175 Plants Toxic for Cats – Full List (Avoid Them at Home)
Have you ever caught your cat chomping on your plants? It may look cute but there is a possibility that your kitty may experience poisoning from eating or touching plants. The real dilemma comes from knowing which plants are toxic for cats.
More than 100 plants are known to be toxic to cats. The most common are: onions, aloe, jade, pothos, borage, lavender, oregano, foxglove, irises, and yucca. However, toxic plants do not necessarily cause severe illness or death for cats unless consumed in large amounts. Nevertheless, this is a very unlikely case.
The majority of toxic plants cause only mild and moderate side effects, like contact dermatitis and stomach upset. However, some plants can be dangerous for cats.
Below is a table containing the full list of very toxic plants for cats.
| Plant Categories | Highly Toxic Plants for Cats |
| Houseplants | Aloe Vera American Evergreen Asparagus Fern Australian Ivy Palms Caladiums Cardboard Palms Chinese Evergreens Desert Roses Dracaenas Dumbcanes Elephant Ears English Ivy Eucalyptus Geranium Aralia Golden Pothos Jade Plants Kalanchoes Ornamental Pencil Cactus Philodendrons Piedmont Roseling Ragworts Sago Palms Satin Pothos Split-Leaf Philodendron String of Pearls Tahitian Bridal Veil Taro Ti Plant Wandering Jews Wood Sorrels ZZ Plant |
| Herbs | Borage Buckwheat Caraway Catnip Chives Common Chamomile Epazote Feverfew Indian Borage Jerusalem Oak Lavender Lemon Grass Lemon Verbena Lovage Marjoram Meadow Saffrons Mints Mugworts Nasturtium Oregano Parsley Poison Hemlock Spring Parsley St. John’s Wort Wild Tarragon |
| Flowering Plants | Aconites Amaryllis Arums Azaleas Balloon Plant Baneberries Begonias Bird of Paradise Flower Bishop’s Weed Black Hellebore Bleeding Hearts Buttercups Calla Lilies Cardinal Flower Carnations and Pinks Carolina Horse Nettle Castor Bean Cherry Blossoms Chrysanthemums Clematis Clivia Lilies Common Poppy Cow Parsnip Crown of Thorns Daffodils Dahlia Daphnes Daylilies Death Camas Delphiniums Dogbanes Eclipta Flamingo Flower Fleabane Foxglove Geraniums Gloriosa Lily Hippeastrums Hosta Hyacinths Hydrangeas Irises Jack in the Pulpit Laurels Lilies Lily of the Valley Madagascar Periwinkle Marijuana Mayapple Milkweeds Morning Glories Ornamental Onions Peace Lily Peonies Poinsettia Primroses Rain Lily Ranger’s Buttons Skunk Cabbage Small’s Ragwort Sowbreads Sweet Pea Sword Lilies Tulips Water Hemlock Yarrow |
| Fruiting Plants | Apple Apricot Calamondin Cherries Figs Grapefruit Hardy Orange Key Lime Lemon Nectarine/Peach Plums Seville Orange Sweet Orange |
| Vegetable-Bearing Plants | Eggplants Garlic Leek Onions Potatoes Purslane Rhubarb Sorrels Tomatoes |
| Vines, Shrubs, and Trees | American Bittersweet American Mistletoe Angelica Tree Barbados Pride Boxwoods Brunfelsias Buckeyes Buddhist Pine Burning Bushes Cape Jasmine Cherry Trees Chinaberry Doghobbles Florida Hobble Bush Heavenly Bamboo Hollies Japanese Pieris Lantanas Locusts Maleberries Nightshades Oleander Rosary Pea Sweet Bay Tree Tobacco Wax-Leaf Privets Wisterias Yellow Oleander Yews Yuccas |
If a cat ingests or comes into contact with one of the plants above, immediately consult a veterinarian.
There’s another issue with identifying toxic from non-toxic plants. Many different plants look the same and have similar common names. Go through all the 175 toxic plants listed here to ensure your feline friend’s safety!
(Do note that we excluded mushrooms and other fungi from this list.)
Can You Easily Tell Toxic Plants for Cats From Non-Toxic Ones?
Unfortunately, it can be challenging to tell apart plants that are non-toxic from those that are toxic to cats. Again, the problem with identifying toxic plants is typically due to similar appearances and names of various plants.
But don’t worry! After finishing this article, you will be familiar with all the toxic plants for cats that have been recognized by experts.
In the succeeding sections, you will learn about the following plants that are toxic to cats:
- 32 houseplants
- 25 herbs
- 66 flowering plants
- 13 fruiting plants
- 9 vegetable-bearing plants
- 30 vines, shrubs, and trees
Keep in mind that even non-toxic plants can pose a risk to cats. For example, thorny plants could wound them. Ingestion of non-toxic plants could also induce gastrointestinal issues (e.g., indigestion) and result in choking for cats.
32 Houseplants Toxic to Cats
Unfortunately, many of our favorite houseplants are actually dangerous for our furry feline friends. Though most of the toxic houseplants listed below, such as Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus), are only mildly and/or moderately toxic, a few can lead to fatal consequences.
More specifically, most of these toxic houseplants normally only cause mild and brief cases of skin irritation or induce vomiting.
One of the most dangerous houseplants for cats is the Elephant Ear (Alocasia spp.). It can trigger severe skin irritation after contact. Deaths have also been documented for cats that have consumed large amounts of it.
Here is the full list of toxic houseplants, their botanical names, and their corresponding toxicities:
- Aloe Vera (Aloe vera)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Anthraquinone glycoside
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, stomach cramps, diarrhea, red urine
- American Evergreen (Syngonium podophyllum)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Calcium oxalate crystals
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting
- Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Saponins
- Parts: Fruit, sap
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea
- Australian Ivy Palms (Schefflera spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates, saponins, terpenoids
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, intestinal issues, seizures, coma, death
- Caladiums (Caladium spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, death
- Cardboard Palms (Zamia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: B-methylamino-l-alanine, cycasin, neurotoxin
- Parts: Seeds
- Effects: Thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, liver failure, death
- Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, foaming, vomiting
- Desert Roses (Adenium spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Cardiac glycosides
- Parts: Sap, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, arrhythmia, death
- Dracaenas (Dracaena spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Saponins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Dilated pupils, drooling, vomiting, depression, anorexia
- Dumbcanes (Dieffenbachia spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Asparagine, insoluble oxalates, oxalic acid, proteolytic enzyme
- Parts: Stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, eye issues, oral irritation, difficulty breathing, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting
- Elephant Ears (Alocasia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates, proteins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, eye issues, nausea, oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, death
- English Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Polyacetylene compounds, triterpenoid saponins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, stupor, convulsions
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Cyanogenic glycoside, eucalyptol, eucalyptus oil
- Parts: Leaves, sap, bark
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, depression, coma
- Geranium Aralia (Polyscias guilfoylei)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Saponin
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, depression, anorexia
- Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea
- Jade Plants (Crassula spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, depression, anorexia, tremors, weakness incoordination, drunkenness, slow heartbeat
- Kalanchoes (Kalanchoe spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Bufodienolides
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, arrhythmia
- Ornamental Figs (Ficus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Ficin, ficusin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, intestinal issues
- Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Diterpene esters
- Parts: Stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, stomach upset, vomiting, nausea
- Philodendrons (Philodendron spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea
- Piedmont Roseling (Callisia rosea)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Fruit
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation
- Ragworts (Senecio spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, depression, liver problems
- Sago Palms (Cycas spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Cycasin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, bruising, nosebleeds, bloody stool, liver failure, weakness, seizures, death
- Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea
- Split-Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates, unknown toxins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea
- String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, depression, diarrhea, liver problems
- Tahitian Bridal Veil (Gibasis pellucida)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, intestinal issues
- Taro (Colocasia esculenta)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting
- Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Saponins
- Parts: Fruits, sap, roots
- Effects: Dilated pupils, drooling, vomiting, depression, anorexia
- Wandering Jews (Tradescantia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Leaves, sap
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, stomach pain
- Wood Sorrels (Oxalis spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Calcium oxylates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Tremors, cramps, incoordination
- ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Calcium Oxalate
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea
25 Herbs Toxic to Cats
Herb gardens are undeniably both appealing and practical. Whether you have a large outdoor plot for it or a mini kitchen garden, your cats are likely going to take interest in them. But be warned, even common culinary and medicinal herbs can be poisonous to cats.
For the most part, herbs are only mildly toxic to cats. Interestingly, Catnip (Carum carvi) also falls under this category, acting as either a sedative or stimulant.
Want to grow it at home? Check our our care guide for catnip!
One of the most poisonous herbs for cats is Meadow Saffron (Colchicum spp.). If ingested, it can cause respiratory failure and severe organ damage in cats.
Here is the full list of toxic herbs, their botanical names, and their corresponding toxicities:
- Borage (Borago officinalis)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Mucilage, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, tannins
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea
- Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Fagopyrin
- Parts: Fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis
- Caraway (Carum carvi)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Carvone, limonene
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea
- Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Nepetalactone
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, overstimulation
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: N-propyl disulfide
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, panting, rapid heartbeat, weakness, anemia, bloody urine
- Common Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Anthemic acid, bisabolol, chamazulene, tannic acid
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, bleeding
- Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Limonene, p-cymene, terpene peroxide ascaridole
- Parts: Seeds
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, nausea, incoordination, arrhythmia, convulsions, coma
- Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Parthenin
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis
- Indian Borage (Plectranthus amboinicus)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils
- Parts: Stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression
- Jerusalem Oak (Dysphania botrys)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Sesquiterpene lactones
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, anorexia, depression
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Linalyl acetate, linlool
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, anorexia, nausea
- Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils, cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Stomach upset
- Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citriodora)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Stomach upset
- Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Phthalide lactones
- Parts: Stems, leaves
- Effects: Urination, depression
- Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Gastrointestinal irritants
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea
- Meadow Saffrons (Colchicum spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Alkaloid colchicine
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea, high blood pressure, shock, seizures, organ damage, respiratory failure, death
- Mints (Mentha spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea
- Mugworts (Artemisia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Thujone
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, brain damage
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Gastrointestinal irritants
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils, gastrointestinal irritants
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Furanocoumarins
- Parts: Stems, leaves
- Effects: Photosensitization
- Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Alkaloids, coniine
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Pupil dilation, salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, agitation, weakness, paralysis, death
- Spring Parsley (Cymopterus watsonii)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Furanocoumarins
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Photosensitization
- St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Hypericin
- Parts: Fruits, flowers
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, photosensitization, skin ulcers
- Wild Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Estragole, furanocoumarin, methyl eugenol, and thujone
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Dilated pupils, contact dermatitis, salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, stimulation, incoordination, coma
66 Flowering Plants Toxic to Cats
Flowering plants are definitely a mainstay in indoor and outdoor gardens because of their gorgeous and vibrant blooms. However, not all beautiful things are safe for our cute furballs.
On average, toxic flowering plants are moderately poisonous for cats. For example, your cat could simply get diarrhea after eating Clivia Lilies (Clivia spp.).
Lillies (Lilium spp.) are among the most poisonous flowering plants for cats. The ingestion of it could lead to serious kidney problems which will likely result in a cat’s death.
Here is the full list of toxic flowering plants, their botanical names, and their corresponding toxicities:
- Aconites (Aconitum spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Aconitine, alkaloids
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, spasms, respiratory failure, convulsions, death
- Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Alkaloids, lycorine
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Salivation, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, tremors
- Arums (Arum spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Calcium oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, difficulty in breathing, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, nausea, death
- Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Andromedotoxin, grayantoxin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Teary eyes, runny nose, difficulty in breathing, salivation, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea, depression, nausea, weakness, paralysis, heart failure, coma
- Balloon Plant (Gomphocarpus physocarpa)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Latex
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Dilated pupils, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, weakness, seizures, organ failure, respiratory issues, death
- Baneberries (Actaea spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Essential oil, glycoside, protoanemonin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Oral irritation, salivation, stomach pains, diarrhea, headaches, death
- Begonias (Begonia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Calcium oxalates
- Parts: Roots
- Effects: Salivation, vomiting
- Bird of Paradise Flower (Strelitzia reginae)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Gastrointestinal irritants
- Parts: Seeds, fruits
- Effects: Vomiting, nausea, sleepiness
- Bishop’s Weed (Ammi majus)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Photosensitization
- Black Hellebore (Helleborus niger)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Cardiac glycosides, protoanemonin, saponins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, salivation, drooling, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea, depression
- Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Isoquinolone alkaloids
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, incoordination, convulsions
- Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Protoanemonin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, incoordination
- Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea, death
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Lobelamine, lobeline
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, depression, arrhythmia
- Carnations and Pinks (Dianthus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Triterpenoid saponins
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, stomach upset
- Carolina Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Solanine
- Parts: Fruits, flowers, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Salivation, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, respiratory depression, sleepiness, coma, death
- Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Ricin, ricinine
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, leaves, sap
- Effects: Thirst, oral irritation, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, kidney failure, weakness, tremors, incoordination, convulsions, coma, death
- Cherry Blossoms (Prunus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Amygdalin, cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Seeds, stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, weakness, spasms, convulsions, shock, respiratory failure, coma, death
- Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Alantolactone, guaianolide, pyrethrins
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination
- Clematis (Clematis spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Protoanemonin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, death
- Clivia Lilies (Clivia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Lycorine
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, tremors, arrhythmia, convulsions
- Common Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Alkaloids, morphine, latex
- Parts: Fruits, sap
- Effects: Difficulty breathing, respiratory failure, heart failure, coma, death
- Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Furanocoumarins
- Parts: Sap
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, photosensitization
- Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Diterpene esters
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea
- Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Calcium oxalates, lycorine
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, tremors, convulsions, arrhythmia, death
- Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Phototoxic polyacetylenes
- Parts: Leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, gastrointestinal issues
- Daphnes (Daphne spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, thirst, oral irritation, difficulting in swallowing, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, internal bleeding, coma, death
- Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, anorexia, depression, kidney failure, death
- Death Camas (Zigadenus spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Zygacine
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Teary eyes, salivation, vomiting, urination, defecation, stomach upset, tremors, weakness, convulsions, coma, death
- Delphiniums (Delphinium spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Ajacine, diterpene alkaloids, delphinine
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, tremors, weakness paralysis, convulsions, respiratory failure, heart failure, death
- Dogbanes (Apocynum spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Cardiac glycosides, resins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, slow heartbeat
- Eclipta (Eclipta prostrata)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Anthemic acid, bisabolol, chamazulene, tannic acid
- Parts: Stems, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia
- Flamingo Flower (Anthurium spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting
- Fleabane (Erigeron spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Sesquiterpene lactones
- Parts: Flowers, stems
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, gastrointestinal issues
- Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Cardiac glycosides
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Distorted vision, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, nausea, weakness, tremors, arrhythmia, heart failure, seizures, convulsions, death
- Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Geraniol, linalool
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, stomach upset, anorexia, depression, weakness, hypothermia
- Gloriosa Lily (Gloriosa superba)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Colchicine-related alkaloids, resins
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, thirst, oral irritation, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, organ failure, shock
- Hippeastrums (Hippeastrum spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Lycorine
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, low blood pressure, arrhythmia, convulsion
- Hosta (Hosta plataginea)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Saponins
- Parts: Flowers, leaves, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression
- Hyacinths (Hyacinthus spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Cardiac glycosides, lycorine, narcissus-like alkaloids
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, cramps, depression, tremors, slow heartbeat, death
- Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Hydrangin
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves, bark
- Effects: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, stomach pains, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, depression
- Irises (Iris spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Iridin, irisin, irisine, missouriensin, missourin, zeorin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, depression, nausea
- Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Calcium oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting
- Laurels (Kalmia spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Andromedotoxin, arbutin, grayanotoxins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Teary eyes, runny nose, salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, depression, weakness, nausea, incoordination, convulsions, paralysis, slow heartbeat, heart failure, coma, death
- Lilies (Lilium spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, anorexia, depression, kidney failure, death
- Lily of the Valley (Convallaria spp.)
- Toxicity: Low to severe
- Chemical: Convallarin, saponins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Disorientation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, weakness, low blood pressure, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, death
- Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus rosea)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Vinca alkaloids
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, low blood pressure, tremors, seizures, coma, death
- Marijuana (Cannabis sativa)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Tetrahydrocannabinol
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Dilated pupils, distorted vision, salivation, vomiting, depression, low blood pressure, incoordination, seizure, coma, death
- Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum):
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Podophyllin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, skin ulcers, difficulty in breathing, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, coma
- Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Steroidal glycosidic cardenolides, resinoids
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, dilated pupils, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, weakness, spams, organ failure, respiratory failure, coma, death
- Morning Glories (Ipomoea spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Chanoclavine, elymoclavine, lysergamide, lysergic acid
- Parts: Seeds, stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, sleepiness, nausea
- Ornamental Onions (Allium spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Sulfides
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, rapid heartbeat
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting
- Peonies (Paeonia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Paeonol
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression
- Poinsettia (Euphorbia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Diterpene esters, saponic glycoside
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains
- Primroses (Primula spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Primetin, primin
- Parts: Stems, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting
- Rain Lily (Zephyranthes atamasco)
- Toxicity: Low to severe
- Chemical: Galantine, lycorine, tazettine
- Parts: Fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, death
- Ranger’s Buttons (Angelica capitellata)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Furocoumarins
- Parts: Stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, photosensitivity
- Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Insoluble oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea
- Small’s Ragwort (Packera anonyma)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, liver issues
- Sowbreads (Cyclamen spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Terpenoid saponins
- Parts: Roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, arrhythmia, seizures, death
- Sweet Pea (Lathyrus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Amine, aminoproprionitrite, glycoside, phenol
- Parts: Seeds, fruits
- Effects: Difficulty in breathing, depression, head pressing, slow heartbeat, tremors, convulsions, seizures, paralysis, death
- Sword Lilies (Gladiolus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Leaves, roots
- Effects: Salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression
- Tulips (Tulipa spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Allergens, glycoprotein, tulipalin
- Parts: Flowers, stems, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, nausea, depression
- Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Cicutoxin, cicutol
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Dilated pupils, diarrhea, stomach pains, bloating, tremors, seizures, convulsions, respiratory failures, death
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Achilleine, alkaloids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpene lactones
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, urination, anorexia, depression
13 Fruiting Plants Toxic to Cats
Fruits are juicy and delicious, so some pet parents think that sharing and having fruiting plants around would be a great treat for cats. Despite such good intentions, fruiting plants may actually bring harm to our beloved cats.
Even though fruiting plants are by and large only mildly toxic to cats, there are still highly toxic ones as well.
On one hand, for instance, the milky sap from Figs (Ficus spp.) can cause dermatitis in cats.
Apricot stems, leaves, and/or seeds can cause serious health problems if ingested by a cat. Indeed, it is found that cats could fall into a coma after eating the stems, leaves, and seeds of an apricot (Prunus armeniaca).
Here is the full list of toxic fruiting plants, their botanical names, and their corresponding toxicities:
- Apple (Malus sylvestris)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Amygdalin, cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Seeds, stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, difficulty in breathing, tremors, shock, coma
- Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Amygdalin, cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Seeds, stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, difficulty in breathing, tremors, shock, coma
- Calamondin (Citrofortunella microcarpa)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils, psoralens
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, photosensitization, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, depression
- Cherries (Prunus spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Amygdalin, cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Seeds, stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, weakness, spasms, convulsions, shock, respiratory failure, coma, death
- Figs (Ficus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Ficin, ficusin
- Parts: Seeds, fruits
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, intestinal issues
- Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils, psoralens
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, photosensitization, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, depression
- Hardy Orange (Citrus trifoliata)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils, psoralens, saponic glycoside
- Parts: Fruits, flowers, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, photosensitization, diarrhea, depression
- Key Lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils, psoralens
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, depression
- Lemon (Citrus x limon)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Citral, d-limonene, geraniol, psoralens
- Parts: Fruits, flowers, leaves, sap
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal issues, depression
- Nectarine and Peach (Prunus persica)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Amygdalin, cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Seeds, stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, weakness, stimulation, spasms, convulsions, shock, respiratory failure, coma, death
- Plums (Prunus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Amygdalin, cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Seeds, stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, weakness, spasms, convulsions, shock, respiratory failure, coma, death
- Seville Orange (Citrus x aurantium):
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils, psoralens
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Photosensitization, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal issues, depression
- Sweet Orange (Citrus x sinensis)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Citral, d-limonene, geraniol, psoralens
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, depression
9 Vegetable-Bearing Plants Toxic to Cats
Nowadays, many people dream of living a sustainable life. To do that, one must have a vegetable garden. Unfortunately, some vegetable-bearing plants may also come with dangers for our lovely and curious cats.
Vegetables could be mildly, moderately, or highly toxic for your cats. If your cats decide to chomp on Purslane (Portulaca oleracea), they will most likely only experience salivation.
Eggplants are an example of highly dangerous fruit-bearing plants for cats. If eaten in large amounts, this can cause irregular heartbeats—arrhythmia—which can be fatal.
Here is the full list of toxic vegetable-bearing plants, their botanical names, and their corresponding toxicities:
- Eggplants (Solanum melongena)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Alkaloids, solanine
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Oral irritation, vomiting, nausea, arrhythmia, death
- Garlic (Allium sativum)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Diallyl disulfide, N-propyl disulfide
- Parts: Fruits, flowers, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, bloody urine, anemia, weakness, rapid heartbeat
- Leek (Allium ampeloprasum)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: N-propyl disulfide
- Parts: Flowers, leaves, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, bloody urine, anemia, weakness, rapid heartbeat
- Onions (Allium spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: N-propyl disulfide
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody urine, anemia, nausea, weakness, rapid heartbeat
- Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Alkaloids, solanine
- Parts: Fruits, stems, leaves, roots
- Effects: Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, weakness, sleepiness, respiratory failure, death
- Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Calcium oxalates
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody urine, gastrointestinal issues, kidney failure, renal problems, weakness, depression, tremors
- Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Anthraquinone glycosides, calcium oxalates
- Parts: Leaves, roots
- Effects: Oral irritation, salivation, vomiting, stomach pains, nausea, weakness, tremors, kidney failure, coma
- Sorrels (Rumex spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Calcium oxalates
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, salivation, vomiting, anorexia, depression, stomach pains, nausea, tremors, slow heartbeat, kidney failure, renal problems
- Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Solanine, tomatine
- Parts: Stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, gastrointestinal issues, weakness, respiratory failure, heart failure
30 Vines, Shrubs, and Trees That are Toxic to Cats
Giving your cats supervised and leashed adventures in the great outdoors is definitely going to benefit not only your cat but you as well. Sadly, a lot of seemingly harmless vines, shrubs, and trees could actually be quite toxic for our cute kitties.
As with the previous poisonous plants, the listed vines, shrubs, and trees have varying degrees of toxicity to cats. On one hand, Hollies (Ilex spp.) only cause vomiting and/or diarrhea in cats.
Oleander is a very highly toxic plant for cats. It could cause a large variety of problems, ranging from bloody diarrhea to even death in cats.
Here is the full list of toxic vines, shrubs, and trees, their botanical names, and their corresponding toxicities:
- American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Alkaloids, cardenolides
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, seizures, coma
- American Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Amine, lectins, toxalbumin, phoratoxins
- Parts: Fruits
- Effects: Diffilutcy in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat
- Angelica Tree (Aralia spinosa)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Araliin
- Parts: Fruits, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, oral irritation, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea
- Barbados Pride (Erythrostemon gilliesii)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Hydrocyanic acid
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Oral irritation, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination
- Boxwoods (Buxus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Steroidal alkaloids
- Parts: Leaves, bark
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea
- Brunfelsias (Brunfelsia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Brunfelsamidine
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Coughing, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, incoordination. tremors, seizures
- Buckeyes (Aesculus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Aesculin, alkaloids, esculin, saponins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, stimulation, weakness, incoordination, convulsions, paralysis, coma, death
- Buddhist Pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Unknown
- Parts: Seeds
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea
- Burning Bushes (Euonymus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Alkaloids, cardenolides
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, weakness, arrhythmia, convulsions, coma
- Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Gardenoside, genioposide
- Parts: Flowers, stems, leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset
- Cherry Trees (Prunus spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Amygdalin, cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Seeds, stems, leaves
- Effects: Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, weakness, spasms, convulsions, shock, respiratory failure, coma, death
- Chinaberry (Melia azedarach)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Tetranortriterpenes
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Difficulty in breathing, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, depression, weakness, seizures, paralysis
- Doghobbles (Leucothoe spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Andromedotoxin, grayanotoxins
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Runny nose, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, nausea, depression, weakness, low blood pressure, paralysis, coma, death
- Florida Hobble Bush (Agarista populifolia)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Andromedotoxin
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Teary eyes, runny nose, salivation, vomiting, stomach pains, nausea, weakness, convulsions
- Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Cyanogenic glycosides
- Parts: Fruits
- Effects: Weakness, incoordination, seizures, respiratory failure, coma, death
- Hollies (Ilex spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Saponins
- Parts: Seeds, leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness, low blood pressure, death
- Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Andromedotoxin, grayanotoxins
- Parts: Flowers, leaves. sap
- Effects: Teary eyes, runny nose, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, depression, weakness, convulsions, heart failure, death
- Lantanas (Lantana spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate
- Chemical: Pentacyclic triterpenoids, triterpenes
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, dilated pupils, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, liver failure
- Locusts (Robinia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Phasin, robin, robinine, robitin
- Parts: Seeds, leaves, bark
- Effects: Difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, weakness, shock, death
- Maleberries (Lyonia spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Andromedotoxin, arbutin, glucoside, grayanotoxins, resinoid
- Parts: Flowers, leaves, sap
- Effects: Teary eyes, runny nose, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, stomach pains, depression, weakness, nausea, incoordination, low blood pressure, convulsions, paralysis, coma, heart failure, death
- Nightshades (Solanum spp.)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Alkaloids, atropine-like substances, saponins, solanine
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Dilated pupils, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, anorexia, depression, sleepiness, nausea, weakness, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat, respiratory failure, seizures, coma, death
- Oleander (Nerium oleander)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Nerioside, oleandroside, saponins
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Contact dermatitis, pupil dilation, drooling, diarrhea, stomach pains, depression, sleepiness, slow heartbeat, arrhythmia, death
- Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Abric acid, abrin
- Parts: Seeds
- Effects: Oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, rapid heartbeat, tremors, shock, death
- Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis)
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Essential oils, eugenol
- Parts: Leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, impaction
- Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)
- Toxicity: Severe
- Chemical: Nicotine
- Parts: Flowers, leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, overstimulation, incoordination, slow heartbeat, paralysis, death
- Wax-Leaf Privets (Ligustrum spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Protoanemonin, saponins shikimic acid, syringin
- Parts: Fruits, leaves
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, nausea, weakness, incoordination, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, death
- Wisterias (Wisteria spp.)
- Toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Chemical: Lectin, wisterin glycoside, resin
- Parts: Seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, sap, bark, roots
- Effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, depression, nausea
- Yellow Oleander (Cascabela thevetia)
- Toxicity: Mild to severe
- Chemical: Unkown
- Parts: Sap
- Effects: Contact dermatitis
- Yews (Taxus spp.)
- Toxicity: Moderate to severe
- Chemical: Taxine
- Parts: Seeds, fruits, leaves, bark
- Effects: Pupil dilation, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, weakness, tremors, seizures, convulsions, slow heartbeat, heart failure, death
- Yuccas (Yucca spp.):
- Toxicity: Mild
- Chemical: Saponins
- Parts: Roots
- Effects: Vomiting
FAQs
What is cat grass?
This term identifies a variety of grass that are known to attract cats and are generally safe for them to eat. Normally, this is a mixture of barley, oat, rye, and/or wheat.
Why do cats eat grass?
Expert veterinarians theorize that cats mainly eat cat grass for its fiber content. This may be helpful as a mild laxative and can also trigger vomiting to eliminate indigestible food and non-food items they may have consumed—deliberately or accidentally.
Can the severity of a plant’s toxicity on cats be affected by its age?
Yes, kittens are more likely to experience plant toxicity compared to adult cats. This is primarily due to their smaller size. In effect, kittens are more likely to experience acute effects for the same amount of toxins ingested. However, severe symptoms for young cats could prove fatal for older cats.
Are cats able to distinguish between toxic and non-toxic plants?
Wild cats can distinguish between toxic and non-toxic plants. However, domesticated cats generally cannot tell the difference between the two. Unless the plants readily give off aromatics or have a distinctly bitter taste that naturally repels cats, they will not get away from a plant.
Is it possible for cats to still experience issues after eating safe plants?
Yes, cats can still have negative experiences as a result of eating generally safe and non-toxic plants. In such cases, they are mostly due to gastrointestinal blockage. Cats may also choke on big seeds or pits. Moreover, some non-toxic plants may still have physical defense mechanisms like thorns.
Summary of Plants Toxic for Cats
When selecting which plants to add to your home, make sure that they are not known to be toxic to cats. Though some are only mildly toxic, it is still recommended for pet owners to prevent their cats from having any access to toxic plants—regardless of whether they are placed indoors or outdoors.
The severity in which a problematic plant will adversely affect cats varies greatly. On one end, it could only cause a mild and temporary case of dermatitis. But some plants can trigger toxic reactions and—in extreme and rare cases—long-lasting permanent damage to the animal and even death.
Keep in mind that simple exposure to toxic plants rarely ever poisons cats significantly. Poisoning will only result from 1) prolonged direct contact and 2) substantial ingestion of a toxic plant or specific parts of it. Nevertheless, veterinarians should be contacted if poisoning is suspected in cats.
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Sources
- “Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List – Cats” by n/a in American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- “North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox” by n/a in N.C. Cooperative Extension
- “Plants Poisonous to Livestock and other Animals” by n/a in Cornell of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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