Is Daffodil toxic to cats?
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.
- TOXINlycorine, other alkaloids
- WHAT TO EXPECTvomiting — may be severe, leading to profound dehydration, weakness, and shock; salivation (drooling); diarrhea
- CALL THE VETContact your vet promptly after any daffodil ingestion — immediately for bulb ingestion or if vomiting is repeated or severe, and treat convulsions, tremors, or weakness as an emergency.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| vomiting — may be severe, leading to profound dehydration, weakness, and shock |
| salivation (drooling) |
| diarrhea |
| with large ingestions: convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, cardiac arrhythmias |
If your cat just ate it
Same tabletop look, minus the risk
3 tabletop plants graded S0 — non-toxic on record.
Care at a glance
FAQ
What happens if my cat eats a daffodil?
Vomiting first, and it can be severe. The ASPCA lists "vomiting, salivation, diarrhea" and warns that "large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias"; Pet Poison Helpline records "vomiting, which may be severe, leading to profound dehydration, weakness, and shock." The toxin is lycorine, present in every part, and "bulbs are the most poisonous part" — a cat that digs up a bulb is in the worst case. Take the plant away, keep the cat from any bulbs, and call your vet promptly; go immediately if you see tremors, weakness, convulsions, or an irregular heartbeat.
Are daffodils dangerous to touch, or only to eat?
Everything on record follows eating them. The ASPCA's daffodil signs — "vomiting, salivation, diarrhea" and the large-ingestion "convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias" — and Pet Poison Helpline's "vomiting, which may be severe" are all ingestion effects; neither source describes a reaction to touching a daffodil, so we don't claim one. What we do note is that the toxin is in all parts and "bulbs are the most poisonous part," so the risk is a cat that chews a stem or digs up a bulb, not one that brushes past the flowers. Keep them out of reach and call your vet promptly if any part was eaten.
What happens if my dog eats a daffodil?
Vomiting first, and it can be severe. The ASPCA lists daffodils as "Toxic to Dogs" with "vomiting, salivation, diarrhea" and warns that "large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias"; Pet Poison Helpline records "vomiting, which may be severe, leading to profound dehydration, weakness, and shock in pet animals." The toxin is lycorine and other alkaloids, and "bulbs are the most poisonous part." Take the plant away, keep your dog from any bulbs, and call your vet promptly; go immediately if a bulb was eaten or you see convulsions, tremors, or weakness.
Are daffodil bulbs more dangerous to dogs than the flowers?
Yes. The ASPCA says "bulbs are the most poisonous part," and Pet Poison Helpline says daffodils "contain alkaloid toxins within all parts of the plant with highest concentration found in the bulbs." That puts a dog that digs up a planted bulb, or chews one stored for planting, in the worst position — though the flowers and stems carry the same toxin. The ASPCA's large-ingestion signs are "convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias." Keep bulbs out of reach and call your vet promptly after any daffodil ingestion, immediately if a bulb was eaten.