Ponytail Palm
Also known as Elephant-Foot Tree, Bottle Palm. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Ponytail palm is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists Beaucarnea recurvata as safe for cats, dogs, and horses — despite the name, it's actually a succulent, not a true palm.
FULL VERDICT →Ponytail palm is non-toxic to dogs (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists Beaucarnea recurvata as safe for dogs, cats, and horses — despite the name, it's actually a succulent, not a true palm.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
When to call the vet
FAQ
Is a ponytail palm a real palm?
No — and that's good news either way. The ponytail palm is Beaucarnea recurvata, a caudex succulent (the ASPCA files it under Agavaceae, also calling it Elephant-Foot Tree and Bottle Palm), not a true palm. The ASPCA lists it as "Non-Toxic to Cats" and non-toxic to dogs and horses as well, and Pet Poison Helpline names "Pony tail, Parlor and Areca palms" among varieties "that can be safely kept with pets." Its dangling leaves invite batting and chewing; if your cat treats it as a toy, the plant will look worse for it — your cat won't.
Is a ponytail palm poisonous to dogs?
No — the ASPCA's record covers dogs as well as cats. Its entry for Beaucarnea recurvata reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses," with no toxic principle and no clinical signs, and Pet Poison Helpline's pet-safe plants article names the pony tail among plants "that can be safely kept with pets." Our dog verdict is S0 Safe as well — see the ponytail palm verdict for dogs. A dog that chews the strappy leaves has nothing on record to expect beyond the S0 caveat that a big plant meal can upset a stomach.