How much olives for your cat?
Most guides say "a few pieces". Enter your cat's weight and get the actual daily ceiling, worked out from olives'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
Plain olive in tiny amounts is non-toxic, but the salt of brined olives is bad for cats.
A plain olive is not toxic to a dog, but almost nobody has plain olives in the house. What sits in the jar is brined, and brine is essentially salt water — which is where the trouble starts.
How much is safe?
One or two pitted, plain, unsalted olives occasionally at most. Olives offer a dog no nutritional benefit worth pursuing, and the standard supermarket olive is packed in enough salt to make regular sharing a genuinely poor idea. Stuffed olives — with garlic, blue cheese, anchovy or pimento — add further problems.
What happens if a cat eats too much?
Salt is the main issue: excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in significant amounts sodium poisoning with wobbliness and tremors. The fat can trigger stomach upset, and olives marinated in oil and herbs frequently contain garlic.
How to serve it safely
If you share, use a plain, pitted, unsalted olive and offer just one. The pit is a real hazard — a choking risk, an obstruction risk, and hard enough to fracture a tooth.
🍽️ Feeding it safely?
Frequently asked questions
My dog ate an olive with the pit — what should I watch for?
Choking straight away, then over the next couple of days vomiting, straining, appetite loss or a painful belly, which suggest an obstruction. Small dogs are at higher risk. Call your vet for advice.
Are olives good for dogs in any way?
Not meaningfully. They contain healthy fats and vitamin E, but in amounts too small to matter at a safe serving size, and the salt outweighs it.
More fruits 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