Is Hens and Chicks toxic to cats?
Hens and chicks (Echeveria elegans) is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists this rosette succulent as safe for cats, dogs, and horses — but note the same nickname is also used for Sempervivum, which our sources don't cover.
- 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 echeveria safe for cats — any echeveria?
The ASPCA record we transcribe is for one species, Echeveria elegans, listed under the name Hens and Chickens as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses" — that is the S0 Safe grade on this page. The ASPCA also has separate entries for several other Echeveria species, which it lists as non-toxic, but we have not graded those species ourselves, and we do not extend a species record to a genus by nickname. The name trap runs the other way too: shops also sell Sempervivum as hens and chicks, and neither the ASPCA nor Pet Poison Helpline has an entry for it, so we publish no grade for that plant. Check the tag: Echeveria elegans is this page.
Does "hens and chicks" always mean the same plant?
No — the name is shared by two different succulents, and our S0 verdict applies to one of them. The ASPCA's "Hens and Chickens" entry is Echeveria elegans (Crassulaceae), listed as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses". The same name is also used for Sempervivum tectorum (houseleek), which neither the ASPCA nor Pet Poison Helpline lists — we don't grade what our sources don't cover. If the tag says Echeveria elegans, this S0 Safe verdict applies to cats and dogs; if it says Sempervivum, our sources do not cover it, so keep it out of reach until you know which plant it is.
How can I distinguish Echeveria elegans from Sempervivum on a hens and chicks plant tag?
Read the scientific name on the tag. This page's S0 Safe verdict for cats and dogs covers Echeveria elegans, the plant in the ASPCA's Hens and Chickens entry, which reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses". A tag that says only "Echeveria" does not name the species, so ask the seller which one it is. A tag that says Sempervivum means a different plant, which neither the ASPCA nor Pet Poison Helpline lists, so we do not grade it.
My dog dug up and chewed a hens and chicks rosette — is it poisonous?
If it's Echeveria elegans, no toxin is on record. The ASPCA's Hens and Chickens entry (Echeveria elegans) reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses", with no toxic principle or clinical signs listed. Shops also sell Sempervivum as hens and chicks, and neither the ASPCA nor Pet Poison Helpline has an entry for it, so we cannot tell you either way for that plant. Check the tag; if it's Sempervivum, or if your dog seems unwell after chewing either one, call your vet.
Are other echeverias safe for dogs?
The ASPCA lists several, though we grade only Echeveria elegans on this page. Its Blue Echeveria (Echeveria glauca), Copper Rose (Echeveria multicaulis) and Wax Rosette (Echeveria gilva) entries read "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses", and its Maroon Chenille Plant entry (Echeveria derenbergii) reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats". We have not graded those species ourselves. If your rosette's tag names one of them, those ASPCA entries are the record to go by; if it names a genus other than Echeveria, look it up separately.