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Yes, mice can eat a little ripe tomato. The ASPCA says ripe tomato fruit is non-toxic, while the leaves and stems contain solanine, and PetMD says not to give mice unripe tomatoes. Offer a piece of ripe flesh about the size of your little fingernail, once a week. Never give green tomatoes, leaves, stalks or any part of the plant.
| Safe? | Yes, ripe flesh only |
| How much | A piece the size of your little fingernail |
| How often | Once a week |
| Best served | Ripe, raw, washed, no stalk |
| Watch out for | Green tomatoes, leaves, stalks, loose droppings |
Is tomato safe for mice?
Ripe tomato flesh is. The ASPCA's entry on the tomato plant says the plant contains solanine and can cause drooling, stomach upset and weakness in pets, but that ripe fruit is non-toxic. PetMD's mouse care sheet lists unripe tomatoes among foods mice should not have. So the colour and the part matter more than the food itself.
Tomato is mostly water and quite acidic, so it is a small extra, not a staple. RSPCA Australia advises non-starchy vegetables as part of the daily food allowance, and the RSPCA says fresh food should come out of that allowance rather than be added on top.
How much tomato can a mouse have?
A piece about the size of your little fingernail, once a week. The Vet Desk puts a mouse's whole daily food at 3 to 5 g (0.1 to 0.18 oz), and VCA keeps all fruit and vegetables to 5 to 10% of the diet, so the fresh share is well under a gram on most days. A cherry tomato is far too much for one mouse in one go.
Which parts are safe?
| Part or form | OK? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ripe red flesh | Yes, a little | The ASPCA calls ripe fruit non-toxic |
| Seeds and jelly | Scoop out if you can | PetMD advises against fruit seeds, so we offer the firm flesh |
| Green or unripe tomatoes | No | PetMD says no unripe tomatoes |
| Leaves, stalks, vines, flowers | No | Contain solanine, per the ASPCA |
| Ketchup, pasta sauce, tinned tomatoes | No | Salt, sugar, onion and garlic |
| Sun-dried tomatoes | No | Concentrated acid and often salted or oiled |
How to prepare tomato for a mouse
- Pick a ripe one. Fully red (or the right colour for its type), with no green patches.
- Wash it and remove the stalk. Take off the green top and any leaves.
- Cut a tiny piece. Fingernail-sized per mouse, served raw and plain.
- Clear up after 10 hours. PetMD says uneaten fresh food should be removed within that time, so check the nest too.
If you grow tomatoes, keep mice away from the plants during free-roaming time, and never use tomato stems or leaves as cage greenery.
Who should avoid it?
Mice with loose droppings, a sore mouth or a sensitive stomach should skip tomato, since it is acidic and watery. Introduce it slowly to young mice, a crumb at a time.
What to offer instead
Lower-acid options include cucumber, carrot and broccoli. Acidic lemons are a no. See what can mice eat, the pet mouse diet guide and our pet mouse care guide.
Tomato questions
Can mice eat cherry tomatoes?
Yes, ripe ones, but cut a small piece rather than giving a whole one. A cherry tomato is many times a mouse's fresh food for the day. A fingernail-sized piece of the ripe flesh once a week is plenty, with the green top removed.
Are tomato leaves poisonous to mice?
Treat them as poisonous. The ASPCA says the tomato plant contains solanine and lists drooling, stomach upset, weakness and a slow heart rate among the signs in pets. Only the ripe fruit is non-toxic. If your mouse chewed leaves or stems, ring a vet for advice.
Can mice eat cooked tomato?
Plain cooked ripe tomato with nothing added is fine in the same tiny amount. Tomato sauces, soups and ketchup are not, because they usually contain salt, sugar, onion or garlic, which RSPCA Australia lists as foods mice should avoid.
