Is Yew toxic to cats?
Yew (Taxus spp.) is life-threatening to cats (S4 Emergency): Pet Poison Helpline says ingestion of any amount or part by small animals results in vomiting, diarrhea, severe drooling, seizure, coma, low heart rate, low respiratory rate, and death. The red flesh of the fruit is non-toxic, but the fruit contains a highly toxic small seed. The ASPCA lists sudden death from acute heart failure.
- TOXINTaxine, Taxine A and B, Volatile oil
- WHAT TO EXPECTVomiting, diarrhea, and severe drooling; Tremors and difficulty breathing; Seizure and coma
- CALL THE VETImmediately, on any ingestion — seizure, coma, low heart rate, low respiratory rate, death, and sudden death from acute heart failure. There is no safe wait-and-see window.
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| Vomiting, diarrhea, and severe drooling |
| Tremors and difficulty breathing |
| Seizure and coma |
| Low heart rate and low respiratory rate |
| Sudden death from acute heart failure |
| Death |
If your cat just ate it
Same floor look, minus the risk
3 floor plants graded S0 — non-toxic on record.
Care at a glance
FAQ
Is yew toxic to cats?
Yes. Yew (Taxus spp.) is S4 Emergency. Pet Poison Helpline says ingestion of any amount or part by small animals results in vomiting, diarrhea, severe drooling, seizure, coma, low heart rate, low respiratory rate, and death. The ASPCA lists sudden death from acute heart failure. This is an emergency. Go to a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital immediately. Do not wait for symptoms. Bring a photo or piece of the plant.
Which yew plants does this verdict cover?
Taxus spp., the scientific name on the ASPCA Yew entry and on the Pet Poison Helpline Yew page. The species entries print Taxus baccata for English Yew, Taxus brevifolia for Pacific Yew and Western Yew, Taxus canadensus, as listed by the ASPCA, for American Yew, and Taxus sp. for Japanese Yew. Those entries list Taxine A and B and volatile oil. The Yew entry lists Taxine. The same sudden-death signs are on each of those entries. Buddhist pine is Podocarpus macrophylla, and the ASPCA says not to confuse it with yews of the genus Taxus. That plant is a separate record.
Is the red fruit of a yew safe?
No safe-fruit claim is added here. Pet Poison Helpline says the red flesh of the fruit is non-toxic, and that the fruit contains a highly toxic small seed, which makes ingestion poisonous. The same page says any amount or part results in death in small animals. This is an emergency. Do not wait for symptoms. Bring a photo or piece of the plant.
Is yew toxic to dogs?
Yes. Yew (Taxus spp.) is S4 Emergency. Pet Poison Helpline says ingestion of any amount or part by small animals results in vomiting, diarrhea, severe drooling, seizure, coma, low heart rate, low respiratory rate, and death. The ASPCA species entries list seizures in dogs and sudden death from acute heart failure. This is an emergency. Go to a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital immediately. Do not wait for symptoms. Bring a photo or piece of the plant.