Is Zebra Plant toxic to cats?
Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa) is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists it as safe for cats, dogs, and horses — and the succulent and calathea plants that share the 'zebra' name are non-toxic too.
- TOXINnone — no toxic principles on record
- WHAT TO EXPECTno symptoms on record
- CALL THE VETSee a vet only if unusual or persistent symptoms follow ingestion.
Nothing to do — really
Care at a glance
FAQ
Which "zebra plant" do I have — and does it change the verdict?
Several different plants share this name, and every ASPCA entry that uses it is non-toxic. The flowering one with white-veined leaves and a yellow bract is Aphelandra squarrosa — this page — listed by the ASPCA as "Non-Toxic to Cats." The striped rosette succulents are haworthias: the ASPCA's Little Zebra Plant (Haworthia subfasciata) and Zebra Haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) entries are both non-toxic — see our haworthia page. The ASPCA's Caeroba entry, which carries "Zebra Plant" as an alternate name (Calathea insignis), is non-toxic too — see our calathea page. And its Pheasant Plant entry (Cryptanthus zonatus), also called Zebra Plant, reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses"; we have not graded that plant ourselves. Whichever zebra you own, no toxin is on record.
Several plant blogs say zebra plants are toxic to cats — are they?
Not according to the primary source those blogs claim to cite. The ASPCA's own entry for Aphelandra squarrosa (filed under Saffron Spike Zebra) reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses," with toxic principles listed as "Non-toxic." We grade only from the record: S0 Safe. As with any plant, a cat that eats a large amount of foliage can get an upset stomach — that's a quantity effect, not a toxin. If persistent vomiting follows a plant snack of any kind, call your vet.
Which plants called "zebra plant" are safe for my dog?
Check the scientific name on the tag — the ASPCA uses the name for several unrelated plants. This page covers Aphelandra squarrosa, the flowering one with white-veined leaves, which the ASPCA files as Saffron Spike Zebra: "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses." A calathea sold as a zebra plant (Calathea insignis, the ASPCA's Caeroba entry) has its own dog verdict, S0 Safe (calathea for dogs). The striped rosette succulents the ASPCA lists as Little Zebra Plant (Haworthia subfasciata) and Zebra Haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) are haworthias, graded S0 Safe for dogs on our haworthia page. The ASPCA's Pheasant Plant entry (Cryptanthus zonatus, also called Zebra Plant) reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses" too, but we have not graded that plant ourselves.
My dog chewed the leaves and yellow flower spike of a zebra plant — what now?
For Aphelandra squarrosa, no toxin is on record: the ASPCA lists it as "Non-Toxic to Dogs" with toxic principles "Non-toxic," and its entry lists no clinical signs. The record does not single out the bract or flowers as different from the leaves. There's nothing specific to watch for; if your dog seems unwell afterwards, call your vet and mention what was eaten.