What plants are poisonous to cats?
Written by Tommy |
We love plants. We love cats. Some cats love plants too. Unfortunately, plants and cats aren’t always the best combination. There are many plants that are poisonous to cats, but it might be difficult to figure out which plants you shouldn’t have in your home. And what if your cat accidentally takes a bite of a poisonous plant? Keep reading to find out what toxic plants and flowers you need to look out for.
What are signs of plant poisoning in cats?
Keeping in mind that the following lists are not complete, make sure you’re fully informed before buying a plant or flower. If your cat ends up eating a plant, the first thing you’ll want to do is contact your vet. It’s best to do this even before signs develop, so immediate action can be taken if necessary. Some of the signs of poisoning include but are not limited to:
- Vomiting
- Salivation
- Diarrhoea
- Twitching
- Breathing difficulties
- Collapse
- Coma
If you can see remnants of the poisonous plant or flower, take it away from your cat and then contact your vet. In case the vet wants to see you right away, make sure to bring along the remnants or the plant itself. This can help your vet give the right diagnosis.
Now that the warnings are out of the way, let’s continue to the list of which plants and flowers you should avoid.
Poisonous flowers & indoor plants
Fortunately, most cats are very picky eaters – they aren’t very likely to eat poisonous plants. Kittens and curious young cats are a big danger to themselves, as their natural curiosity won’t protect them from eating random plants. That’s why cat owners always need to double-check that their houseplants aren’t dangerous to cats. Also make sure to have enough supplies that could distract your cat, like toys or cat grass.
Toxic flowers & indoor plants
| Amaryllis | Ferns |
| Aphelandra | Holly (also see Ilex) |
| Azalea | Hypoestes phyllostachya |
| Castor Oil Plant (also see Ricinus) | Hyacinthus |
| Christmas Cherry (also see Solanum | Ivy (also see Hedera) |
| Cheese plant (see also Monstera deliciousa) | Kalanchoe |
| Chrysanthemum (also see dendranthema) | Mistletoe (also see Viscum) |
| Codiaeum | Nerium oleander |
| Croton (also see Codiaeum) | Oleander (also see Nerium oleander) |
| Cyclamen | Ornithogalum |
| Devil’s Ivy (also see Epipremnum aureum) | Senecio |
| Dieffenbachia* | Star of Bethlehem (also see Ornithogalum) |
| Dumb Cane (also see Dieffenbachia) | Umbellatum |
| Elephant’s Ear (also see Alocasia, Caladium) | Umbrella Plant (also see Schefflera) |
| Epipremnum aureum | Zebra Plant (also see Aphelandra) |
*Contact with these plants may cause irritation
Poisonous outdoor plants
Garden plants can also be poisonous to your cat, with the fruits and seeds being the most dangerous. Cats who spend a lot of their time outdoors are usually too busy exploring to pay any attention to plants. Just in case, though, make sure you don’t plant any of the following plants in your garden.
Toxic outdoor plants
| Abrus precatorius | Dictamnus | Oak (also see Quercus) |
| Aconitum* | Digitalis | Onion (also see Allium) |
| Actaea | Echium | Ornithogalum |
| Aesculus | Elder (also see Sambucus) | Oxytropis |
| Agrostemma githago | Euonymus | Paeonia |
| Aleurites | European Pennyroyal | Papaver |
| Allium | Euphorbia | Parthenocissus |
| Alocasia | False Acacia (also see Robinia) | Peach (also see Prunus persica) |
| Alstroemeria* | Ferns | Peony (also see Paeonia) |
| American False Pennyroyal | Ficus | Pernettya |
| Anagallis | Flax (also see Linum) | Persea americana |
| Anemone | Foxglove (also see Digitalis) | Philodendron |
| Angel’s Trumpets (also see Brugmansia) | Frangula (also see Rhamnus) | Physalis |
| Angel Wings (also see Caladium) | Fremontodendron* | Phytolacca |
| Apricot (also see Prunus armeniaca) | Galanthus | Pokeweed (also see Phytolacca) |
| Aquilegia | Gaultheria | Polygonatum |
| Arisaema | Giant Hog Weed (also see Heracleum mantegazzianum) | Poppy (also see Papaver) |
| Arum | Gloriosa superba | Primula obconica* |
| Astragalus | Glory Lily (also see Gloriosa superba) | Privet (also see Ligustrum) |
| Atropa | Hedera* | Prunus armeniaca |
| Avocado (also see Persea americana) | Helleborus* | Prunus laurocerasus |
| Azalea (also see Rhododendron) | Hemlock (also see Conium) | Prunus persica |
| Baneberry (also see Actaea) | Henbane (also see Hyoscyamus) | Quercus |
| Bird of Paradise (also see Strelitzia) | Heracleum mantegazzianum | Ranunculus |
| Black-eyed Susan (also see Thunbergia) | Hippeastrum | Rhamnus (including R frangula) |
| Bloodroot (also see Sanguinaria) | Holly (also see Ilex) | Rhododendron |
| Box (also see Buxus) | Horse Chestnut (also see Aesculus) | Rhus* |
| Broom (also see Cytisus) | Hyacinthus | Ricinus |
| Brugmansia | Hydrangea | Robinia |
| Bryony | Hyoscyamus | Rosary Pea (also see Abrus precatorius) |
| Buckthorn (also see Rhamnus) | Ilex | Rubber Plant (also see Ficus) |
| Burning Bush (also see Dictamnus) | Ipomoea | Rudbeckia |
| Buttercup (also see Ranunculus) | Iris | Rue (also see Ruta) |
| Buxus | Ivy (also see Hedera) | Ruta |
| Caesalpinia | Jasminum | Sambucus |
| Caladium | Juniperus sabina | Sanguinaria |
| Caltha* | Kalmia | Schefflera* |
| Catharanthus | Kalanchoe | Scilla |
| Celastrus | Laburnum | Skunk Cabbage (also see Lysichiton) |
| Centaurea cyanus | Lantana | Snowdrop (also see Galanthus) |
| Cestrum | Larkspur (also see Delphinium) | Solandra |
| Cherry Laurel (also see Prunus laurocerasus) | Lathyrus | Solanum |
| Chincherinchee (also see Ornithogalum) | Ligustrum | Solomon’s Seal (also see Polygonatum) |
| Chrysanthemum (also see Dendranthema) | Lilium | Spindle Tree (also see Euonymus) |
| Clematis | Lily of the Valley | Spurge (also see Euphorbia) |
| Colchicum | Linum | Strelitzia |
| Columbine (also see Aquilegia) | Lobelia* (except bedding Lobelia) | Sumach (also see Rhus) |
| Conium | Lords and Ladies (Cuckoo Pint) (also see Arum) | Sweet Pea (also see Lathyrus) |
| Convallaria majalis | Lupinus | Tagetes |
| Corncockle (also see Agrostemma githago) | Lycopersicon* | Tanacetum |
| Cornflower (also see Centaurea cyanus) | Lysichiton | Taxus |
| Cotoneaster | Madagascar Periwinkle (also see Catharanthus) | Tetradymia |
| Crocus (also see Colchicum) | Marigold (also see Tagetes) | Thornapple (also see Datura) |
| Cyclamen | Melia | Thuja* |
| Cytisus | Mirabilis jalapa | Thunbergia |
| Daffodil (also see Narcissus) | Monks Wood (also see Aconitum) | Tobacco (also see Nicotiana) |
| Daphne* | Morning Glory (also see Ipomoea) | Tomato (also see Lycopersicon) |
| Datura* | Narcissus | Tulipa* |
| Delonix | Nerium oleander | Veratrum |
| Delphinium | Nicotiana | Viscum |
| Dendranthema* | Nightshade, Deadly (also see Atropa) | Wisteria |
| Dicentra | Nightshade, Woody (also see Solanum) | Yew (also see Taxus) |
Source: Cats.org.uk
*Contact with these plants may cause irritation
The plants with an asterisk (*) can cause irritation to human skin, but cats should be alright as they’re protected by their coat. When cats end up ingesting these plants, however, they can experience skin irritation or ulcers in their mouths. This is very painful and might even cause eating issues.
Which plants are safe for cats?
Are you looking for plants that are safe for cats? The compiled list down below are non-toxic flowers and plants you can use to enhance your home or garden. Having an overview with poisonous plants is very useful. But of course, it’s also nice to know which plants are perfectly safe for your cat.
Plants safe for cats
| Buddleia | Pansies |
| Canterbury Bell | Petunia |
| Coreopsis | Roses |
| Hibiscus | Sunflower |
| Hollyhock | Valerian |
| Gerbera Daisy | Zinnia |
| Nasturtium |
Warning: Blades of grass can get stuck in your cat’s throat or nasal cavity after vomiting. This may cause your cat to swallow, cough, sneeze, or gag. If your cat exhibits this behaviour after bringing up grass, visit your vet and inform them that your cat has eaten grass.
