Plants Toxic to Cats: Lilies, Holiday Plants and Safe Picks

If you have a cat, the plant to fear most is the lily. True lilies and daylilies can cause fatal kidney failure in cats, and a lick of pollen off the fur is enough to make it an emergency. Many other toxic houseplants mainly cause drooling, vomiting or a sore mouth, and plenty of popular plants are safe.

Two things make this tricky. Cats nibble plants out of curiosity, and common plant names are unreliable: "lily", "sage" and "rubber plant" each cover very different plants. The Merck Veterinary Manual advises identifying the scientific name, not just the common one, so we give both below.

Quick answers if you came for one plant:

• Lilies (Easter, stargazer, tiger, Asiatic, daylilies): emergency. Call now, even for pollen on the fur.
• Poinsettia: only mildly irritating. Usually drooling or a little vomiting.
• Christmas cactus: listed as non-toxic to cats.
• Salvia: common sage and scarlet sage are listed as non-toxic. Lantana, also called "red sage" or "yellow sage", is toxic.

Lilies Are the Most Dangerous Plant for Cats

Lilies in the true lily (Lilium) and daylily (Hemerocallis) groups are very dangerous for cats. According to the FDA, the whole plant is toxic: stem, leaves, flowers, pollen and even the water in the vase. A cat that eats a small piece of a leaf or petal, licks a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinks the vase water can develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days.

Nobody has identified the toxin yet, and it only affects cats. Dogs that eat lilies may get a minor stomach upset but don't develop kidney failure.

The lilies to keep out of a cat household

The FDA and ASPCA name these as the most dangerous:

• Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum)
• Asiatic lily and its hybrids (Lilium asiaticum)
• Oriental lilies, including stargazer and Casa Blanca (Lilium orientalis)
• Japanese show lily and rubrum lily (Lilium speciosum)
• Tiger lily (Lilium tigrinum or lancifolium)
• Wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum or umbellatum)
• Daylilies (Hemerocallis species)

Lilies turn up in Easter and Mother's Day arrangements, in spring gardens, and in bouquets all year, holiday flowers included. Check every bouquet that comes into the house. If a stem is a true lily, it goes.

Signs and timeline of lily poisoning

The FDA describes this pattern:

1. 0 to 12 hours: less active, drooling, vomiting, not eating.
2. 12 to 24 hours: signs of kidney damage, such as peeing more and becoming dehydrated.
3. 24 to 72 hours: kidney failure, which is fatal without treatment.

Early treatment greatly improves the outlook. The FDA notes that if treatment is delayed by 18 hours or more, the cat will generally have irreversible kidney failure. That is why vets and poison lines want to hear from you before any signs appear. Pet Poison Helpline says a cat should be treated even if only a small amount of pollen is seen on the fur and nobody saw it eat anything.

For more on how kidney problems show up in cats, see our guide to kidney disease in cats.

"Lilies" that are not true lilies

Plenty of plants carry "lily" in the name. They don't cause the same kidney failure, but some are still dangerous.

If you are not sure which lily it is, treat it as a true lily and call. Bring the plant, or a clear photo of it, to the vet.

Holiday Plants and Cats

The holiday plant with the scariest reputation, poinsettia, is one of the mildest. The one to worry about is the lily tucked into a holiday bouquet. According to ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline, most of the season's other plants cause drooling, vomiting or diarrhea.

Pet Poison Helpline calls poinsettia poisoning "greatly exaggerated": signs are usually mild and settle on their own. Still call if vomiting keeps going or your cat seems unwell.

Tree water, tinsel, ribbon and light cords bring their own risks, so read our Christmas pet safety guide before the tree goes up.

Is Salvia Poisonous to Cats?

The salvias that ASPCA lists are not poisonous to cats. Common or garden sage (Salvia officinalis) and scarlet sage, also sold as Texas sage (Salvia coccinea), are both on ASPCA's non-toxic list for cats, dogs and horses.

Two cautions keep that answer honest:

• Check the scientific name. Lantana (Lantana camara) is also called "yellow sage" or "red sage". It is not a salvia, and ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats: vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing and weakness.
• Not every salvia is listed. ASPCA's plant list names only these two Salvia species. If your plant is a different one, ask your vet or a poison line rather than assume.

Catnip, mint, lavender and other herbs

Common Houseplants and Garden Plants Toxic to Cats

These popular plants are on ASPCA's toxic list for cats, with the signs it reports. For most of them the main problem is an irritated mouth or upset stomach, but a few (azalea, daffodil, sago palm) can be serious. Call your vet or a poison line for any of them.

What about succulents?

Most succulents are harmless to pets, but a few common ones are not: aloe, jade plant, kalanchoe, pencil cactus and snake plant. Hens and chicks and zebra haworthia are on ASPCA's safe list.

Alocasia (elephant's ear)

Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, released when a cat bites the leaves. They cause mouth pain and swelling, heavy drooling, vomiting and trouble swallowing. Swelling of the airway is possible but uncommon.

Aloe vera

Saponins and anthraquinones can cause vomiting, lethargy and diarrhea. ASPCA notes the gel itself is considered edible; the problem is the rest of the leaf.

Azalea (Rhododendron)

One of the more serious ones. Grayanotoxins can cause vomiting, diarrhea and weakness, and ASPCA lists heart failure among the signs.

Begonia

ASPCA lists all Begonia species as toxic. Soluble calcium oxalates cause vomiting and drooling, and the underground tubers are the most toxic part. Don't confuse true begonias with the "rex begonia vine" (Cissus discolor) or trailing watermelon begonia (Pellionia), which are on the safe list.

Buttercup (Ranunculus)

When chewed, it releases protoanemonin, an irritant. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, mouth ulcers, low energy, poor appetite and a wobbly walk.

Chrysanthemum (mum)

Contains sesquiterpene lactones, pyrethrins and other irritants throughout the plant. Eating it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and poor coordination, and contact can irritate the skin.

Daffodil (Narcissus)

Lycorine and other alkaloids cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhea. Large amounts can cause tremors, convulsions, low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. The bulbs are the most poisonous part, which matters if your cat digs in pots or flower beds.

Devil's ivy (golden pothos) and philodendrons

Like alocasia, these contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals: mouth pain and swelling, drooling, vomiting and trouble swallowing. ASPCA's "fiddle-leaf" entry is a philodendron. The popular fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is a different plant and isn't on ASPCA's list, so ask your vet about that one.

Eucalyptus

The essential oil (eucalyptol) is the issue. Eating the plant can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and weakness.

Jade plant (Crassula)

The toxin is unknown. ASPCA lists vomiting, depression and poor coordination. Jade is sometimes called "dwarf rubber plant", which causes confusion: the peperomia "baby rubber plant" is safe.

Kalanchoe

Contains bufadienolides. Usually vomiting or diarrhea; rarely, an abnormal heart rhythm.

Moss rose (Portulaca)

Contains soluble calcium oxalates. ASPCA lists drooling and tremors; kidney failure is rare in cats. Merck notes a nibble usually causes only stomach upset.

Pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)

Its milky sap irritates the mouth and stomach and sometimes causes vomiting. ASPCA calls it "generally over-rated in toxicity".

Sago palm (Cycas revoluta)

One of the most dangerous plants for pets. Cycasin can cause vomiting, black stools, yellow gums, bruising and bleeding problems, liver failure and death. All parts are toxic, and the seeds are the worst. Call immediately if your cat chewed any part of one.

Snake plant (Sansevieria)

Contains saponins. Expect nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)

Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals irritate the mouth, causing burning, drooling, vomiting and trouble swallowing.

Tomato plant

The leaves, stems and unripe green fruit contain solanine. Signs include drooling, poor appetite, severe stomach upset, weakness, dilated pupils and a slow heart rate. Ripe tomatoes are non-toxic.

Tulip

Tulipalin A and B are in the whole plant but concentrated in the bulb. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and depression.

Yucca

Contains saponins. ASPCA lists vomiting in cats.

Signs a Cat Has Eaten a Toxic Plant

Signs depend on the plant, but these are the common ones:

• Drooling, pawing at the mouth, foaming
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Not eating, low energy
• Wobbly walking, tremors or seizures
• Trouble breathing
• Drinking or peeing more than usual (with lilies, a sign of kidney damage)

With lilies, sago palm and lily of the valley, don't wait for signs. Call as soon as you know about the exposure.

What to Do if Your Cat Ate a Plant

1. Move your cat away from the plant and take any leaves or petals out of reach. If you see pollen on the fur, say so when you call.
2. Identify the plant. Bring the plant, the plant label, or a clear photo of it. This lets the vet tell a true lily from a harmless look-alike.
3. Call right away, even if your cat seems fine:
   • Your veterinarian or nearest emergency clinic
   • ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day (a consultation fee may apply)
   • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies)
4. Do not make your cat vomit at home. ASPCA warns that nothing can be given at home to safely make a cat vomit, and hydrogen peroxide is too irritating to a cat's stomach and esophagus. Salt, oils and fingers down the throat are dangerous too. Cornell's Feline Health Center adds: only induce vomiting if a vet or poison center specifically tells you to.
5. Have the details ready: what plant, which part, roughly how much, when, and any signs so far.

At the clinic, the vet may remove any remaining plant material, bathe off pollen, run baseline blood and urine tests, and for lilies give intravenous fluids in hospital while kidney values are monitored. Your veterinarian decides what your cat needs.

Cat-Safe Plants

ASPCA lists these plants as non-toxic to cats, in its plant database or its guide to pet-safe flowers. Non-toxic means no poisoning is expected, not that the plant is a snack: any plant can cause a mild upset stomach if a cat eats a lot.

Houseplants

• Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
• Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
• Parlor palm, also called bamboo palm or good luck palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
• Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)
• Lady palm (Rhapis)
• Money tree (Pachira aquatica)
• Calathea and prayer plant (Calathea, Maranta)
• Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)
• African violet (Saintpaulia)
• Baby rubber plant and other peperomias (Peperomia obtusifolia)
• Aluminum plant and friendship plant (Pilea)
• Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
• Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla)
• Christmas cactus and Easter cactus
• Hens and chicks, haworthia
• Rex begonia vine (Cissus discolor) and trailing watermelon begonia (Pellionia daveauana), not true begonias

Flowers

• Roses, sunflowers, gerbera daisies, snapdragons, zinnias, asters, freesia
• Garden marigold (Calendula officinalis) and cape marigold (Dimorphotheca)
• Coral bells, also called alumroot (Heuchera sanguinea)
• Hibiscus and rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
• Jasmine (Jasminum)

Herbs, garden plants and trees

• Basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, lemon balm, fennel
• Squash, zucchini, cucumber, banana
• American chestnut (Castanea dentata), star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), mulberry, bottlebrush (Callistemon), golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)

Watch the names. "Christmas cactus" is safe but "Christmas rose" is not. "Rex begonia vine" is safe but rex begonia is not. American chestnut is safe, while horse chestnut (Aesculus) is on ASPCA's toxic list. Baby's breath is a bouquet regular, but ASPCA only lists one species (Gypsophila elegans), not necessarily the one florists use, so ask your vet if your cat chews it. When in doubt, look up the scientific name on the ASPCA plant list before you buy.

Keeping Cats and Plants Together

• No true lilies in the house or the garden, bouquets included. The FDA also suggests not planting them where outdoor cats roam.
• Look up the scientific name on the label before you buy or gift a plant.
• Put irritating plants in hanging planters or a room the cat can't enter. Cats climb, so a high shelf is not always enough.
• Keep cats out of pots and beds where tulip, daffodil or amaryllis bulbs are stored or planted.
• Save both poison line numbers in your phone now.

Share this with anyone who sends flowers to cat owners. If you also have a dog, our list of yard plants poisonous to dogs covers the garden side.

Originally written by Alianna Munakata. Updated by the I Love Veterinary editorial team.

Sources

• FDA: Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants for Cats
• ASPCA: Do You Know Which Flowers and Plants are Toxic to Pets?
• ASPCA: Is It Ever Safe to Induce Vomiting?
• ASPCA Poison Control
• Pet Poison Helpline: Lilies
• Pet Poison Helpline: Holiday Plants
• Pet Poison Helpline: Poinsettia
• Pet Poison Helpline: Holly
• Pet Poison Helpline: Mistletoe
• Pet Poison Helpline: Amaryllis
• Pet Poison Helpline: What to do if your pet is poisoned
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Easter Peril: Look Out for Lilies and Other Items
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.