Can Cats Eat Lemongrass? No—Keep This Plant Away

Why lemongrass is different from an ordinary snack

The ASPCA entry concerns Cymbopogon citratus, the culinary plant commonly called lemongrass or lemon grass. It explicitly lists cats among the animals at risk. Its stated feline effect is stomach upset; the more severe horse signs on the same listing should not be copied into a description of what always happens to cats.

Plant identity matters. A grassy appearance, familiar fragrance, or use in a human recipe does not establish feline safety. Keep the label when buying herbs and check the scientific name before allowing a cat to investigate a plant in a pot or garden.

Many cats do better with small, slow portions, and a puzzle feeder or a slow feeder bowl helps with both.

A concentrated oil is a separate exposure to report

Lemongrass leaves and a bottle of essential oil are not interchangeable items. VCA explains that essential oils are concentrated preparations and that many can poison cats through swallowing or skin contact. A product on the coat may also be swallowed when a cat grooms.

If an oil, fragrance, or cleaning product was involved, tell the veterinarian the product name rather than saying only that your cat encountered a herb. Save its ingredient list and packaging. Do not apply concentrated oils to the cat or put them into food as a homemade treatment.

What to do after your cat eats the plant

Move the plant or prepared food out of reach so there is no further exposure. Keep a sample or clear photograph for identification, and write down when it happened. Check whether a recipe or container included anything else, since a mixed dish or bottled preparation needs its own assessment.

Call your veterinarian, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A fee may apply. Give your cat’s weight in pounds, the plant or product name, the estimated amount, and any symptoms. Those details are more useful than trying to judge risk from the smell.

Watch for symptoms without waiting to make the call

Stomach upset is the ASPCA’s listed concern for cats eating lemongrass. Report vomiting or diarrhea and describe whether your cat is eating and behaving normally. Absence of an immediate symptom cannot establish that an uncertain plant or concentrated preparation was harmless.

For an essential-oil exposure, VCA also identifies drooling, weakness, unsteady movement, tremors, and breathing difficulty as possible warning signs. Breathing trouble or a cat that is severely unwell requires emergency veterinary care. Explain the type of exposure so that plant effects are not confused with those of a concentrated product.

Avoid home remedies that complicate treatment

Do not try to make your cat vomit, and do not give charcoal or an improvised treatment. VCA specifically warns against these actions after essential-oil exposures because they may worsen the situation. Let the veterinary professional decide what examination or treatment is needed.

Keep the cat away from spilled oil or contaminated objects and ask the clinic how to handle any product on the coat. If transport is advised, put the packaging in a secure container to take with you. Tell the clinic about any remedy already attempted so staff have the full history.

Prevent another encounter with kitchen herbs

Store cut lemongrass, herb pots, and concentrated products where your cat cannot reach them. Check counters and food-preparation areas after cooking, and do not leave a dish available for a cat to investigate. If different people care for your cat, make sure everyone knows this plant should not be offered.

Choose rewards intended for cats, with advice from your veterinarian if dietary restrictions apply. A pleasant-smelling plant is not a substitute for a suitable treat or for veterinary care when your cat seems ill.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.