Cats can’t resist houseplants. Not only do they love digging in the soil, they also like to nibble on stems and leaves. That can be bad news for the plant and for your cat. Some common houseplants are so toxic to cats that they can cause poisoning, serious illness and even death.
Garden plants can be just as dangerous. In this article, we’ll go over the most common toxic indoor and outdoor plants and flowers, how to stop your cat from chewing plants and what to do if your cat eats something poisonous.
If you think your cat has eaten a toxic plant, call your vet or an animal poison hotline right away:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (US): (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline (US): (855) 764-7661
Animal PoisonLine (UK): 01202 509000
A consultation fee may apply. If your cat has eaten any part of a lily, treat it as an emergency, even if it seems fine.
Houseplants That Are Toxic to Cats
Keep these houseplants out of your cat’s reach, or better still, don’t keep them at all:
Lilies (all true lilies and daylilies). The most dangerous plants for cats. Every part of the plant is toxic, including the leaves, flowers, pollen and even the water in the vase. Eating a single leaf or licking pollen off the fur can cause sudden kidney failure, which can be fatal without urgent treatment.
Sago palm. Very toxic. All parts, especially the seeds, can cause vomiting, liver failure and death.
Azalea and rhododendron. Cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhea, and can affect the heart. Can be fatal.
Aloe vera. The sap contains toxic compounds (saponins and anthraquinones). Poisoning causes vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
Amaryllis. The bulbs are the most toxic part. Poisoning causes vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, tremors and lethargy.
Anthurium, peace lily (Spathiphyllum), calla lily, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), philodendron, pothos (devil’s ivy) and monstera (Swiss cheese plant). These plants contain sharp calcium oxalate crystals that burn and irritate the mouth. They cause intense drooling, pawing at the mouth, swelling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. (Despite its name, the peace lily isn’t a true lily and doesn’t cause kidney failure.)
English ivy. Causes vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling and diarrhea.
Asparagus fern. Causes vomiting and diarrhea, and skin irritation with repeated contact.
Begonia. Contains insoluble oxalates. The tubers are the most toxic part. Causes burning of the mouth, drooling and vomiting.
Geranium (Pelargonium). Contains geraniol and linalool. Can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and skin irritation.
Hydrangea. Contains cyanogenic glycosides. Causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Kalanchoe. A very popular houseplant. Causes vomiting and diarrhea and, rarely, heart rhythm problems.
Jade plant. Causes vomiting, lethargy and incoordination.
Ficus (weeping fig, rubber plant). The sap irritates the mouth and skin and causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Cyclamen. The tubers are especially toxic. Causes vomiting, drooling and diarrhea, and in large amounts, heart rhythm problems.
Schefflera (umbrella tree). Irritates the mouth, causes drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.
Snake plant (Sansevieria). Contains saponins. Causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Euphorbia (including poinsettia and crown of thorns). The milky sap irritates the mouth, stomach and skin, and can cause eye irritation. Poinsettias are only mildly toxic, despite their reputation.
Dracaena (corn plant, dragon tree). Causes vomiting (sometimes with blood), drooling, dilated pupils and loss of appetite.
Also be careful with hyacinths, croton, primrose and certain ferns, such as the asparagus fern.
Cat-safe houseplants include spider plants, Boston ferns, African violets, Christmas cactus, calathea, parlor palms, areca palms, peperomia and orchids (Phalaenopsis). Even safe plants can cause mild stomach upset if your cat eats a lot of them. Check the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants before buying a new plant.
Toxic Garden Plants
Dangerous plants that may be waiting for your cat in flower beds and vegetable gardens:
Tulips and hyacinths. The bulbs are the most toxic part. Poisoning causes drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.
Daffodils (narcissus). All parts, especially the bulbs, cause vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling and, in large amounts, heart rhythm and breathing problems.
Oleander. An attractive evergreen shrub with delicate flowers, and extremely toxic. Contains heart toxins that cause vomiting, diarrhea, an abnormal heart rhythm and can be fatal.
Autumn crocus. Extremely toxic. Causes severe vomiting, bleeding in the gut, kidney and liver damage and bone marrow suppression. (Spring crocuses usually cause only stomach upset.)
Foxglove. Contains heart toxins that cause vomiting and dangerous heart rhythm problems.
Black locust (false acacia). The bark, leaves and seeds cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and abdominal pain.
Chrysanthemums and some daisies. Cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, incoordination and skin irritation.
Iris. Causes vomiting, drooling, diarrhea and lethargy.
Clematis. Irritates the mouth and causes drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.
Rhubarb. The leaves contain soluble oxalates, which can cause kidney damage.
Boxwood. Causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Yew. Highly toxic. Can cause sudden heart failure.
Lily of the valley. Contains heart toxins that cause vomiting, an abnormal heart rhythm and a slow heart rate. Can be fatal.
Other toxic garden plants include wisteria, foxglove, larkspur and delphinium, morning glory, sweet pea, tomato and potato plants (the green parts), onions, garlic and chives, oregano (mildly toxic), poppies and tobacco.
Important: even if your cat never goes outside, it can still come into contact with dangerous plants through the bouquets and flower arrangements you bring home.
Toxic Flowers in Bouquets
When you bring home a beautiful bouquet, remember that not all flowers are safe for cats:
- Lilies (Easter lilies, tiger lilies, Asiatic lilies, Stargazer lilies, Oriental lilies and daylilies) are deadly to cats, even in tiny amounts. Never bring them into a home with a cat. Ask your florist to leave them out of any arrangement.
- Hyacinths cause vomiting and diarrhea.
- Gladiolus can cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhea.
- Calla lilies contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause mouth swelling, drooling and vomiting.
- Lily of the valley contains heart toxins.
- Daffodils cause severe vomiting and abdominal pain.
- Chrysanthemums cause vomiting, diarrhea and incoordination.
- Tulips cause vomiting and drooling.
- Carnations can cause mild stomach upset and skin irritation.
Important: don’t let your cat drink water from a vase! Flower food and preservatives added to the water can upset your cat’s stomach, and lily water is toxic.
Toxic Wild Plants and Herbs
In your yard, at a vacation home or out in the countryside, your cat may come across many plants that are toxic to it:
- St. John’s wort can cause skin sensitivity to sunlight and skin irritation.
- Horse chestnut (buckeye): the seeds, leaves and bark cause vomiting, diarrhea and, in large amounts, nervous system problems.
- Buttercups irritate the mouth and cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Tansy contains strong essential oils and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and, in large amounts, seizures.
- Pasque flower irritates the mouth and skin.
- Greater celandine contains alkaloids and causes vomiting, drooling and, in large amounts, more serious poisoning.
- Foxtails and grass awns aren’t poisonous, but their seeds can get stuck in the ears, eyes, nose, paws and throat.
Which Cats Are Most at Risk?
Most adult cats are fussy eaters and don’t usually chew on unfamiliar plants, but some cats are more likely to be poisoned:
- young, curious cats;
- kittens, which explore the world with their mouths;
- bored indoor cats;
- cats that go outside, which may swallow bits of plants or pollen while grooming their fur afterward.
Prevention and First Aid
The most effective prevention is to make sure your cat never comes into contact with a dangerous plant. Avoid toxic houseplants, choose cat-safe plants for your garden and choose flowers for bouquets carefully. If that’s not possible, keep dangerous plants in rooms your cat can’t enter, or in hanging planters out of reach. Remember that cats are excellent climbers and jumpers: a high shelf isn’t always out of reach.
How to Stop Your Cat from Chewing Plants
These simple tips can help curb your cat’s interest in plants:
- Put fresh citrus peel around the base of the plant. Most cats dislike the smell. Never use citrus essential oils, which are toxic to cats.
- Use double-sided tape. Cats dislike sticky surfaces, so wrap the pots with it, or stick it along the windowsill.
- Cover the soil with large pebbles, pine cones or a mesh cover, so your cat can’t dig.
- Use a cat-safe deterrent spray from the pet store on the pots or nearby surfaces (not on the plant itself unless the label says so).
- Grow your cat its own cat grass (oat, wheat or barley grass) or catnip. This gives it a safe alternative to chew on. Reward your cat when it nibbles its own grass instead of your plants.
- Don’t scold, yell at or spray your cat. Instead, calmly move it away from the plant and redirect it to a toy or its cat grass.
- Feed your cat a complete and balanced diet.
- Don’t let your cat get bored: give it toys, play sessions, cat trees, tunnels and window perches.
What to Do If Your Cat Eats a Poisonous Plant
- If you see your cat eating a dangerous plant, or notice signs of poisoning, such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, pawing at the mouth, rapid breathing, lethargy, not eating or peeing more or less than usual, call your vet or an animal poison hotline immediately.
- Remove any plant material from your cat’s mouth and fur, and keep it away from the plant.
- Tell the vet the name of the plant. Take a photo of it, or bring a piece of the plant or its label with you. This will help the vet make a diagnosis and choose the right treatment.
- Don’t try to make your cat vomit at home. Don’t give salt water, hydrogen peroxide, milk or any medication unless your vet tells you to. Salt water can cause dangerous salt poisoning, and hydrogen peroxide can severely damage a cat’s stomach. If your cat needs to vomit, your vet will give it a safe medication.
- Don’t wait for symptoms. With lilies and some other plants, the damage can start before your cat shows any signs, and early treatment saves lives.
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