Common House (Indoor) Plants Toxic To Cats

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

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

Is ficus toxic to cats? — Variegated Ficus elastica

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

Hippeastrum

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

Author

Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder

Julia Wilson is the founder of Cat-World, and has researched and written over 1,000 articles about cats. She is a cat expert with over 20 years of experience writing about a wide range of cat topics, with a special interest in cat health, welfare and preventative care. Julia lives in Sydney with her family, four cats and two dogs. Full author bio

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