Is this plant safe for my cat?
Every grade below is transcribed from ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline records and reviewed before publication. If it is on the red list, it does not belong in a home with a cat.
S4 · EMERGENCY Any amount can kill — any contact, go to a vet now
- Azalea Rhododendron spp.
Azaleas and rhododendrons are life-threatening to cats (S4 Emergency): the grayanotoxins in every part of the plant can cause vomiting, weakness, low blood pressure, coma, cardiovascular collapse, and death, and the ASPCA warns that eating only a few leaves can cause serious problems.
- Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium, also sold as yellow jessamine or Carolina jasmine) is life-threatening to cats (S4 Emergency): Pet Poison Helpline records that all parts of the vine contain neurotoxins that can cause muscle weakness, paralysis, slowed breathing, seizures, and death — it is not a true jasmine.
- Daylily Hemerocallis spp.
Daylily plants of the Hemerocallis genus are life-threatening to cats (S4 Emergency): any amount of leaf, stem, flower, pollen, or even vase water can cause acute kidney failure, and death is possible without early treatment — the same danger as true lilies, in a different genus.
- Desert Rose Adenium obesum
Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) is toxic to cats (S4 Emergency): the ASPCA records vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, irregular heart beat, and death.
- Lily Lilium spp.
Lily plants of the Lilium genus are life-threatening to cats (S4 Emergency): any amount of leaf, stem, flower, pollen, or even vase water can cause acute kidney failure, and death is possible without early treatment.
- Sago Palm Cycas revoluta
Sago palm is life-threatening to cats (S4 Emergency): every part of the plant — the seeds most of all — contains cycasin, and any amount can cause liver failure and death, with symptoms sometimes delayed for hours.
S3 · TOXIC Serious poisoning — call your vet after any chew
- Amaryllis Amaryllis spp.
Amaryllis is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): its lycorine and related alkaloids cause vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, and tremors, and larger doses can bring seizures, a drop in blood pressure, and depressed breathing — despite names like belladonna lily, it is not a true lily.
- Brunfelsia Brunfelsia spp.
Brunfelsia — sold as yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, lady of the night, or Paraguayan jasmine — is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): every part contains brunfelsamidine and hopeanine, which cause vomiting, tremors, loss of coordination, and seizures that can last for several days; it is not a true jasmine.
- Cyclamen Cyclamen spp.
Cyclamen is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): its terpenoid saponins cause drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea from the leaves and flowers, but the tuber is the danger — a large amount of tuber can cause heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, and death.
- Daffodil Narcissus spp.
Daffodils are seriously toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): their lycorine and other alkaloids cause vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea, large ingestions can trigger convulsions and cardiac arrhythmias — and the bulb is the most poisonous part.
- Dieffenbachia Dieffenbachia spp.
Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia spp.) is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): insoluble calcium oxalates cause mouth and throat irritation, and Pet Poison Helpline says death has rarely been reported with ingestion of Dieffenbachia plants.
- Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis
Hyacinths are seriously toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): their narcissus-like alkaloids can cause intense vomiting, bloody diarrhea, depression, and tremors — and the toxin is most concentrated in the bulb.
- Kalanchoe Kalanchoe spp.
Kalanchoe is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): its bufadienolides are heart toxins; eating it most often causes vomiting and diarrhea, the ASPCA lists abnormal heart rhythm (rare), and Pet Poison Helpline warns that if a large enough amount is ingested, changes in heart rate and rhythm, weakness, and collapse are possible.
- Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis, not a true lily) is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): its cardenolides are heart toxins, and the signs on record include vomiting, an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, weakness, disorientation, seizures, and coma.
- Mistletoe Phoradendron flavescens
American mistletoe is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): its lectins and phoratoxins cause vomiting and diarrhea, and larger amounts can slow the heart, drop blood pressure, and make breathing difficult — a holiday sprig with berries needs to stay out of reach, not just out of sight.
- Shamrock Oxalis spp.
Shamrock (Oxalis) is toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): a small bite causes immediate mouth pain and stomach upset from its soluble calcium oxalates, and the ASPCA lists kidney failure as rare in dogs/cats, possible if significant amounts are eaten — Pet Poison Helpline adds that when large enough quantities are ingested, neurologic signs and kidney injury can follow.
- Tomato Plant Solanum lycopersicum
Tomato plants are toxic to cats (S3 Toxic): the solanine in the leaves, stems, and green fruit can cause drooling, severe stomach upset, weakness, dilated pupils, and a slow heart rate — the ripe fruit is non-toxic on the ASPCA record.
S0 · SAFE Most common safe ones — non-toxic on record
- Orchid Phalaenopsis spp.
- Rose Rosa spp.
- Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum
- Money Tree Pachira aquatica
- Sunflower Helianthus angustifolius
- Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea
- Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
- Calathea Calathea spp.