Plants / Sweet William / cats

Is Sweet William toxic to cats?

Sweet William (Dianthus caryophyllus) is toxic to cats (S2 Irritant): the ASPCA lists an unknown irritant, mild gastrointestinal signs, and mild dermatitis.

  • TOXINUnknown irritant
  • WHAT TO EXPECTMild gastrointestinal signs; mild dermatitis
  • CALL THE VETContact your vet if signs persist or worsen after Sweet William exposure.
S0S1S2S3S4

Symptoms

SIGN
Mild gastrointestinal signs
mild dermatitis

If your cat just ate it

S2 PROTOCOL
1
Move Sweet William (Dianthus caryophyllus) out of your cat's reach. Watch for mild gastrointestinal signs or mild dermatitis. Contact your vet if signs persist or worsen.
2
When to call the vet: Contact your vet if signs persist or worsen after Sweet William exposure.
Put it in my home →

Same tabletop look, minus the risk

3 tabletop plants graded S0 — non-toxic on record.

Care at a glance

Lightdirect
Waterevery 5–9 days
Humiditymedium
Difficulty●●○

FAQ

Is Sweet William toxic to cats?

Yes, for Dianthus caryophyllus: S2 Irritant. The ASPCA's Sweet William entry lists "Unknown irritant" and "Mild gastrointestinal signs, mild dermatitis". Move the plant out of your cat's reach and contact your vet if signs persist or worsen.

Which plant does this Sweet William verdict cover?

Dianthus caryophyllus. The ASPCA's Sweet William, Carnation, Pinks, and Wild Carnation entries all give "Dianthus caryophyllus" as the scientific name. This verdict follows that species; plants with other scientific names are not covered or graded here. Check the scientific name on the tag.

Which other names does the ASPCA give for Sweet William?

The ASPCA's Sweet William entry lists "Carnation, Wild Carnation, Pinks" as Additional Common Names. All four entries give "Dianthus caryophyllus" as their scientific name. This page follows that named species.

Is Sweet William toxic to dogs?

Yes, for Dianthus caryophyllus: S2 Irritant. The ASPCA's Sweet William entry lists "Unknown irritant" and "Mild gastrointestinal signs, mild dermatitis". Move the plant out of your dog's reach and contact your vet if signs persist or worsen.

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Verdapaw Plant × Pet Safety Index, verdapaw.com/plants/sweet-william, reviewed 2026-10-30