Marigold
Also known as French Marigold, African Marigold, Tagetes. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Marigold (Tagetes, the French and African garden marigold) is an irritant to cats (S2 Irritant): Pet Poison Helpline records mild irritation of the gastrointestinal tract when it is eaten and skin irritation from the sap; the ASPCA has no Tagetes entry, so this grade rests on Pet Poison Helpline alone — pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) is a different plant, listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats.
FULL VERDICT →Marigold (Tagetes, the French and African garden marigold) is an irritant to dogs (S2 Irritant): Pet Poison Helpline records mild irritation of the gastrointestinal tract when it is eaten and skin irritation from the sap; the ASPCA has no Tagetes entry, so this grade rests on Pet Poison Helpline alone — pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) is a different plant, listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
What happens if it's eaten
Signs on record for each animal, transcribed from the cited sources.
- mild gastrointestinal irritation
- skin irritation (dermal exposure to sap)
- mild gastrointestinal irritation
- skin irritation (dermal exposure to sap)
When to call the vet
Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, or a skin reaction spreads.
FULL VERDICT →Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, or a skin reaction spreads.
FULL VERDICT →Safe swaps, graded S0
Non-toxic on record for cats — verified against the index at build time.
FAQ
Is pot marigold (calendula) the same as the garden marigold?
No — they are different plants that share a name, and they get different verdicts. This page covers Tagetes, the French and African marigold sold as bedding plants; Pet Poison Helpline records that these "may cause mild irritation to the gastrointestinal tract when ingested" and that the sap "may also cause irritation to the skin." Pot marigold is Calendula officinalis: the ASPCA lists it as "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats," and Pet Poison Helpline says it "is considered non-toxic following ingestion." Check the label or the botanical name before deciding which verdict applies. If your cat has chewed a Tagetes marigold, move the plant out of reach and watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or irritated skin; call your vet if signs persist or worsen.
Is it eating marigolds or touching them that causes the problem?
Both are on the record, and they are separate effects. Pet Poison Helpline says Tagetes marigolds "may cause mild irritation to the gastrointestinal tract when ingested" — that is the chewing route — and adds that "The sap from the plant may also cause irritation to the skin if dermal exposure occurs." The skin route is why the plant grades S2 Irritant instead of S1: a pet that pushes through or rolls in broken stems can react without eating anything. No toxic principle is named in the source. Move the plant out of reach and watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or irritated skin where sap touched. If signs persist or worsen, call your vet.