Which Plants Are Poisonous to Cats?

If you own a cat, you should know that most of the common outdoor and houseplants found in an average home are poisonous to cats. While many of us want to be able to decorate our yard or office however we please, it’s vital that we keep our cats from getting in contact with any poisonous plant.

The toxicity level of these plants can vary, not only from species to species but as well as between different parts of each flower or plant. That’s why we’ve compiled a complete guide on which plants to keep away from your feline companion, for their health and safety as well as your peace of mind.

Top 10 Most Common Plants Toxic for Cats

There are plenty of commonly found plants that are poisonous for cats and dangerous for them to be around. Here are ten of the yard and houseplants you and your feline friend are at the most risk of stumbling upon:

#1. The Autumn Crocus

• Also Known As: the meadow saffron,a the naked lady
• Where to Find It: outdoors, blooms during the fall
• How Deadly: symptoms can start to appear shortly after ingestion, but can take days to appear
• Poisoning Symptoms: difficulty breathing, seizures, drooling, kidney and liver damage, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and even death

#2: Azaleas and Rhododendrons

• Where to Find It: outside on shrubs and small trees
• How Deadly: degree of severity varies from moderate to severe across over 1,000 species in this plant family; all parts of the plant are toxic and only a tiny amount needs to be ingested to cause toxicity
• Poisoning Symptoms: drooling, vomiting, heart arrhythmias, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weakness, transient blindness, tremors, seizures, coma, and death

#3. Cyclamen

• Also Known As: the Persian violet, sowbread
• Where to Find It: often kept indoors
• How Deadly: the roots are the most toxic part, but all parts of the plant can cause a serious adverse reaction
• Poisoning Symptoms: vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, abnormal heart rate and rhythm, seizures, and death

#4. Narcissus

• Most Common Varieties: daffodils (also known as jonquil or paper white)
• Where to Find It: Flowers during the spring, often kept indoors but can be grown outside
• How Deadly: the most dangerous part is the bulb, though the entire plant contains a poisonous agent called lycorine
• Poisoning Symptoms: vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmias, extremely low blood pressure, convulsions, and difficulty breathing.

#5. Dieffenbachia

• Also Known As: charming dieffenbachia, dumb cane, exotica perfection, folden dieffenbachia, giant dumb cane, spotted dumb caen, tropic snow, variable dieffenbachia
• Where to Find It: A commonly kept houseplant
• How Deadly: while not deadly, exposure can be painful for cats
• Poisoning Symptoms: oral irritation, such as a burning feeling in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing

#6. Kalanchoe

• Also Known As: mother-in-law plant, the devil’s backbone, mother-of-millions, chandelier plant
• Where to Find It: In the yard
• How Deadly: All parts of the plant are toxic
• Poisoning Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, heart arrhythmias, collapse, and seizures

#7. Lilies

• Varieties To Look Out For: Asiatic lilies, Easter Lilies, Japanese show lilies, rubrum lilies, stargazer lilies, red lilies, tiger lilies, Western lilies, wood lilies, and daylilies
• Where to Find It: In homes, often as a part of bouquets
• How Deadly: Lilies are known as one of the most dangerous plants for cats; ingesting even a tiny amount (such as licking the pollen or drinking water from a vase filled with them) can cause severe illness and death
• Poisoning Symptoms: lethargy, drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased urination, dehydration, and kidney failure.

#8. Oleander

• Also Known As: Nerium oleander, white oleander, rose-boy
• Where to Find It: Outdoors, as a part of shrubbery, especially in tropical areas
• How Deadly: All parts of the plant are toxic, including the water inside a vase of Oleander
• Poisoning Symptoms: drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, tremors, seizures, and heart abnormalities

#9. Sago Palm

• Also Known As: coontie plant, cardboard palm, cycads, zamias
• Where to Find It: as a houseplant, especially in tropical or subtropical areas
• How Deadly: While the seeds are the deadliest part, all parts of the palm are toxic; even with swift and aggressive treatment, the prognosis for survival is only 50%
• Poisoning Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, blood tarry-looking stool, increased thirst, bruising, lethargy, liver failure, and death

#10 Tulips and Hyacinths

• Where To Find It: commonly found in bouquets and some gardens
• How Deadly: All parts of the flowers are dangerous, but the toxicity is concentrated in the bulbs
• Poisoning Symptoms: drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and tremors

Other Toxic Plants

There are hundreds upon hundreds of plants that are dangerous for your feline friends. While the danger-level can vary, it’s also better to ensure that any plant your cat is at risk of coming in contact with (whether it’s inside or on the other side of a pet door) is safe for them to consume

According to the ASPCA, you should be wary of exposing your cat to these plants and flowers:

• Adam-and-Eve
• African Wonder Tree
• Alocasia
• Aloe
• Amaryllis
• Ambrosia Mexicana
• American Bittersweet
• American Holly
• American Mandrake
• American Yew
• Andromeda Japonica
• Angelica Tree
• Apple
• Apricot
• Arrow-Head Vine
• Arum
• Arum Lily
• Asian Lily
• Asparagus Fern
• Australian Ivy Palm
• Autumn Crocus
• Azalea
• Baby Doll Ti Plant
• Barbados Aloe
• Barbados Lily
• Barbados Pride
• Barbados Pride 2
• Bay Laurel
• Bead Tree
• Begonia
• Bergamot Orange
• Bird of Paradise
• Bird of Paradise 2
• Bird of Paradise Flower
• Bird's Tongue Flower
• Bishop’s Weed
• Bitter Root
• Black Calla
• Black Cherry
• Black Laurel
• Black Nightshade
• Bobbins
• Bog Laurel
• Borage
• Boxwood
• Branching Ivy
• Brazilwood
• Bread and Butter Plant
• Brunfelsia
• Buckeye
• Buckwheat
• Buddhist Pine
• Burning Bush
• Buttercup
• Butterfly Iris
• Caladium
• Calamondin Orange
• California Ivy
• Calla Lily
• Cape Jasmine
• Caraway
• Cardboard Cycad
• Cardboard Palm
• Cardinal Flower
• Carnation
• Castor Bean Plant
• Catnip
• Ceriman
• Chamomile
• Chandelier Plant
• Charming Dieffenbachia
• Cherry
• Chinaberry Tree
• Chinese Evergreen
• Chinese Jade
• Chives
• Choke Cherry
• Christmas Rose
• Chrysanthemum
• Clematis
• Climbing Bittersweet
• Climbing Lily
• Climbing Nightshade
• Clivia Lily
• Coffee Tree
• Coleus
• Common Privet
• Coontie Palm
• Cordatum
• Corn Plant
• Cornstalk Plant
• Cow parsnip
• Cowbane
• Cuckoo-pint
• Cutleaf Philodendron
• Cycads
• Cyclamen
• Daffodil
• Dahlia
• Daisy
• Day Lilies (many varieties)
• Deadly Nightshade
• Desert Azalea
• Desert Rose
• Devil's Backbone
• Devils Ivy
• Dieffenbachia
• Dock
• Dog Daisy
• Dog Hobble
• Dogbane Hemp
• Dracaena
• Dumbcane
• Dwarf Poinciana
• Easter Lily
• Easter Rose
• Eastern Star
• Elephant Ears
• Elephant-Ear Begonia
• Emerald Feather
• English Holly
• English Ivy
• English Yew
• Epazote
• Eucalyptus
• European Bittersweet
• European Holly
• Everlasting Pea
• Exotica
• False Bittersweet
• False Queen Anne’s Lace
• Feather Geranium
• Fern Palm
• Fetter Bush
• Fetterbush
• Fiddle-Leaf
• Fig
• Figwort
• Fire Lily
• Flag
• Flamingo Flower
• Fleabane
• Florida Beauty
• Florist's Calla
• Foxglove
• Franciscan Rain Tree
• Garden Calla
• Garden Chamomile
• Garden Hyacinth
• Gardenia
• Garlic
• Geranium
• Geranium-Leaf Aralia
• Giant Dracaena
• Giant Dumb Cane
• Giant Hogweed
• Glacier Ivy
• Gladiola
• Gloriosa Lily
• Gold Dieffenbachia
• Gold Dust Dracaena
• Golden Birds Nest
• Golden Pothos
• Golden Ragwort
• Good Luck Plant
• Grapefruit
• Grass Palm
• Greater Ammi
• Green Gold Naphthysis
• Ground Apple
• Groundsel
• Hahn's Self Branching English
• Ivy
• Hashish
• Hawaiian Ti
• Heartleaf Philodendron
• Heavenly Bamboo
• Hellebore
• Hercules' Club
• Hills of Snow
• Holly
• Horse Chestnut
• Horsehead Philodendron
• Horseweed
• Hortensia
• Hosta
• Hurricane Plant
• Hyacinth
• Hydrangea
• Impala Lily
• Indian Apple
• Indian Borage
• Indian Hemp
• Indian Pink
• Indian Rubber Plant
• Inkberry
• Iris
• Iron Cross Begonia
• Ivy Arum
• Jack-in-the-pulpit
• Jade Plant
• Japanese Show Lily
• Japanese Yew
• Jerusalem Cherry
• Jerusalem Oak
• Jonquil
• Kaffir Lily
• Kalanchoe
• Kiss-me-quick
• Klamath Weed
• Kudu Lily
• Lace Fern
• Lacy Tree Philodendron
• Lady-of-the-night
• Lambkill
• Lantana
• Larkspur
• Laurel
• Lavender
• Leather flower
• Leek
• Lemon
• Lemon Grass
• Lemon Verbena
• Lenten Rose
• Lily
• Lily of the Palace
• Lily of the Valley
• Lily-of-the-Valley Bush
• Lime
• Lobelia
• Locust
• Lord-and-Ladies
• Lovage
• Madagascar Dragon Tree
• Maidens Breath
• Malanga
• Maleberry
• Mapleleaf Begonia
• Marble Queen
• Marijuana
• Marjoram
• Mauna Loa Peace Lily
• Mayapple
• Mayweed
• Meadow Saffron
• Medicine Plant
• Metallic Leaf Begonia
• Mexican Breadfruit
• Milfoil
• Milkweed
• Mint
• Mistletoe “American”
• Mock Azalea
• Mole Bean Plant
• Morning Glory
• Morning-Noon-and-Night
• Moss Rose
• Mother of Millions
• Mother-in-Law
• Mother-In-Law Plant
• Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
• Mum
• Naked Lady
• Nandina
• Narcissus
• Nasturtium (Watercress)
• Needlepoint Ivy
• Nephthytis
• Nicotiana
• Nightshade
• Octopus Tree
• Oilcloth Flower
• Oleander
• Onion
• Orange
• Orange Day Lily
• Oregano
• Oregon Holly
• Ornamental Pepper
• Pacific Yew
• Painter's Palette
• Palm Lily
• Panda Plant
• Paper White
• Paraguayan Jasmine
• Parsley
• Peace Begonia
• Peace Lily
• Peach
• Peacock Flower
• Pencil Cactus
• Peony
• Perennial Pea
• Periwinkle
• Philodendron Pertusum
• Pie Plant
• Pieris
• Pig Lily
• Pigtail Plant
• Pink Pearl
• Pinks
• Plantain Lily
• Plum
• Plumosa Fern
• Poinciana
• Poinsettia
• Poison Daisy
• Poison Hemlock
• Poison Parsnip
• Portulaca
• Prayer Bean
• Pride-of-India
• Primrose
• Privet
• Purslane
• Racemose Asparagus
• Ragwort
• Ranger’s Button
• Red Emerald
• Red Lily
• Red Princess
• Red-Marginated Dracaena
• Rex Begonia
• Rhododendron
• Rhubarb
• Ribbon Plant
• Ridderstjerne
• Rock Moss
• Roman Chamomile
• Rosebay
• Rubrum Lily
• Running Myrtle
• Sabi Star
• Sacred Bamboo
• Saddle Leaf
• Sago Palm
• Satin Pothos
• Scented Geranium
• Schefflera
• Seaside Daisy
• Seven Bark
• Shamrock Plant
• Shatavari
• Showy Daisy
• Silver Dollar
• Silver Jade Plant
• Skunk Cabbage
• Snake Lilly
• Snake Plant Solomon’s Lily
• Sorrel
• Sowbread
• Spanish Thyme
• Spindle Tree
• Split Leaf Philodendron
• Spotted Dumb Cane
• Sprengeri Fern
• Spring Parsley
• St. John’s Wort
• Staggerbush
• Starch Root
• Stargazer Lily
• Starleaf
• Stinking Chamomile
• Straight-Margined Dracaena
• Striped Dracaena
• Superb Lily
• Sweet Cherry
• Sweet Pea
• Sweet William
• Sweetheart Ivy
• Swiss Cheese Plant
• Tahitian Bridal Veil
• Tail Flower
• Taro
• Taro Vine
• Tarragon
• Texas Umbrella Tree
• Ti-Plant
• Tiger Lily
• Tobacco
• Tomato Plant
• Tree Philodendron
• Tree Tobacco
• Tropic Snow
• True Aloe
• Trumpet Lily
• Tulip
• Umbrella Leaf
• Umbrella Tree
• Variable Dieffenbachia
• Variegated Philodendron
• Variegated Wandering Jew
• Vinca
• Virgin’s Bower
• Wahoo
• Wake Robin
• Wandering Jew
• Warnecke Dracaena
• Water Flag
• Water Hemlock
• Wax-Leaf
• Weeping Fig
• Western Yew
• White Heads
• Wild Arum
• Wild Calla
• Wild Carnation
• Wild Coffee
• Winter Cherry
• Winterberry
• Wisteria
• Wood Lily
• Yarrow
• Yellow Oleander
• Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
• Yew
• Yew Pine
• Yucca

What Do I Do If My Cat Eats A Poisonous Plant?

If your cat consumed a plant that is toxic to them, then you need to get help right away. Call your veterinarian for advice, or contact an animal poison control hotline. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) and the Pet Poison Helpline (885-764-7661) are open 24 hours, seven days a week.

you go to an emergency animal hospital, make sure to take a photo of the plant your cat ate, as well as provide a sample. That way, your veterinarian can better identify the source of your cat’s illness and have a higher chance of recovery.