Parsley

Parsley has no nutritional meaning for cats, at most a leaf that smells fresh.

At most a small pinch of chopped parsley (about a quarter teaspoon) mixed into wet food as a garnish, never in place of complete cat food.

Wash it under running water, trim the stems and chop, adding no seasoning; blanch it first for a cat with weaker immunity.

**Keep cats away from wild-picked parsley-like plants, as species such as hemlock are poisonous**; **never give parsley oil or concentrated supplements**; small amounts are the rule, and **contact a vet** if drooling, vomiting or loose stools appear.

Parsley is very low in calories and offers only traces of vitamins C and K plus a little mineral content, so its job is adding a fresh herbal aroma.

A small pinch of washed, chopped fresh parsley on the food is plenty; keep it within about 10% of daily energy intake, with complete dog food as the main diet.

Rinse well under running water, shake dry, trim the coarse stems and chop; use fresh leaves only, with no salt, oil or dressing.

**Never feed wild-picked parsley-like plants: toxic species such as hemlock look similar and can be fatal**, so buy it from a shop; **skip parsley oil and supplements**, and keep it tiny, stopping and **contacting a vet** if vomiting follows.