Is Cast Iron Plant toxic to cats?
Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior, also known as bar room plant) is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists it as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses," with no toxic principle or clinical signs on record.
- TOXINnone — no toxic principles on record
- WHAT TO EXPECTno symptoms on record
- CALL THE VETSee a vet only if unusual or persistent symptoms follow ingestion.
Nothing to do — really
Care at a glance
FAQ
Is cast iron plant safe for cats?
Yes — S0 Safe. The ASPCA lists Aspidistra elatior, also known as cast iron plant, bar room plant, and iron plant, as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses," and its entry names no toxic principle and no clinical signs. If your cat has chewed a leaf, there is nothing on record to watch for; call your vet if anything unusual follows.
Cast iron plant is in the lily family — is it dangerous like lilies?
No. The ASPCA does file Aspidistra elatior under the family Liliaceae, but lists it as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses," with no toxic principle or clinical signs. The kidney danger that makes some lilies an emergency for cats belongs to true lilies of the genus Lilium and to daylilies of the genus Hemerocallis — both S4 Emergency for cats, with acute kidney failure on record; see our lily verdict and our daylily verdict — not to every plant in the same family on paper. Check the scientific name on the tag: if it reads Aspidistra elatior, this S0 verdict applies.
Is cast iron plant safe for dogs?
Yes — S0 Safe. The ASPCA's entry for Aspidistra elatior, also listed as bar room plant, iron plant, and variegated cast iron plant, reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses," with no toxic principle and no clinical signs on record. If your dog has chewed a leaf, there is nothing on record to watch for; call your vet if anything unusual follows.