Can cats eat chives?

[annavc]

I think my cat has been munching on a chive plant - doesn't seem to be doing him any harm but I wanted to check. I've found various lists of what plants are safe or not but none seem to include chives in either list! Does anyone know?

Thanks.

[bunny29]

Chives are in the genus Allium - look here http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename= pro_apcc_toxic_onion

And this:
The use of garlic and other members of the Lily family such as onions, shallots, and chives in the cat's diet is not advised. Ingestion of these plants in a raw, cooked, or dried form can lead to damage of the red blood cells, which are rejected by the body from the bloodstream, and a continued use of garlic or onions can eventually result in hemolytic anemia. If the anemia is not controlled by discontinuing the use of the plants, it can potentially lead to death. Less significant but important is that raw garlic and onions irritate the mouth, esophagus, and stomach and can cause or exacerbate ulcers.

"An alkaloid, N-propyl disulphide, present in both cultivated and wild onions, chives, and garlic, affects the enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, in red blood cells that interferes with the hexose monophosphate pathway. Oxidation of hemoglobin results because there is either insufficient phosphate dehydrogenase or glutathione to protect the red blood cells from oxidative injury. The resulting formation of Heinz bodies within erythrocytes is characteristic of onion poisoning. (...)"
Marielle Gomez-Kaifer, PhD, Department of Chemistry, University of Miami

[bunny29]

And here: http://www.aspca.org/site/DocServer/vetm0805_5 62-566.pdf?docID=5602&AddInterest=1101

[annavc]

Thanks bunny29. I shall move it somewhere out of his reach in that case. It's taken me a couple of days to figure out it was him - I just thought my housemates were using the chives but neither of them have which only leaves one culprit who must have been jumping up on the sideboard where the plant is!

[bunny29]

No problem.

I have bunnies (obviously) so I check every plant I want to buy on the web before I bring it home, since so many are harmful.

Best wishes.

[thugulike]

It's more likely to be mice. Are the plants outside?

[annavc]

No its not outside. The plant is now on top of the microwave which sits on top of the fridge/freezer - definitely no mice in the house - trust me its the cat - he spotted it last night in its new place, got a glint in his eye, leapt onto the table and was about to launch himself on to the microwave when I grabbed him and deposited him back on the floor!

[AnimalLover89]

can a cat eat wild green onions??

[ladychef818]

My cat ate my entire chive plant last summer. She loves them! She never had a problem at all but after I saw that I didn't buy any more but I really wanted to grow some this year. I don't have anywhere to put the plants out of her reach. I had pots on my balcony. I also had parsley in a window box hanging off the railing and she jumped up to get those so I moved it to the floor right away. I swear she could have gone over the railing (3 floors ) trying to get that parsley. Maybe I just have a weird cat but I never put her near them, she did this all on her own.

[ladychef818]

She won't go near my Rosemary (probably because it's prickly like a Christmas tree) but she tears apart any other herbs I have? Any suggestions? I thought about getting her "her own planter" but what should I put in it?