Is Polka Dot Plant toxic to cats?
Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya, also sold as freckle face) is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic, noting only mild vomiting or diarrhea if it is eaten.
- TOXINnone — no toxic principles on record
- WHAT TO EXPECTmild vomiting; diarrhea
- CALL THE VETSee a vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens after any plant ingestion.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| mild vomiting |
| diarrhea |
Nothing to do — really
Care at a glance
FAQ
My cat keeps eating my polka dot plant — should I worry?
Not on this record. The ASPCA lists polka dot plant as non-toxic to cats, gives the toxic principle as "Unknown" rather than naming one, and lists the clinical signs as "Mild vomiting, diarrhea." That is what an S0 grade looks like when the source bothers to write the fine print: nothing toxic is known, but a cat that eats enough leaves can bring them back up. The plant will suffer more than the cat. Move it out of grazing reach if the habit continues; if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, see your vet.
Is polka dot plant the same as freckle face — and is it "baby's tears"?
Polka dot plant and freckle face are the same plant; baby's tears is a trap. The ASPCA has two entries, "Polka Dot Plant" and "Freckle Face," both for Hypoestes phyllostachya and both "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses." Its alias list is "Pink Polka Dot Plant, Measles Plant, Baby's Tears, Freckle Face." The first, second, and fourth of those are this plant. But the plant most shops sell as baby's tears is a different species that is not in our index, so we do not extend this S0 verdict to it on the strength of a shared nickname. If the label says Hypoestes, this page applies.
Is polka dot plant the "flamingo plant" that's toxic to pets?
Not the toxic one — the name belongs to two plants. The ASPCA lists "Flamingo Plant" as another name for polka dot plant on its Freckle Face entry (Hypoestes phyllostachya, "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses"), and it uses the same name for Anthurium scherzeranum, the flamingo flower, which it lists as toxic to dogs and cats. On our index the anthurium is S2 Irritant. If a tag says flamingo plant, check the scientific name: Hypoestes is this page, Anthurium is not.