Is Bamboo toxic to cats?
True bamboo is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists Phyllostachys aurea as safe — but the plant sold as 'lucky bamboo' is a different, toxic plant (a Dracaena), not a real bamboo.
- TOXINnone — no toxic principles on record
- WHAT TO EXPECTno symptoms on record
- CALL THE VETSee a vet if unusual or persistent symptoms follow ingestion.
Nothing to do — really
Care at a glance
FAQ
Is lucky bamboo a real bamboo?
No. Lucky bamboo is Dracaena sanderiana — a Dracaena, not a bamboo — and unlike true bamboo it is toxic to cats. The ASPCA lists Dracaena species as toxic, with signs of "vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats)." True bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) is non-toxic per the ASPCA. If the plant in question is a stalk grown in water or pebbles, it's almost certainly lucky bamboo — check our dracaena entry and watch for vomiting or a wobbly gait.
Are bamboo leaves safe for cats, or only the canes?
All of it — leaves included — as long as it is true bamboo. The ASPCA lists Phyllostachys aurea (golden bamboo, fishpole bamboo) as non-toxic to cats, with no toxic principle and no toxic part on record, so there is nothing that makes a leaf different from a cane. The catch is identification, not the plant: a stalk growing in water or pebbles is "lucky bamboo," which is Dracaena sanderiana and is toxic to cats. Check that first; if it is true bamboo, chewed leaves need no action.
Is lucky bamboo safe for dogs?
No — and it is not a bamboo. Lucky bamboo is Dracaena sanderiana, and Pet Poison Helpline lists Lucky Bamboo among the alternate names on its Dracaena entry. The ASPCA lists Dracaena species as "Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats," and Pet Poison Helpline says: "Ingestion by companion animals causes drooling and vomiting." True bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea, is a different plant, which the ASPCA lists as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses." If the stalk is growing in water or pebbles, treat it as lucky bamboo: move it out of reach, watch for vomiting or drooling, and call your vet if either appears.
Are bamboo leaves safe for dogs, or only the canes?
All of it — leaves included — as long as it is true bamboo. The ASPCA lists Phyllostachys aurea (golden bamboo, fishpole bamboo) as "Non-Toxic to Dogs," with no toxic principle and no toxic part on record, so there is nothing that makes a leaf different from a cane. The catch is identification, not the plant: a stalk growing in water or pebbles is lucky bamboo, which is Dracaena sanderiana and is toxic to dogs. Check that first; if it is true bamboo, chewed leaves need no action.