Plants Poisonous to Cats

Mammals including humans, dogs and cats, all alike need many different nutrients that are present in the green plants, especially leaves. Sometimes you might notice your cat or dog chewing on the leaves of some or the other plant. Mammals like cats chew on these plants in order to consume some important nutrient such as fiber, vitamins, etc. The feline family has a habit of chewing on the leaves of plants that are kept indoors. The drawback of this habit is that there are some plants that have substances which are toxic to almost all cats.

At times the chemical insecticides and other pesticides that are sprayed on the plants also tend to be toxic to cats. Many cat owners have discovered indoor and outdoor plants that are not poisonous to cats, having fatal effects on cats due to the pesticides and insecticides. One of the best solutions to keep the cats away from these plants is to spray some diluted lemon juice on the plants, as most of the cats hate the smell and taste of the lemon juice. It is also very important to cover up the soil of the plant with a wire mesh.

While selecting a plant for your garden, you must exclude the following plants as they have proved to be fatal to many cats.

Plants Poisonous to Cats

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X |Y | Z |

A

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Adam-and-Eve	Arum, Lord-and-Ladies, Wake Robin, Starch Root, Bobbins or Cuckoo Plant	Insoluble calcium oxalates	Oral irritation, irritation on tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty in swallowing
African Wonder Tree	Ricinus communis	Ricin	Loss of appetite, excessive thirst, weakness, colic, trembling, sweating, loss of coordination, difficulty in breathing, depression and fever. You may also notice some other symptoms such as bloody diarrhea. Ricin is one of the worst poisons for cats and can result into coma or death
Amaryllis	Belladonna lily, Saint Joseph lily, Cape Belladonna	Lycorine	Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia and tremors
Ambrosia Mexicana	Jerusalem Oak and Feather Geranium	Sesquiterpene lactones	Vomiting, anorexia and depression
American Mandrake	Mayapple, Indian Apple Root, Umbrella Leaf, Wild Lemon, Hog Apple, Duck's Foot and Raccoonberry	Podophyllin	Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, panting and skin ulcers. The consumption of the American Mandrake is known to have resulted into coma

B

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Barbados Aloe	Medicine Plant and True Aloe	Anthraquinones, Anthracene glycosides which is also known as Aloin	Vomiting, red colored urine
Barbados Pride	Peacock Flower and Dwarf Poinciana	GI Irritants and Tannins	Vomiting and diarrhea
Bead Tree	China Ball Tree, Paradise Tree, Persian Lilac, White Cedar, Japanese Bead Tree, Texas Umbrella Tree, Pride-of-India, Chinaberry Tree	Tetranortriterpenes which is also known as, Meliatoxins	Diarrhea, vomiting, excessive salivation, depression, weakness and seizures
Bergamot Orange	Bergamot and Citrus bergamia	Psoralens	Vomiting, diarrhea and depression
Bishop's Weed	Greater Ammi and False Queen Anne's Lace	Insoluble calcium oxalates	Oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty in swallowing

C

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Cardboard Palm	Cycads and zamias	Cycasin	Vomiting, melena, icterus, thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, damage to liver or even failure and even death
Carnation	Pinks, Wild Carnation and Sweet William	Poisonous substance not yet known	Mild signs of gastrointestinal and dermatitis
Ceriman	Cutleaf Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Swiss Cheese Plant and Mexican Breadfruit	Insoluble calcium oxalates	Oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing
Chamomile	Manzanilla, Garden Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, True Chamomile, Corn Feverfew, Barnyard Daisy, Ground-apple and Turkey-weed	Volatile oil, bisabolol, chamazulene, anthemic acid and tannic acid	Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and allergic reactions
Cherry	Prunus species	Cyanogenic glycosides	Brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty in breathing, panting and shock

D

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Daisy	Chrysanthemum and Mum	Sesquiterpene, lactones and pyrethrins	Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination and dermatitis
Desert Azalea	Desert Rose, Mock Azalea, Sabi Star, Impala Lily and Kudu Lily	Glycosides and other Digitalis	Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, irregular heartbeat and may also cause death in extreme cases
Dieffenbachia	Charming Dieffenbachia, Giant Dumb Cane, Tropic Snow, Dumbcane, Exotica, Spotted Dumb Cane, Exotica Perfection	Insoluble calcium oxalates and proteolytic enzyme	Oral irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty in swallowing
Dock	Sorrel	Soluble calciumoxalates	Kidney failure, tremors and salivation
Dracaena	Corn Plant, Cornstalk Plant, Dragon Tree and Ribbon Plant	Saponins	Vomiting, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation and dilated pupils

E

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Emerald Feather	Emerald Fern, Asparagus, Asparagus fern, Sprengeri fern, Plumosa fern, Lace fern, Racemose asparagus and Shatavari	Unknown toxic substances	Gastric upset
English Holly	European Holly, Oregon Holly, Inkberry, Winterberry and American Holly	Saponins	Vomiting, diarrhea and depression
English Ivy	Branching Ivy, Glacier Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy, Sweetheart Ivy, California Ivy	Triterpenoid saponins also known as hederagenin	Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation and diarrhea
English Yew	Western Yew, Pacific Yew, Japanese Yew, Anglo-Japanese Yew	Taxine A and B and Volatile oil	Acute heart failure and possibility of death
Eucalyptus	Eucalyptol	Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and weakness	Not verified

F

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Fig	Weeping Fig and Indian Rubber Plant	Proteolytic enzyme and psoralen	Oral irritation, salivation and vomiting
Fire Lily	Amaryllis, Barbados Lily, Lily of the Palace, Ridderstjerne	Lycorine	Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea and blood pressure
Flag	Iris, Snake Lily and Water Flag	Zeorin, missourin and missouriensin	Salivation, vomiting, drooling,lethargy and diarrhea
Fleabane	Showy Daisy, Horseweed, Seaside Daisy	Not known	Mild vomiting, diarrhea
Florida Beauty	Gold dust dracaena and Spotted dracaena	Agavaceae	Dilated pupils, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, increased heart rate and drooling

G

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Garlic	Stinking rose, Rustic treacle, Comphor of the poor, Nectar of the gods, Serpet garlic and Rocambole	N-propyl disulfide	Blood in urine, weakness, high heart rate, panting and in some cases vomiting
Gladiola	Gladiolus species	Unknown	Salivation, vomiting, drooling,lethargy and diarrhea
Gloriosa Lily	Glory Lily, Climbing Lily and Superb Lily	Colchicine	Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, shock, kidney failure, liver damage and bone marrow suppression
Golden Pothos	Pothos, Devil's Ivy, Taro Vine, Ivy Arum	Insoluble calcium oxalates	Oral irritation and vomiting
Ground Apple	Mayweed, Poison Daisy, Stinking Chamomile, Dog Daisy, Dog Fennel and Chamomile	Bisabolol, chamazulene, anthemic acid and tannic acid	Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and allergic reactions

H

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Hashish	Marijuana and Indian Hemp	Tetrahydrocannabinol	Prolonged depression, vomiting and incoordination
Holly	English Holly, European Holly, Oregon Holly, Inkberry, Winterberry and American Holly	Saponins	Vomiting, diarrhea and depression
Horseweed	Showy Daisy, Fleabane and Seaside Daisy	Unknown, not yet discovered	Mild vomiting and diarrhea
House Pine	Australian Pine, Norfolk Pine and Norfolk Island Pine	Unknown	Vomiting and depression
Hyacinth	Hyacinthus oreintalis	Narcissus and other alkaloids	Intense vomiting and diarrhea

I

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Indian Apple	Mayapple, Indian Apple Root, Umbrella Leaf, Wild Lemon, Hog Apple, Duck's Foot, Raccoonberry and American Mandrake	Podophyllin	Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, panting and coma
Inkberry	English Holly, European Holly, Oregon Holly, American Holly and Winterberry	Saponins	Vomiting, diarrhea and depression
Ivy Arum	Pothos, Golden Pothos, Taro Vine and Devil's Ivy	Insoluble calcium oxalates	Oral irritation
Iris	Flag, Snake Lily and Water Flag	Zeorin, missourin and missouriensin	Salivation, vomiting, drooling,lethargy and diarrhea
Impala Lily	Desert Rose, Mock Azalea, Sabi Star, Desert Azalea and Kudu Lily	Glycosides	Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, irregular heartbeat and even death

J

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Jade Plant	Baby Jade, Dwarf rubber plant, Jade tree, Chinese rubber plant and Japanese rubber plant	Unknown	Vomiting, depression, ataxia and slow heart rate
Jack-in-the-pulpit	Three-leaved indian turnip, Devil's dear, Wake robin, Starch wort, Wild turnip, Dragon root, Bog onion, Pepper turnip, Brown dragon and Memory root	Insoluble calcium oxalates	Vomiting and difficulty in swallowing
Japanese Show Lily	Lilium speciosum	Unknown	Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure or death

K

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Klamath Weed	St. John's Wort	Hypericin	Photosensitization
Kudu Lily	Desert Azalea, Mock Azalea, Sabi Star, Impala Lily, Desert Rose	Glycosides	Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, irregular heartbeat and death
Kalanchoe	Mother-In-Law-Plant, Devils Backbone, Chandelier Plant and Mother of Millions	Bufodienolides	Vomiting, diarrhea and abnormal heart rhythm
Kaffir Lily	Clivia Lily	Lycorine	Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias

L

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Laurel	Mountain laurel, Spoonwood, Mountain Ivy, Calico Bush and Ivy Bush	Grayanotoxins	Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, cardiovascular collapse, hypersalivation, weakness, coma, low blood pressure and even death
Leatherflower	Clematis and Virgin's Bower	Protoanemonin	Salivation, vomiting and diarrhea
Leek	Elephant Garlic	N-propyl disulfide	Vomiting and breakdown of red blood cells
Lily	Lilium species	Unknown	Kidney failure

M

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Marble Queen	Golden Pothos	Calcium oxalate crystals	Variable in most of the cases
Medicine Plant	Aloe, True Aloe and Barbados Aloe	Anthraquinones and anthracene glycosides	Vomiting and red urine
Milfoil	Yarrow	Glycoalkaloids, monoterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones	Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia and hypersalivation
Moss Rose	Wild Portulaca, Rock Moss, Purslane, Pigwee and Pusley	Soluble calcium oxalates	Variable

N

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Nandina	Sacred Bamboo and Heavenly Bamboo	Cyanogenic glycosides	Weakness, incoordination, seizures, coma, respiratory failure and possibility of death
Narcissus	Daffodil	Lycorine	Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias
Nicotiana	Tree Tobacco, Tobacco and Mustard Tree	Nicotine	Hyperexcitability then depression, vomiting, incoordination, paralysis and death
Norfolk Island Pine	Norfolk Pine, House Pine and Australian Pine	Unknown	Vomiting and depression

O

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Oleander	Rose Bay	Cardiac glycosides	Diarrhea
Onion	Allium cepa	N-propyl disulfide	Gastrointestinal upset
Orange	Citrus sinensis	Psoralens	Vomiting, diarrhea and depression

P

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Peace Lily	Mauna Loa Peace Lily	Insoluble calcium oxalates	Oral irritation
Peach	Plum, Apricot and Cherry	Cyanogenic glycosides	Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock

R

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Red Lily	Lilium umbellatum	Lilium umbellatum	Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy and kidney failure
Rosebay	Rhododendron and Azalea	Grayantoxin	Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, weakness and coma

S

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Sprengeri Fern	Asparagus, Emerald Feather, Emerald Fern, Plumosa Fern	Sapogenins	Gastric upset
Sowbread	Cyclamen	Terpenoid saponins	Salivation, vomiting and diarrhea
Solomon's Lily	Black Calla, Wild Calla and Wild Arum	Insoluble calcium oxalates	Oral irritation

T

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Taro	Caladium, Elephant Ears, Pai, Ape, Cape, Via, Via sori and Malanga	Calcium oxalate crystals	Oral irritation and excessive drooling
Tulip	Tulipa species	Tulipalin A and B	Vomiting, depression and diarrhea

U

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Umbrella Tree	Schefflera, Australian Ivy Palm, Octopus Tree and Starleaf	Terpenoids, saponins and insoluble oxalates	Mild vomiting and diarrhea

W

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Water Hemlock	Cowbane, poison parsnip	Cicutoxin	Diarrhea, seizures, tremors, extreme stomach pain, dilated pupils, fever and bloat
Weeping Fig	Fig and Indian rubber plant	Proteolytic enzyme	Variable

Y

Name of Poisonous Plant	Other Names of the Plant	Toxic Components	Symptoms of Consumption
Yarrow	Milfoil	Glycoalkaloids	Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia and also hypersalivation
Yew Pine	Buddhist pine	Unknown	Sever vomiting
Yucca	None	Saponins	Liver disease

Cat Grass
Your cat at the same time needs a lot of nutrients that are present in the parts and leaves of these plants. Hence, many pet shops have also started providing cat owners with a potted plant that is known as 'cat grass'. The cat grass is basically a plant that contains all the nutrients like fibers, vitamins and minerals, that are needed by the cats. It is better to have cat grass which can be kept as an outdoor or indoor plant. Poisonous plants to cats are not always fatal and at times, the cats themselves eject the toxic substances through vomit.

Now that you know the name and description of outdoor and indoor plants that are poisonous to cats, you can keep your feline friend away from these. A precaution that you must follow while purchasing a plant at the nursery, is to confirm if the plants are poisonous to cats or not.