Weeping Fig
Also known as Benjamin Fig, Ficus Tree, Fig, Indian Rubber Plant. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina, the common ficus tree) is an irritant to cats (S2 Irritant): its sap carries ficin and the psoralen ficusin, which cause gastrointestinal and skin irritation — drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and irritated skin where the sap touches.
FULL VERDICT →Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina, the common ficus tree) is an irritant to dogs (S2 Irritant): its sap carries ficin and the psoralen ficusin, which cause gastrointestinal and skin irritation — drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and irritated skin where the sap touches.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
What happens if it's eaten
Signs on record for each animal, transcribed from the cited sources.
- gastrointestinal irritation
- decreased appetite
- drooling
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- dermal irritation (skin contact with sap)
- gastrointestinal irritation
- decreased appetite
- drooling
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- dermal irritation (skin contact with sap)
When to call the vet
Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, your cat stops eating, or a skin reaction spreads.
FULL VERDICT →Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens, your dog stops eating, 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 the weeping fig the same plant as the rubber plant? The ASPCA calls it "Indian rubber plant".
No — two different Ficus species that share a nickname, and the ASPCA's own labelling is the source of the confusion. The ASPCA's entries "Fig" and "Indian Rubber Plant" both give the scientific name Ficus benjamina, the weeping fig on this page. The rubber plant most shops sell is Ficus elastica, which has its own record on our rubber plant page, graded S2 Irritant. The two records land in the same place because the genus shares the same defence: Pet Poison Helpline says "Numerous species of plants belong to the genus Ficus and contain irritating sap." Check the leaf, not the label — a weeping fig has small pointed leaves on a drooping tree; a rubber plant has large, thick, glossy ones. Either way, if a cat chews it, watch for drooling, vomiting, or irritated skin, and call your vet if signs persist.