How much cabbage for your cat?
Most guides say "a few pieces". Enter your cat's weight and get the actual daily ceiling, worked out from cabbage's calories and the 10%-of-daily-calories treat rule vets use.
Assumes a healthy, neutered adult at a stable weight, and that this is their only treat that day. Puppies, pregnant, very active or unwell pets need different amounts — ask your vet.
Why this verdict for cats
A little cooked cabbage is non-toxic, but it causes gas and digestive upset in larger amounts.
Cabbage is safe enough for dogs and cheap enough to be tempting as a filler, but it comes with one lesser-known caveat about the thyroid and one very well-known consequence for the household.
How much is safe?
Small amounts, ideally cooked. Cabbage contains thiocyanate, a compound that in large, regular raw quantities can suppress thyroid function — the amounts needed are considerable, so an occasional shred is not a worry, but a dog fed raw cabbage daily as a filler is a different situation. Cooking reduces it substantially.
What happens if a cat eats too much?
The immediate result is gas, and a lot of it — cabbage is famous for this in dogs as much as in people. Larger amounts bring bloating and loose stools. The thyroid concern only applies to sustained heavy feeding of raw cabbage.
How to serve it safely
Shred it finely and cook it plain — steamed or boiled, no butter, no salt, and never as part of a dish with onion. Introduce a spoonful at a time. Red cabbage carries a little more antioxidant content, but the practical difference is small.
🍽️ Feeding it safely?
Frequently asked questions
Will cabbage really make my dog gassy?
Almost certainly, especially raw and especially at first. If you want the fibre without the fallout, cook it and keep portions small.
Is sauerkraut or coleslaw ok?
No. Sauerkraut is heavily salted and coleslaw is mostly mayonnaise, often with onion. Neither belongs in a dog bowl.
More vegetables for cats
By the CanMyPet Editorial Team · Reviewed against ASPCA Animal Poison Control, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Pet Poison Helpline · Last updated July 31, 2026.
Sources
- ASPCA — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- American Kennel Club — Dog Nutrition
- Pet Poison Helpline — Poison List