Cat-Friendly Home: What Plants to Avoid Part 1
Attention: This list is not exhaustive and only includes a selection of common flowering plants.
Warning: Some of the plants listed are toxic to cats.
Rhododendron Family
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Grayanotoxin
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, heart failure
Common Representative Plant: Mountain laurel
Boraginaceae, Bugloss
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Tannins, mucilage
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis
Common Representative Plant: Borage
Buxus
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Alkaloids
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea
Common Representative Plant: Boxwood (commonly found in green belts as shrubs)
Araliaceae, Ivy
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxicological Principle: Saponins (toxic saponins)
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, abdominal pain, excessive saliva production, diarrhea. The leaves are more toxic than the berries.
Common Representative Plant: Ivy, a very common greenery in parks and homes, with distinct flower stems and leaves from typical climbing vines. Be aware of the differences.
Lamiaceae
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Essential oils
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, occasionally bloody diarrhea or vomiting
Common Representative Plant: Coleus
Solanaceae
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Benzamide
Clinical Symptoms: Tremors, seizures (lasting for several days), diarrhea, vomiting, excessive saliva production, drowsiness, incoordination, coughing
Common Representative Plant: Jacaranda
Iridaceae
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Clinical Symptoms: Salivation, vomiting, drooling, drowsiness, diarrhea. The concentration is highest in the rhizome.
Common Representative Plant: Iris (not all irises are toxic), as noted by ASPCA, includes Butterfly Iris, Rainbow Iris
Plumbago
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Saponins, plumbagin
Clinical Symptoms: Mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, urticaria
Common Representative Plant: Plumbago flower
Dianthus (not all dianthus plants are toxic)
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Unknown irritants
Clinical Symptoms: Mild gastrointestinal symptoms, mild dermatitis
Common Representative Plant: Carnation
Lamiaceae
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Nepetalactone
Clinical Symptoms: Many cats enjoy catnip, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can calm some cats while stimulating others.
Common Representative Plant: Catnip
Asteraceae (most Asteraceae plants are nontoxic to cats)
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Volatile oils; naphthoquinone, chamazulene, limonene, tannic acid
Clinical Symptoms: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, allergic reactions. Longterm use can lead to bleeding tendencies.
Sedum (Sempervivum)
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Dibenzylideneacetone
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, arrhythmia (rare)
Common Representative Plant: Sedum, also known as Crassula, a very easytocarefor succulent plant
Meliaceae
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxicological Principle: Tetracyclic triterpenes (melitoxin)
Clinical Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, depression, weakness, and seizures. The ripe fruit (berries) is the most toxic, but the bark, leaves, and flowers are also toxic.
Common Representative Plant: Melia azedarach
Sedum
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxicological Principle: Unknown
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, intoxication, tremors (rare)
Common Representative Plant: Sedum tree
Chives
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Npropyl disulfide
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, hemolysis (hemolytic anemia, Heinz body anemia), blood in urine, weakness, increased heart rate, shortness of breath
Apocynaceae
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Cardiac glycosides
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, arrhythmia, death
Common Representative Plant: Oleander
Asteraceae
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Sesquiterpenes, lactones, pyrethrins (main component of insecticides), and other potential irritants
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive saliva production, incoordination, dermatitis
Common Representative Plant: Daisies, Day Lilies (many varieties)
Day lilies are also toxic to humans and can be fatal to cats.
Unknown Toxicological Principle
Clinical Symptoms: Cats: Vomiting, anorexia, drowsiness, kidney failure, death.
Liliaceae
Toxicity: Toxic
Toxic Principle: Saponins
Clinical Symptoms: Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, excessive saliva production, dilated pupils
Common Representative Plant: Dracaena
