---
title: "Can dogs and cats eat oranges, lemons and limes?"
description: "Oranges, lemons and limes and pets: risky — depends on amount or preparation. What it does, whether the dose matters, and how dogs, cats, rabbits and birds differ."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/citrus/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Can pets eat oranges, lemons and limes?

**Oranges, lemons and limes: Risky — depends on amount or preparation**

Dogs: In moderation · Cats: Risky · Birds: In moderation

## By animal

| Animal | Verdict | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dogs | In moderation | Orange flesh is harmless. Peel, pith and essential oils cause upset. |
| Cats | Risky | Cats are more sensitive to citrus oils, and generally hate the smell anyway. |
| Birds | In moderation | Flesh fine in small amounts. |

## What it actually does

The flesh of an orange is sugar, water and citric acid, none of which is a poison. What causes trouble is the peel and pith, which contain concentrated essential oils and psoralens that irritate the gut and, in large amounts, cause depression and photosensitivity. Concentrated citrus oil — in cleaning products and essential oil diffusers — is a genuine hazard for cats, whose livers process such compounds poorly.

No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.

> Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.

## Fruit

| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Avocado | Toxic | Risky | Risky |
| Apple | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Banana | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Blueberries and strawberries | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Watermelon and melon | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Cherries, peaches, plums and apricots | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Coconut and coconut oil | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |

## Common questions

### Can dogs eat oranges, lemons and limes?

Fine in small amounts. Orange flesh is harmless. Peel, pith and essential oils cause upset.

### Can cats eat oranges, lemons and limes?

Risky — depends on amount or preparation. Cats are more sensitive to citrus oils, and generally hate the smell anyway.

### What does oranges, lemons and limes actually do?

The flesh of an orange is sugar, water and citric acid, none of which is a poison. What causes trouble is the peel and pith, which contain concentrated essential oils and psoralens that irritate the gut and, in large amounts, cause depression and photosensitivity. Concentrated citrus oil — in cleaning products and essential oil diffusers — is a genuine hazard for cats, whose livers process such compounds poorly.

## Related pages

- [Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/grapes/)
- [Can pets eat avocado?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/avocado/)
- [Can pets eat apple?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/apple/)
- [Can pets eat banana?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/banana/)
- [Can pets eat blueberries and strawberries?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/blueberries/)
- [Can pets eat watermelon and melon?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/watermelon/)
- [Can pets eat chocolate?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/chocolate/)
- [Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/grapes/)
- [Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/onion-garlic/)
- [Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/xylitol/)
- [Everything, for dogs](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/dog/)
- [Everything, for cats](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cat/)

## Sources

- Animal Poison Control Center — toxic and non-toxic lists — ASPCA (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control)