What Do Pets Need

Food and safety

What a pet can and can't eat, and plants that are toxic to cats and dogs, from the ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline.

Can my pet eat this?Type a food or plant and pick your pet for yes in small amounts, no, or no clear source, with who says so and the ASPCA poison number. What can dogs eat?Foods dogs can have in small amounts, the ones that are toxic, and the ones no clear source covers, with a lookup for any food. What can cats eat?Foods cats can have in small amounts, the ones that are toxic, and the ones no clear source covers, with a lookup for any food. Plants toxic to catsTrue lilies and daylilies first, then the house and garden plants the ASPCA and FDA list as toxic to cats, and the ones that aren't. Plants toxic to dogsThe house and garden plants the ASPCA and FDA list as toxic to dogs, from sago palm to pothos, and the few the ASPCA lists as non-toxic.

Foods and plants that are toxic to dogs and cats

What each food and plant list puts first, from poison control centers and vet schools
ListKeep away from (among others)
What dogs can eatGrapes, raisins, chocolate, xylitol, the onion family, macadamia nuts
What cats can eatThe onion family, chocolate, raw meat, milk, canned fish for people
Plants toxic to catsTrue lilies and daylilies: any part can cause kidney failure
Plants toxic to dogsSago palm, pothos, aloe, tulips, azaleas, oleander; keep lilies away

A food or plant missing here isn’t safe because it’s missing. If your pet ate something on these lists, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435, straight away. A fee may apply.

Where we get our information from

The lists come from poison control centers, the FDA, vet schools and veterinary references. Checked against published data from ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, VCA Animal Hospitals, FDA and Tufts Cummings School (plus 2 more).

See all 16 sources
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
  • ASPCA, ASPCA Poison Control (phone number, hours and fee line)
  • ASPCA, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database (ornamental and garden plants)
  • ASPCA, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database (food plants)
  • Pet Poison Helpline, Top 10 Pet Poisons
  • Pet Poison Helpline, Poison List: food entries
  • Pet Poison Helpline, Poison List: plant entries (lilies, day lily, sago palm)
  • FDA, Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs (consumer update, current as of December 17, 2025)
  • FDA, Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet (Animal Health Literacy, current as of February 28, 2023)
  • Merck Veterinary Manual (pet-owner edition), Food Hazards
  • VCA Animal Hospitals, Grape, Raisin, and Currant Poisoning in Dogs
  • VCA Animal Hospitals, Xylitol Toxicity in Dogs
  • VCA Animal Hospitals, Can you feed pets certain fruits and veggies
  • Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Petfoodology: Harmful vs Healthy Foods for Pets (December 27, 2017)
  • Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Keeping Pets Safe During This Season (November 17, 2022)
  • Cornell Feline Health Center, Feeding Your Cat (April 30, 2026)

Elsewhere on What Do Pets Need

HomeReptilesFishSmall petsBirdsDogs and catsGuides

General care guidance from animal welfare charities, vets and makers' published sizes. It isn't veterinary advice: if your pet seems unwell or has eaten something it shouldn't, call your vet.