Toxic Houseplants for Cats: What to Avoid and Why

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

Cats chew plants for many reasons: boredom, curiosity, an instinct to eat greens or simply because the leaves flutter. Most houseplants that cats nibble cause only a mild stomach upset, but a handful are dangerous enough to need emergency care. Knowing which is which lets you keep the greenery you love without gambling with your cat's health.

How plant toxicity works

Plants protect themselves with chemicals, and those chemicals affect cats in a few main ways.

• Insoluble calcium oxalates are needle-like crystals in plants such as pothos, philodendron, peace lily and dieffenbachia. They cause immediate pain in the mouth, drooling, pawing at the face and sometimes vomiting. It looks alarming, but it is rarely life-threatening.
• Saponins in plants like aloe, jade and snake plant irritate the digestive tract and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
• Cardiac glycosides in oleander, lily of the valley and some kalanchoe species interfere with the heart's rhythm and are a true emergency.
• Organ toxins are the most serious. True lilies damage kidneys, and sago palm contains cycasin, which can cause liver failure.

Plants that are true emergencies

If your cat chews any of these, call a veterinarian or poison helpline immediately, even if your cat seems normal:

• True lilies and daylilies cause acute kidney failure from tiny exposures. See our full guide on lilies and cats.
• Sago palm is toxic in every part, and the seeds are the most dangerous. Vomiting, bloody stool and liver failure can follow.
• Oleander affects the heart and can be fatal with a small amount of leaf.
• Azalea and rhododendron contain grayanotoxins that cause drooling, vomiting, weakness and heart rhythm changes.
• Autumn crocus can cause severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea and damage to multiple organs.
• Lily of the valley contains heart-affecting compounds.
• Yew is highly toxic to the heart.

Common houseplants that cause moderate problems

These plants are widespread in homes. They usually cause drooling, vomiting or irritation rather than organ failure, but they still deserve a vet call if your cat eats a lot or seems unwell:

• Pothos and philodendron (see are pothos and philodendron toxic to cats)
• Dieffenbachia, often called dumb cane
• Peace lily and calla lily
• English ivy
• Jade plant
• Snake plant
• ZZ plant
• Aloe vera (see is aloe vera toxic to cats)
• Kalanchoe
• Cyclamen, where the tuber holds the most toxin
• Tulip, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs
• Poinsettia, whose sap is irritating but rarely severe

What to do if your cat chews a toxic plant

1. Remove the plant and any pieces from your cat's mouth if it is safe to do so.
2. Rinse the mouth gently with water if your cat is drooling or pawing at its face, but do not force water.
3. Take a clear photo of the whole plant and, if possible, keep a leaf. Note how much seems to be missing.
4. Call a vet, an emergency clinic or an animal poison helpline. The US vet directory and our emergency warning signs for cats can help you decide how urgent it is.
5. Do not give milk, oil or home remedies, and do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to.

Making your home safer

You do not have to give up plants entirely. A few simple steps reduce risk:

• Choose safe species. Our list of cat-safe houseplants is a good starting point.
• Label your plants. Keep the tags from the nursery so you can identify a plant in an emergency.
• Separate the dangerous ones. Rehome true lilies, sago palm and oleander from any home with a cat.
• Offer something better to chew. A pot of cat grass satisfies the urge to graze. Rotate fresh pots every week or two.
• Watch the water. Cats may drink from saucers and vases, and bulbs and cut flowers can leach toxins into the water.

How to identify the plants you already own

Many people inherit plants or buy them without a tag, which makes safety checks hard. Start with the nursery label or the receipt, which usually gives a botanical name. If you have neither, a plant identification app or a local garden center can usually name a plant from a clear photo of the leaves and any flowers. Write the botanical name on a stick in the pot, because common names such as "palm", "lily" and "ivy" each cover both harmless and dangerous species. Keeping a short list of every plant in your home, saved on your phone, means you can read it out to a vet or poison line in seconds if something goes wrong.

A note on outdoor and seasonal plants

Cats that go outdoors meet a different set of hazards, such as azaleas, yew hedges and daylilies in garden beds. The holiday season brings poinsettias, amaryllis, mistletoe and holly into the house, along with the occasional lily bouquet. Check the species before decorating, and keep cut stems and fallen berries out of reach.

If you are unsure about a particular plant, our free cat food and plant safety checker lists the most common foods and houseplants and how risky each is. It is a starting point and not a replacement for professional advice, so when in doubt, call.