Poisonous plants for cats

Lilies (all parts of the plant) are poisonous to cats but many other plants are dangerous if eaten. Take a look at our guide on poisonous plants to learn how to keep your cat safe from harm.

Why are lilies dangerous to cats?

Lilies are particularly toxic to cats. Although you might find that your cat is disinterested in eating them, there is always a risk that they may come into contact with the flower's pollen by rubbing up against it and absent-mindedly licking their fur.

Unfortunately there are several types of lilies that are poisonous to cats, including Easter lily, tiger lily and other members of the lily family. If you're not sure what these look like, take a look at our visual guides below.

All parts of the lily plant are toxic to cats if ingested, and consuming small amounts can result in severe poisoning. If you're concerned, the best way to prevent your cat from being poisoned is simply to not have lilies plants in your home or garden.

Keeping your cat safe from dangerous plants

Cats are usually careful about what they eat. However, sometimes young, inquisitive or bored cats may nibble on a plant that makes them sick. They can also unintentionally ingest poisonous pollen or plant matter when grooming themselves.

Does your cat like to eat grass? You could grow cat-friendly plants like catnip, mint, cat thyme and lavender to encourage them to nibble non-toxic plants in the garden. When gardening, clear away clippings as these may intrigue curious cats.

If you suspect your cat has eaten a poisonous plant, contact your vet immediately. Don't wait for signs of illness to appear as by then it could be too late to save your cat.

Which flowers are toxic to cats?

Whether you're choosing beautiful blooms for a bouquet or wondering what indoor plants to get, you'll need to be wary of the flowers that are hazardous to your feline friend. Common blooms like lilies, poppies and marigolds can be harmful as well as seasonal plants like mistletoe and poinsettia. Click to expand our visual guides below.

Poisonous house plants

 

Amaryllis Aphelandra Azalea Castor Oil Plant (also see Ricinus) Christmas Cherry (also see Solanum) Chrysanthemum (also see Dendranthema) Codiaeum Croton (also see Codiaeum) Cyclamen Devil’s Ivy (also see Epipremnum aureum) Dieffenbachia* Dumb Cane (also see Dieffenbachia) Elephant’s Ear (also see Alocasia, Caladium) Epipremnum aureum

Ferns Holly (also see Ilex) Hypoestes phyllostachya Hyacinthus Ivy (also see Hedera) Kalanchoe Mistletoe (also see Viscum) Nerium oleander Oleander (also see Nerium oleander) Ornithogalum Senecio Star of Bethlehem (also see Ornithogalum) Umbellatum Umbrella Plant (also see Schefflera) Zebra Plant (also see Aphelandra)

The Great Outdoors

Keen gardeners will need to be aware that some outdoor plants can be toxic to cats. Usually cats will instinctively avoid eating poisonous plants, but it is still best to stay vigilant. For more information on outdoor plants that may be dangerous, take a look at the visual guide below.

Poisonous garden plants

Abrus precatorius Aconitum* Actaea Aesculus Agrostemma githago Aleurites Allium Alocasia Alstroemeria* Anagallis Anemone Angel’s Trumpets (also see Brugmansia) Angel Wings (also see Caladium) Apricot (also see Prunus armeniaca) Aquilegia Arisaema Arum Astragalus Atropa Avocado (also see Persea americana) Azalea (also see Rhododendron) Baneberry (also see Actaea) Bird of Paradise (also see Strelitzia) Black-eyed Susan (also see Thunbergia) Bloodroot (also see Sanguinaria) Box (also see Buxus) Broom (also see Cytisus) Brugmansia Bryony Buckthorn (also see Rhamnus) Burning Bush (also see Dictamnus) Buttercup (also see Ranunculus) Buxus Caesalpinia Caladium Caltha* Catharanthus Celastrus Centaurea cyanus Cestrum Cherry Laurel (also see Prunus laurocerasus) Chincherinchee (also see Ornithogalum) Chrysanthemum (also see Dendranthema) Clematis Colchicum Columbine (also see Aquilegia) Conium Convallaria majalis Corncockle (also see Agrostemma githago) Cornflower (also see Centaurea cyanus) Cotoneaster Crocus (also see Colchicum) X Cupressocyparis leylandii* Cyclamen Cytisus Daffodil (also see Narcissus) Daphne* Datura* Delonix Delphinium Dendranthema* Dicentra Dictamnus Digitalis Echium* Elder (also see Sambucus) Euonymus Euphorbia* False Acacia (also see Robinia) Ferns Ficus Flax (also see Linum)

Foxglove (also see Digitalis) Frangula (also see Rhamnus) Fremontodendron* Galanthus Gaultheria Giant Hog Weed (also see Heracleum mantegazzianum) Gloriosa superba Glory Lily (also see Gloriosa superba) Hedera* Helleborus* Hemlock (also see Conium) Henbane (also see Hyoscyamus) Heracleum mantegazzianum Hippeastrum Holly (also see Ilex) Horse Chestnut (also see Aesculus) Hyacinthus Hydrangea Hyoscyamus Ilex Ipomoea Iris Ivy (also see Hedera) Jasminum Juniperus sabina Kalmia Kalanchoe Laburnum Lantana Larkspur (also see Delphinium) Lathyrus Ligustrum Lilium Lily of the Valley (also see Convallaria majalis) Linum Lobelia* (except bedding Lobelia) Lords and Ladies (Cuckoo Pint) (also see Arum) Lupinus Lycopersicon* Lysichiton Madagascar Periwinkle (also see Catharanthus) Marigold (also see Tagetes) Melia Mirabilis jalapa Monks Wood (also see Aconitum) Morning Glory (also see Ipomoea) Narcissus Nerium oleander Nicotiana Nightshade, Deadly (also see Atropa) Nightshade, Woody (also see Solanum) Oak (also see Quercus) Onion (also see Allium) Ornithogalum Oxytropis Paeonia Papaver Parthenocissus Peach (also see Prunus persica) Peony (also see Paeonia) Pernettya Persea americana Philodendron Physalis Phytolacca Pokeweed (also see Phytolacca) Polygonatum Poppy (also see Papaver) Primula obconica* Privet (also see Ligustrum) Prunus armeniaca Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus persica Quercus Ranunculus Rhamnus (including R frangula) Rhododendron Rhus* Ricinus Robinia Rosary Pea (also see Abrus precatorius) Rubber Plant (also see Ficus) Rudbeckia Rue (also see Ruta) Ruta Sambucus Sanguinaria Schefflera* Scilla Skunk Cabbage (also see Lysichiton) Snowdrop (also see Galanthus) Solandra Solanum Solomon’s Seal (also seePolygonatum) Spindle Tree (also see Euonymus) Spurge (also see Euphorbia) Strelitzia Sumach (also see Rhus) Sweet Pea (also see Lathyrus) Tagetes Tanacetum Taxus Tetradymia Thornapple (also see Datura) Thuja* Thunbergia Tobacco (also see Nicotiana) Tomato (also see Lycopersicon) Tulipa* Veratrum Viscum Wisteria Yew (also see Taxus)

*could cause skin irritation

What are the signs of plant poisoning in my cat?

If you think your cat has been poisoned, contact your vet immediately. Don't wait for signs of illness to develop.

Signs of poisoning can include (but are not limited to)

• salivation
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• twitching
• fitting
• breathing difficulties
• shock
• collapse
• coma

First aid for poisoned cats

If you can see the poisonous substance, take your cat away from it and then call your vet for advice. They may want to see your cat immediately. Making your cat sick may not be helpful.

If you have evidence of what your cat has eaten, take a sample to the vet. Even a sample of vomit may help diagnosis, particularly if it is an unusual colour or contains plant matter.

A visual guide to keeping your pet safe

Related topics

Keeping cats safe outside - Topic

Poisoning - Topic

Cat first aid - Topic

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