Levels of toxicity can range from mild gastrointestinal disturbances to severe and life-threatening toxicity.
Symptoms of poisoning can vary depending on the plant ingested, but common signs can include the following:
- Drooling
- Wobbly gait
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Seizures
- Increased or decreased urination
- Loss of appetite
- Mouth ulcers
- Dilated pupils
Related: Ten common plants toxic to cats
What are insoluble calcium oxalate crystals?
Many plants have evolved to protect themselves from herbivores with needle-like raphides of calcium oxalate. When the plant is chewed, these needle-like crystals embed in the delicate tissues of the oral cavity leading to swelling, vesicles, difficulty swallowing, oral pain, drooling, and in severe cases, swelling of the throat which can cause difficulty breathing.
Rubber plant
- Scientific name: Ficus elastica
- Other names: Rubber fig, Indian rubber bush, Indian rubber tree, rubber fig, rubber bush
- Level of toxicity: Mild
- Toxic compound: Ficin and ficusin
- Toxic parts: Sap
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite
Peace lily
- Scientific name: Spathiphyllum spp.
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: Mild gastrointestinal disturbances and skin irritation
- Causes: Oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing
Dieffenbachia
- Scientific name: Dieffenbachia spp.
- Other names: Dieffenbachia, Dumbcane, mother-in-law’s tongue
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing
Zanzibar (ZZ) plant
- Scientific name: Zamioculcas spp.
- Other names: Zuzu plant, emerald palm, Zanzibar gem
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing
Cyclamen
- Scientific name: Cyclamen spp.
- Other names: Sowbread
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Toxic compound: Terpenoid saponins
- Toxic parts: All parts, the tubers are the most toxic
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances and abnormal heart rhythm
- Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy and abnormal heart rhythm
String of pearls, beans, bananas
- Scientific name: Curio spp. (formerly Senecio spp.)
- Other names: String of beans, String of pearls, String of dolphins, String of watermelon
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Toxic compound: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Mild gastrointestinal disturbances and liver toxicity if large amounts ingested (uncommon)
- Symptoms: Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite
Sago palm
- Scientific name: Cycas spp.
- Other names: Sago palm, king sago, sago cycad, Japanese sago palm, fern palm, coontie palm, cardboard palms, queen sago
- Level of toxicity: Severe
- Toxic compound: Cycasin, methylazoxymethanol (MAM), B-N-methylamino-L-alanine (L-BMAA) and unidentified
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant, seeds contain the highest amount of toxin
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances and liver failure
- Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, increased thirst, abdominal pain, abdominal fluid, jaundice (yellow gums), bleeding, bruising, dark tarry stools
Swiss cheese plant
- Scientific name: Monstera deliciosa
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: Window leaf plant, hurricane plant, Swiss cheese plant, cheese plant, ceriman, Mexican breadfruit
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing
Jade plant
- Scientific name: Crassula spp.
- Level of toxicity: Moderate
- Other names: Japanese rubber pant, baby jade, friendship tree, lucky plant
- Toxic compound: Unknown
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Symptoms: Vomiting, lethargy, incoordination
Aloe Vera
- Scientific name: Aloe Vera
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: First aid plant
- Toxic compound: Saponins, anthraquinone glycosides
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy
Anthurium
- Scientific name: Anthurium scherzeranum
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Common names: Pigtail plant, painter’s pallet, laceleaf, oilcloth flower, flamingo lily and tail flower
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Mild gastrointestinal disturbances and skin irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite
Pothos
- Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: Devil’s ivy, golden pothos, taro vine, silver vine, ivy arum, hunter’s robe
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite
Elephant Ear
- Scientific name: Colocasia spp.
- Other names: Tarul, karkala ko ganu, elephant-ear, taro, cocoyam, dasheen, chembu, champadhumpa, shavige gadde, eddoe.
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing
Cordyline
- Scientific name: Cordyline spp.
- Other names: Ti-plant
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Toxic compound: Saponins
- Toxic parts: Leaves
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, dilated pupils
Schefflera
- Scientific name: Schefflera spp.
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: Umbrella plant, Australian ivy palm, star leaf, octopus tree
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite
Asparagus fern
- Scientific name: Asparagus aethiopicus
- Level of toxicity: Mild
- Other names: Sprenger’s asparagus, foxtail fern, emerald feather, emerald fern
- Toxic compound: Saponins
- Toxic parts: Berries
- Causes: Mild gastrointestinal disturbances and skin irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling, and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite.
Sansevieria
- Scientific name: Dracaena trifasciata syn. Sansevieria trifasciata
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: Snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue
- Toxic compound: Saponins
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Mild gastrointestinal upset
- Symptoms: Nausea, drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea
Corn plant (dracaena)
- Scientific name: Dracaena spp.
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: Corn plant, cornstalk plant, dragon tree, ribbon plant, money tree
- Toxic compound: Saponins
- Toxic parts: Leaves
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, dilated pupils
Philodendron
Scientific name: Philodendron spp.
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: The philodendron comes in over 400 species, some common names include split-leaf philodendron, horsehead philodendron, cordatum, fiddle-leaf, panda plant, red emerald, red princess, saddle leaf
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats
- Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain, and swelling, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite
Fiddle-leaf fig
- Scientific name: Ficus lyrata
- Level of toxicity: Mild
- Toxic compound: Unknown
- Toxic parts: Sap
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite
Yucca plant
- Scientific name: Yucca spp.
- Level of toxicity: Mild
- Toxic compound: Saponins
- Toxic parts: Leaves
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, dilated pupils
HippeastrumÂ
- Scientific name: Hippeastrum spp.
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: Hippeastrum, Amaryllis (incorrectly)
- Toxic compound: Lycorine
- Toxic parts: All parts, the bulb, and the leaves are the most toxic
- Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and tremors
Calla lily
- Scientific name: Zantedeschia aethiopica
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: Arum lily, calla lily, florist’s calla, pig lily, white arum, trumpet lily, white arum, garden calla
- Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic parts: All parts, the roots are the most toxic
- Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation
- Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite
Bird of paradise
- Scientific name: Strelitzia reginae
- Level of toxicity: Mild to moderate
- Other names: Crane flower, bird’s tongue flower
- Toxic compound: Unknown
- Toxic parts: All parts, fruit, and seeds contain the most toxins
- Causes: Gastrointestinal irritation
- Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, drooling, lethargy