Common Cat Poisons

Last Updated on October 3, 2021 by Julia Wilson

If you suspect your cat has eaten a toxin, seek immediate veterinary care. If possible, take a sample or a photograph along with you.

Related: Ten common plants toxic to cats

Toxic Plants Acocanthera Aconite Alfalfa Almond (pits) Aloe Vera Alocasia Alsike Clover Amaryllis Amsinckia Angels Trumpet Angels Wings Apple (seeds) Apple Leaf Croton Apricot (Pits) Arrowgrass Arrowhead Vine Asparagus Fern Autumn Crocus Avocado (fruit and pit) AzaleaBaby’s Breath Baneberry Bayonet Beargrass Beech Belladonna Bird of Paradise Bitter Cherry Bitter Nightshade Bittersweet Black-eyed Susan Black Locust Bleeding Heart Bloodroot Bluebonnet Blue Flag Blue-Green Algae Boston Ivy Bouncing Bet Box Boxwood Bracken fern Brake Fern Branching Ivy Buckeyes Buddist Pine Bull Nettle Burning Bush ButtercupCactus spp. Candelabra Caladium Caley Pea Calfkill Calla Lily Candelabra Cactus Castor bean Ceriman Chalice Vine Charming Chinaberry tree Chinese Evergreen Chinese Inkberry Christmas Plant Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum Cineraria Clematis Climbing Nightshade Clover Cocklebur Common Burdock Common Privet Common Tansy Coral Plant Corydalis Cordatum Coriaria Cornflower Corn Plant Cornstalk Plant Cowslip Crabs Eye Croton Corydalis Crocus, Autumn Crown of Thorns Cuban Laurel Cuckoo Pint Cutleaf Philodendron Cycads Cyclamen Cypress SpurgeDaffodil Daphne Datura Day Lily Deadly Nightshade Death Camas Devil’s Ivy Delphinium Decentrea Dieffenbachia Dog Bane Dolls Eyes Dracaena Palm Dragon Tree Dutchman’s Breeches Dumbcane Dwarf LarkspurEaster Flower Easter Lily Eggplant Elaine Elderberry Elephant Ear Emerald Duke Emerald Feather English Ivy English Yew Ergot Eucalyptus Euonymus Euphorbia Evergreen Everlasting Pea False Cactus False Hellebore Ferns Feverfew Fiddle-leaf fig Fiddleneck Florida Beauty Flag Flax Fleur-de-lis Fly Agaric Four O’Clock Foxglove Foxtail Barley Fruit Salad PlantGeranium German Ivy Ghostweed Giant Dumb Cane Glacier Ivy Golden Chain Gold Dieffenbachia Gold Dust Dracaena Golden Chain Golden Glow Golden Pothos Gopher Purge Green Dragon Green False Hellebore Ground Ivy GroundselHahn’s Self-Branching Ivy Heartland Philodendron Hellebore Hemlock, Poison Hemlock, Water Henbane Holly Honeysuckle Horse beans Horsebrush Horse Chestnut Horse Nettle Horse Tail Hurricane Plant Hyacinth Hydrangea Impatiens Indian Rubber Plant Indian Tobacco Indian Turnip Inkberry Iris Iris IvyJack in the Pulpit Jamestown Weed Janet Craig Dracaena Japanese Show Lily Jatropha Java Beans Jequirity Bean Jessamine Jerusalem Cherry Jimsonweed Johnsongrass Jonquil Jungle Trumpets JuniperKalanchoe Klamath WeedLaburnum Lacy Tree Philodendron Lambkill Lantana Larkspur Laurel Lily Lily Spider Lily of the Valley Lima Bean Locoweed Lords and Ladies LupineMadagascar Dragon Tree Majesty Mandrake Marble Queen Marigold Marijuana Mayapple Mescal Bean Mexican Breadfruit Mexican Poppy Milk Bush Milkweed Milo Miniature Croton Mistletoe Mock Orange Monkshood Moonseed Morning Glory Mother-in Law’s Tongue Morning Glory Mountain Laurel MushroomsNap-at-noon Narcissus Needlepoint Ivy Nephytis Nightshade NutmegOaks Oleander Onion Oriental Lily Panther Cap Mushroom Parlour Ivy Peace Lily Peach (pits and wilting leaves) Pencil Cactus Pennyroyal Peony Periwinkle Philodendron spp. Pie Plant Pimpernel Pin Cherry Pinks Plumosa Fern Poinciana Poinsettia Poison Hemlock Poison Ivy Poison Oak Pokeweed Poppy Potato Pothos Precatory Bean Primrose PrivetQuaker BonnetsRagwort Red Clover Red Emerald Red Maple Red Princess Red-Margined Dracaena Red Sage Rhododendron Rhubarb Ribbon Plant Richweed Rosemary Pea Rubber PlantSaddle Leaf Philodendron Sago Palm Satin Pothos Schefflera Scotch Broom Scouringbrush Senecio Sensitive Fern Sheep Laurel Silver Pothos Silver Queen Singletary Pea Skunk Cabbage Snake Plant Snapdragon Snowdrops Snow on the Mountain Soapwort Sorghum Spotted Dumb Cane Squirrelcorn Squirreltail Barley St. Johnswort Staggerweed Star of Bethlehem Stinging Nettle String of Pearls Striped Dracaena Sudan Grass Sweet Cherry Sweetheart Ivy Sweetpea Swiss Cheese plantTangia Pea Tansy Mustard Tansy Ragwort Taro Vine Tarweed Thornapple Tiger Lily Tinsel Tree Tobacco Tolguacha Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves) Tree Philodendron Tri-leaf-wonder Trillium Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia Trumpet Vine Tulip Tung TreeValley Venus Flytrap Verbena Virginia CreeperWalnuts Water Hemlock Weeping Fig West Indian Lantana White Clover White Hellebore White Sanicle White Snakeroot Wild Barley Wild Black Cherry Wild Bleeding Heart Wild Call Wisteria Wolfs Bane Wood NettleYellow Jasmine Yellow Jessamine Yellow Oleander Yellow Sage Yellow Star Thistle Yew Non-toxic plants Achira Acorn summer squash African violet Airplane Plant Algarroba Aluminium Plant Alumroot American Plane Tree Anthericum Comosum Antirrhinum Multiflorum Arabian Gentian Aregelia Artillery Plant Aspidium falcatum Aubepine Autumn OliveBaby Rubber Plant Baby Tears Bachelor’s Buttons Ball Fern Bamboo Palm Bamboo Vine Bamboo Banana Banana Squash Barrel Cactus Beefsteak Plant Begonia Belmore Sentry Palm Big Shellbark Hickory Bitter Pecan Bitternut Hickory Black Haw Black Hawthorn Blaspheme vine Bloodleaf Plant Blooming Sally Blue Daisy Bluebottle Blushing Bromeliad Bold Sword Fern Boston Fern Bottle Palm Bottlebrush Brazilian Orchid Bride’s Bonnet Bristly Greenbrier Brodiaea Pulchella Broom Hickory Bullbrier Bur Gourd Burro’s Tail Buttercup Squash Butterfly Ginger Butterfly Iris Butterfly Squash Butterfly Tulip Butterfly Orchid Button FernCaeroba Calathea Insignis California Pitcher Plant Callistemon citrinus Callistemon Bradyandrus Callistemon Viminalis Calochortus Nuttall Calthea Lancifolia Camellia Canada Hemlock Canary Date Palm Candle Plant Candy corn Plant Canna Lily Canterbury Bell Cape Jasmine Cape Primrose Carob Tree Carob Caroba Carobinha Carolina Hemlock Carrion Flower Carrot Fern Carrot Flower Casaba Melon Cast Iron Plant Cat Ear Cat Grass Catnip Cattleya Celosia Chamaedorean Humilis Chicken Gizzard Plant Chinese Fan Palm Chinese Plumbago Chlorophytum Chlorophytum Bichetii Chocolate Soldier Plant Christmas Dagger Fern Christmas Palm Christmas Orchid Cinnamon jasmine Cinquefoil Cirrhopetalum Clearweed Cliff Brake Fern Club Moss Cockscomb Coleus Common Staghorn Fern Confederate Jasmine Cool wort Copperleaf Coral Ardisia Coral Bells Cornflower Crape Myrtle Crataegus Phaenopyrum Crataegus Creeping Charlie Creeping Gloxinia Creeping Jenny Creeping Mahonia Creeping Pilea Creeping Rubus Creeping Zinnia Crepe Myrtle Crimson Bottlebrush Crimson Cup Crossandra Cucumber Cushion Moss Cushion Aloe Cyrtudeira ReptansDancing Doll Orchid Donkey Tail Dwarf Date PalmEaster Daisy Easter Lily Cactus Easter Orchid Easter lily Cactus Elephant Ear Begonia Emerald Ripple Peperomia English Hawthorn Epidendrum EpisciaFingernail Plant Fire Weed Forster Sentry Palm Fortunes Palm Freckle Face Friendship PlantGerbera Gherkins Ghost Plant Ghost Leafless Orchid Giant White Inch Plant Giant Holly Fern Giant Aster Gibasis Geniculata Globe Thistle Gloxinia Gold Bloom Goldfish Plant Good Luck Palm Grape Hyacinth Grape Ivy Great Willow Herb Green Ripple Peperomia Greenbrier Hagbrier Haworthia Haw Hawthorn Hellfetter Hemlock Tree Hen & Chickens Fern Hickory Hindu Rope Plant Holly Fern Hollyhock Honey Locust Honey Plant Honeydew Melon Honeysuckle Fuchsia Hoya Hubbard Squash HypocyrtaIce Plant Imbricata sword fern Irish moss Iron cross begonia Iron tree Ivy-leaf peperomia Ivy peperomiaJackson Brier Jacob’s Ladder Japanese Aralia Japanese Pittosporum Japanese moss Japanese holly fern Jasmine Jewel orchid Joseph’s coat Jungle geraniumKaempferis Kahali Ginger Kenilworth Ivy Kentia Palm Kenya Palm Kenya Violet Kharoub King and Queen Fern King of the Forest King Nut Kuang-yen- pa-hsiehLace Flower Vine Lace Orchid Ladies Ear Drops Lady Lou Lady Palm Lagerstroemia Indica Lance Pleumele Large Lady Palm Leather Peperomia Lemon Bottlebrush Leng-fen tu’an Leopard Orchid Leopard Lily Lesser Snapdragon Lily of the Valley Orchid Linden Lipstick Plant Little Fantasy Peperomia Little Zebra Plant Living Rock Cactus Living Stones Locust Pods Lou-lang-t’ou LutherMadagascar Jasmine Magnolia Bush Mahonia Aquifolium Malabar Gourd Malaysian Dracaena Manila Palm Mapleleaf Begonia Maranta Marbled Fingernail Mariposa Lily Maroon Mary-Bud Measles Plant Melons Metallic Peperomia Metallic Leaf Begonia Mexican Firecracker Mexican Snowballs Mexican Rosettes Minature Maranta Miniature Marble Plant Miniature Fish Tail Miniature Date Palm Mistletoe Cactus Mockernut Hickory Mosaic Plant Mosiac Vase Moss Phlox Moss Agate Moss Rose Moss Campion Moss Fern Mossy Campion Mother Fern Mother of Pearl Plant Mother Spleenwort Mountain Camellia Mountain Grape Mulberry Bush Musa Paradisiaca Muscari spp. Muscari armeniacum MuskmelonNarrow-Leafed Pleomele Natal Plum Neanthe Bella palm Neanthebella Nematanthus spp. Neoregelia Nephrolepis Nerve Plant New Silver and Bronze Night Blooming CereusOdontoglossum spp. Old World Orchid Old Man Cactus Orange Star Oregon Grape Ossifragi VasePaddy’s Wig Painted Lady Palm Lily Pampas Grass Panamiga Pansy Orchid Paradise Palm Parlour Plant Parlor Palm Parsley Fern Peace Begonia Peacock Plant Pearl Plant Pearly Dots Peperomia Peltifolia Peperomia Rotundifolia Peperomia Fosteri Peperomia Sandersii Peperomia Hederifolia Pepper Face Persian Violet Pheasant Plant Piggy Back Plant Pigmy Date Palm Pignut Hickory Pignut Pilea Microphylla Pilea Mucosa Pink Polka Dot Plant Pink Pearl Pink Starlite Pink Brocade Pirliteiro Pitaya Platanus Occidentalis Platanus Orientalis Platinum Peperomia Platycerium Alicicorne Plumbago Larpentiae Plush Plant Polka Dot Plant Polystichum falcatum Pony Tail Palm Porcelain Flower Pot Marigold Prairie Snowball Prairie Lily Prayer Plant Prickly Bottlebrush Prostrate Coleus Purple Waffle Plant Purple Baby Tears Purple Passion Vine Purpleosier WillowQueen cup Queens Spiderwort Queensland ArrowrootRabbits Foot Fern Rainbow Orchid Red African Violet Red Veined Prayer Plant Red Berried Greenbrier Red Hawthorne Red Palm Lily Red Edge Peperomia Reed Palm Resurrection Lily Rex Begonia Rhynchosporium Ribbon Plant Roosevelt Fern Royal Velvet Plant Rubber Plant, Baby Russian OliveSaffron Spike Zebra Saint Bernards Lily Sand Lily Sand Verbena Satin Pellionia Sawbrier Scabious Scarborough Lily Scarlet Orchid Scarlet Sage Sego Lily Shagbark Hickory Shan ku’ei-lai Shellbark Hickory Shiny Leaf Smilax Shrimp Cactus Silver Nerve Plant Silver Table Fern Silver Pink Vine Silver Bell Silver Heart Silver Star Silver Berry Silver-Leaf Peperomia Silver Tree Anamiga Slender Deutzia Small Fruited Hickory Smilax Tamnoides Vas Hispida Speckled Wood Lily Spice Orchid Spider Ivy Spider Plant Spotted Laurel Square nut Squirrels Foot Fern Star Jasmine Star Plant Star Tulip Star Window Plant Star Lily Strawberry Striped Blushing Sugar Pods Sulfur Flower Summer Hyacinth Swedish Ivy Sweet William Sweetheart Peperomia Sweetheart Hoya Sword FernTahitian Bridal Veil Tailed Orchid Tall Feather Fern Tall Mahonia Teasel Gourd Texas Sage Thea Japonica Thimble Cactus Thorn Apple Ti Hu-Ling Tiger Orchid Toad Spotted Cactus Torch Lily Tous-Les-Mois Trailing Peperomia Tree Cactus Tree Gloxinia Tropical Moss True Cantaloupe Tu Fu-Ling Tulip Poplar Tulip Tree Turban Squash Turf LilyUmbrella Plant Urbina Agavoides UsambaraVioletVariegated Philodendron Leaf Variegated Wax Plant Variegated Wandering Jew Variegated Oval Leaf Peperomia Variegated Laurel Velvet Plant Venus Fly Trap Verona Fern Verona Lace Fern Vining Peperomia Violet Slipper GloxiniaWaffle Plant Walking Anthericum Washington Hawthorn Water Hickory Watermelon Peperomia Watermelon Begonia Watermelon Pilea Wax Plant Wax Rosette Weeping Sergeant Hemlock Weeping Bottlebrush Weisdornbluten West Indian Gherkin Western Sword White Edged Swedish Ivy White Heart Hickory White Ginger Whitman Fern Wild Buckwheat Wild Sarsaparilla Wild Lantana Wild Strawberry Wild Hyacinth Willow Herb Windmill Palm Winter Cattleya Withered Snapdragon WoolflowerYellow-Flowered Gourd Yellow Bloodleaf Yerba LindaZebra Haworthia Zebra Plant Zinnia sp. Zucchini Squash Common household toxins Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Alcohol Antifreeze Aromatherapy oils Please consult your vet before using ANY aromatherapy oil on your cat.AspirinBleach Boric Acid Brake fluidCleaning fluid Chocolate Cold and flu medication Cooked chicken bones (not toxic but can splinter) CoffeeDeodorants DeodorizersDetergent Disinfectants DyeFungicides Furniture polishGarlic Glow sticks Herbicides Ibuprofen Insecticides Laxatives Lead Metal polish Mineral spirits Mothballs Nail polish & remover Onion Paint Paint remover Paracetamol Petrol Phenols (products that turn white when water is added such as Dettol and Pine-o-Clean) Phenylbutazone Photographic developer Rat/ant poison Rubbing alcohol Shoe polish Snail/Slug Bait Suntan Lotion Tar Teflon Weedkiller Windshield washer Fluid Wood preservatives Zinc

Never administer medicine to your cat without veterinary advice. This is especially important with human medication, which can be fatal to cats. Ensure all household chemicals are stored in a safe place where your cat can’t have access to it. Many household chemicals are lethal to cats, even in small doses.

People sometimes make the mistake of feeding human food to their cat. This is ok as long as you know the food is safe. Chocolate (especially dark chocolate) should never be given to cats (or dogs).

Also be aware that cats often scavenge food from your household bin, so it is wise to safely dispose of medicine, chemicals & food where your cat can’t get to it.

A cat doesn’t have to directly eat or drink a toxin to become poisoned. For example, if a cat lies in a garden that has been sprayed with insecticide or weed killer traces can get on the coat, which the cat will ingest during grooming.

Christmas is a busy time for vets. Many pets become unwell after being fed too much human food by their well-meaning owners. A small treat is always welcome by any cat, just as long as it’s the right kind of food, and the cat isn’t fed too much. If in doubt about food that your cat can or can’t eat, check with your vet.