cats are obligate carnivores, and a review in Nutrition Research Reviews traces their nutrient needs to a diet of animal tissue. Offer celery now and then if your cat likes it, and feed a complete and balanced cat food for its nutrition.