Is Brunfelsia toxic to cats?
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.
- TOXINbrunfelsamidine, hopeanine
- WHAT TO EXPECTtremors; seizures (for several days); vomiting
- CALL THE VETCall your vet promptly after any ingestion; go immediately if you see tremors, stumbling, unusual agitation, or a seizure.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| tremors |
| seizures (for several days) |
| vomiting |
| diarrhea |
| hypersalivation |
| lethargy |
| incoordination |
| anxious behavior |
| coughing |
If your cat just ate it
Safe swaps, graded S0
Graded S0 for cats. Same-shape matches are coming as the index grows.
Care at a glance
FAQ
Is Paraguayan jasmine a real jasmine — and is it safe like jasmine is?
No on both counts. Paraguayan jasmine is a Brunfelsia, a shrub in the nightshade family, also sold as yesterday-today-and-tomorrow or lady of the night; true jasmine is the genus Jasminum, which the ASPCA lists as non-toxic and we grade S0 on our jasmine page. The Brunfelsia record is the opposite: the ASPCA lists the toxin brunfelsamidine and the signs "Tremors, seizures (for several days), diarrhea, vomiting, hypersalivation, lethargy, incoordination, coughing," and Pet Poison Helpline adds that the toxins are "found in all parts of the plant" and that "Prompt veterinary attention is required." That is an S3 Toxic record. If a cat has chewed any part of a Brunfelsia, call your vet right away, and go immediately if you see tremors, stumbling, or a seizure.
What happens if a cat eats Brunfelsia?
The nervous system is the target, and the signs can last. The ASPCA's record reads "Tremors, seizures (for several days), diarrhea, vomiting, hypersalivation, lethargy, incoordination, coughing." Pet Poison Helpline explains why: the plant carries two toxins "found in all parts of the plant," a stimulant (brunfelsamidine) and a depressant (hopeanine), and lists "vomiting, anxious behavior, coordination problems, tremors and seizures." Its instruction is unambiguous: "Prompt veterinary attention is required." Neither source gives a timeline for onset, so do not wait to see how it develops. Call your vet right away after any ingestion, and go immediately if you see tremors, stumbling, unusual agitation, or a seizure.
Are yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, lady of the night, and Brunfelsia all the same plant?
Yes — one plant, one record, many labels. The ASPCA has six separate entries that all point to "Brunfelsia species" and repeat the same text word for word: Brunfelsia; Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow; Lady-of-the-Night; Morning-Noon-and-Night; Franciscan Rain Tree; and Paraguayan Jasmine. Kiss-Me-Quick appears as an alias on all of them. Pet Poison Helpline files it under "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow." Whatever the tag says, the record is the same: "Tremors, seizures (for several days), diarrhea, vomiting, hypersalivation, lethargy, incoordination, coughing" — S3 Toxic. If a pet has chewed any plant sold under these names, call your vet right away, and go immediately if you see tremors, stumbling, or a seizure.