True lilies and daylilies are the most dangerous plants for cats: any part, even pollen or vase water, can cause kidney failure. Many common house and garden plants are toxic to cats as well.
Its common name, such as Easter lily, pothos or snake plant.
Is this plant toxic?
Type a plant, or pick one: true lilies (Lilium), daylilies (Hemerocallis), peace lily, pothos (devil's ivy), spider plant.
Lilies: true lilies, daylilies and the near misses
True lilies are the Lilium genus. The ASPCA lists Easter, tiger, stargazer, Asiatic, red, wood, rubrum and Japanese show lilies, each toxic to cats. Pet Poison Helpline says every part counts, from the leaf, stem and flower to the pollen, the vase water and the root.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) aren’t true lilies, but they’re just as dangerous to cats: the ASPCA lists the orange daylily with the same signs, and Pet Poison Helpline gives daylilies the same any-amount warning.
Peace lily, calla lily and lily of the valley aren’t lilies at all, despite the name. They’re toxic to dogs too: peace and calla lilies irritate the mouth, and the ASPCA lists an irregular heart beat for lily of the valley.
A cat with any exposure to a true lily or daylily needs a vet straight away, as Pet Poison Helpline says early treatment is vital. Keep cut lilies out of a home with a cat.
Plants toxic to cats
| Plant | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| True lilies (Lilium) | The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline list true lilies as toxic to cats, and Pet Poison Helpline says any amount of leaf, stem, flower, pollen or vase water counts. The ASPCA lists kidney failure, and says death is possible. |
| Daylilies (Hemerocallis) | The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline list daylilies as toxic to cats, and Pet Poison Helpline says any amount counts. They aren’t true lilies, but the ASPCA lists the same kidney failure. |
| Peace lily | The ASPCA lists peace lily as toxic to dogs and cats. It isn’t a true lily; the ASPCA lists oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. |
| Calla lily | The ASPCA lists calla lily as toxic to dogs and cats. It isn’t a true lily; the ASPCA lists intense burning and irritation of the mouth, drooling and vomiting. |
| Lily of the valley | The ASPCA lists lily of the valley as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It isn’t a true lily; the ASPCA lists vomiting, irregular heart beat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma and seizures. |
| Gloriosa lily | The FDA lists the gloriosa lily among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Sago palm | The ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline and the FDA list sago palm as toxic to dogs and cats. Pet Poison Helpline says any part can poison, especially the seeds, and the ASPCA lists liver failure and death. |
| Pothos (devil's ivy) | The ASPCA and the FDA list golden pothos as toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA lists oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. |
| Aloe vera | The ASPCA and the FDA list aloe vera as toxic to dogs and cats. |
| Tulips | The ASPCA and the FDA list tulips as toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA says the bulb holds the most toxin. |
| Hyacinths | The FDA lists hyacinths among plants that can be dangerous to pets, especially the bulbs. |
| Azaleas and rhododendrons | The ASPCA and the FDA list azaleas and rhododendrons as toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and cardiac failure. |
| Oleander | The ASPCA and the FDA list oleander as toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA lists drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression and death. |
| Poinsettia | The ASPCA, the FDA and Tufts list poinsettia as a plant to keep from cats. The ASPCA says it irritates the mouth and stomach and sometimes causes vomiting. |
| Monstera (Swiss cheese plant) | The ASPCA lists monstera, filed as cutleaf philodendron, as toxic to dogs and cats. It lists oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. |
| Snake plant | The ASPCA and the FDA list snake plant (mother-in-law’s tongue) as toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA lists nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. |
| Jade plant | The ASPCA lists jade plant as toxic to dogs and cats. It lists vomiting, depression and incoordination. |
| Philodendron | The ASPCA and the FDA list philodendrons as toxic to dogs and cats. |
| English ivy | The ASPCA and the FDA list English ivy as toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA says the leaves are more toxic than the berries. |
| Daffodils | The ASPCA and the FDA list daffodils as toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA says the bulbs are the most poisonous part. |
| Chrysanthemums | The ASPCA and the FDA list chrysanthemums as toxic to dogs and cats. The ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination and dermatitis. |
| Mint | The ASPCA lists mint as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It lists vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions. |
| Tomato plants and green tomatoes | The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline list the tomato plant as toxic to cats. Only the ripe fruit is non-toxic. |
| Amaryllis | The FDA lists amaryllis among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Hydrangea | The FDA lists hydrangea among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Kalanchoe | The FDA lists kalanchoe among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Cyclamen | The FDA lists cyclamen among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Foxglove | The FDA lists foxglove among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Yew | The FDA lists yew among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Schefflera (umbrella tree) | The FDA lists schefflera among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Hibiscus | The FDA lists hibiscus among plants that can be dangerous to pets. |
| Holly | Tufts lists holly among plants cats should avoid. |
| Mistletoe | Tufts lists mistletoe among plants cats should avoid. |
Plants listed as non-toxic
Non-toxic means the ASPCA doesn’t list the plant as poisonous to cats. It doesn’t make the plant a food. Before you bring home a plant that isn’t in either table, look it up in the ASPCA’s plant database or ask your vet.
| Plant | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Spider plant | The ASPCA lists spider plant as non-toxic to dogs and cats. |
| Rosemary | The ASPCA lists rosemary as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. |
| Basil | The ASPCA lists basil as non-toxic to dogs and cats. |
If your cat chewed a plant
Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435, open around the clock. A consultation fee may apply. Pet Poison Helpline is on (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply there too. Bring the plant, or its label, so the vet knows what it was.