In this article, we’ll spotlight common indoor and outdoor plants that are toxic to cats. We’ll also note which parts of the plants are poisonous and what signs and symptoms to look for if you think your cat has eaten any of these plants. The aloe plant is treasured for its medicinal properties, helping to cool the skin after sunburn, but aloe is toxic if eaten by a cat. Identifying features: <\/strong>Green, spiky succulent leaves, sometimes with white spots, that grow in a rosette shape <\/p> Toxins:<\/strong> Saponins, which cause gastrointestinal and neurological damage, and anthraquinone glycosides, which can cause gastrointestinal upset. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten aloe:<\/strong><\/p> Nearly all parts of amaryllis can make your cat sick. Amaryllis blooms are beautiful to behold but the leaves, stems, and bulbs of the plant contain a toxin that can cause gastrointestinal upset, drops in blood pressure, and respiratory issues.<\/p> Identifying features: <\/strong>Bright red trumpet-shaped flowers with six petals, sometimes with white striations<\/p> Toxins:<\/strong> Phenanthridine alkaloids. The bulbs also contain raphide oxalate crystals, which can tear the soft tissue inside the digestive system. Amaryllis is poisonous to cats. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten amaryllis:<\/strong> <\/p> Eating autumn crocus can be fatal to cats and dogs. All parts of the plant contain a toxin that can cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal system, liver, kidneys, respiratory system, or central nervous system.<\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Blooms in early autumn; Light pinkish-purple bulbs with a white center and yellow stamens <\/p> Toxin:<\/strong> Colchicine, a toxic alkaloid. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten autumn crocus: <\/strong><\/p> Azaleas are highly toxic, which is a problem because azaleas bloom for several months n spring, summer, or early fall, depending on the species. <\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> More than 1,000 species of shrubs that can be deciduous or evergreen, large or small, with flowers of pink, white, red, or blue.<\/p> Toxins:<\/strong> All parts of the plant contain grayanotoxins, which can cause damage to the skeletal and cardiac systems. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten azaleas:<\/strong><\/p> Eating castor beans can kill your cat. <\/p> Identifying features: <\/strong>Large, star-shaped evergreen leaves that can be green, maroon, purplish, or bronze colored; bright red flowers that look like spiky balls can bloom year-round.<\/p> Toxin: <\/strong>The beans contain ricin, a highly toxic compound that can be fatal to cats. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten castor bean:<\/strong><\/p> Keep your cat away from that bouquet of chrysanthemums on your kitchen table or the pot of mums on your front porch. Why? Chrysanthemums are poisonous to cats. <\/p> Identifying features: <\/strong>Fall-blooming flowers with feathery petals in bright orange, yellow, red, pink, lavender, or purple, depending on the species <\/p> Toxins:<\/strong> The flowers contain pyrethrins, which are used as pesticides. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten mums:<\/strong><\/p> All parts of cyclamen are toxic to your cat. <\/p> Identifying features: <\/strong>Clumps of leaves that resemble tiny lily pads, with white, pink, lavender, or red flowers rising above the leaves on stems <\/p> Toxins: All parts of the plant contain saponins, which cause irritation when ingested in small quantities but can cause far more severe issues \u2014 even death \u2014 if consumed in large quantities. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten cyclamen: <\/strong><\/p> IAs lovely as these flowers look in the garden, daffodils are poisonous to cats. <\/p> Identifying features: <\/strong>Bright yellow, star-shaped flowers with a trumpet-shaped tube protruding from the center<\/p> Toxin:<\/strong> Daffodil bulbs contain lycorine, which triggers vomiting, and sharp crystals that cause severe irritation. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten daffodils:<\/strong><\/p> Devil\u2019s ivy is bad news for cats. Eating the leaves of this vine may cause your cat to drool, vomit, or have difficulty breathing, but that’s just for starters. <\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Fast-growing vine with shiny green leaves; new leaves are variegated with yellow<\/p> Toxin:<\/strong> Devil\u2019s ivy contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate and penetrate tissue in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten devil\u2019s ivy:<\/strong><\/p> Dumb cane can sicken your cat. Considered an attractive houseplant, dumb cane contains the same toxin as devil’s ivy. <\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Large green leaves shaped like spearheads with green-white variegation<\/p> Toxin:<\/strong> Dumb cane contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate and penetrate tissue in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten dumb cane:<\/strong><\/p> Elephant ears are a common houseplant, so keep your cat away from its poisonous leaves, roots, and stems.<\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Large, heart-shaped green leaves with ridges and ruffled edges<\/p> Toxin: <\/strong>This plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate and penetrate tissue in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract when ingested. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten elephant ears:<\/strong><\/p> Cats can become sick if they ingest the leaves or berries of English ivy, a common ground cover and vining plant across the U.S.<\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Fast-growing climbing vine or ground cover with small, glossy green leaves with white veins and three points <\/p> Toxins: <\/strong>The leaves and berries contain triterpenoid saponins, which irritate the gastrointestinal system.. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten English ivy: <\/p> Koalas love eucalyptus, but cats don’t. Eucalyptus makes cats drool, throw up, and more.<\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Soft green, roundish leaves with a strong minty scent. Look for dried eucalyptus as decor and as a tree or shrub in many garden landscapes. <\/p> Toxicity: <\/strong>Eucalyptus oil can damage cats\u2019 internal organs because they aren\u2019t able to digest it. Look for dried eucalyptus as decor and as a tree or shrub in many garden landscapes. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten eucalyptus:<\/strong><\/p> Blooming in early summer, foxglove’s leaves, flowers, and seeds are deadly to cats.<\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Tall spikes of tubular, drooping flowers in varying shades of purple, pink, or white <\/p> Toxins:<\/strong> All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycoside toxins and poisons that affect the cardiac muscles and can lead to death. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten foxglove: <\/strong><\/p> Your cat may not be attracted to the smell of garlic, but even a few nibbles can be deadly. <\/p> Identifying features: <\/strong>Grass-like foliage aboveground; garlic pods underground; garlic smell<\/p> Toxin:<\/strong> Garlic contains N-propyl disulfide, which causes gastrointestinal upset and anemia in cats if consumed in large quantities. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten garlic:<\/strong><\/p> Cats are attracted to hyacinth’s bright colors and fresh fragrance, but even inhaling the scent can cause respiratory upset for your cat. <\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Rounded spikes of small flowers in spring colors such as lavender, pink, purple, blue, or white<\/p> Toxin:<\/strong> The plant, especially the bulbs, contains the toxin lycorine, which induces vomiting and gastrointestinal upset. <\/p> Signs your cat has eaten hyacinth:<\/strong><\/p> Many of us bring hydrangea into our homes as cut flowers. Keep these poisonous blooms from your cat, as hydrangea can cause severe intestinal upset.<\/p> Identifying features:<\/strong> Shrubs with round clusters of small flowers in blue, pink, purple, or white <\/p>
Want to know what plants are safe for your cat? We’ve got that covered, too. See What Indoor Plants Are Safe for Cats? and What Outdoor Plants Are Safe for Cats? in the FAQ section<\/a> in this article
Let’s get started. Here are the 32 common indoor and outdoor plants (in alphabetical order) that can sicken or kill your cat:<\/p> 1. Aloe Plant<\/h2>
![\"Close](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Aloe.jpg\")
All parts of the aloe plant are poisonous to cats and can cause gastrointestinal and neurological damage. <\/p>
2. Amaryllis<\/h2>
3. Autumn Crocus<\/h2>
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/autumn-crocus-1.jpg\")
4. Azaleas<\/h2>
![\"Azaleas\"](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Azaleas.jpg\")
5. Castor Bean<\/h2>
6. Chrysanthemums and Mums <\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Chrysanthemums.jpg\")
7. Cyclamen<\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/blossom-plant-flower-petal-red-botany-456734-pxhere.com-1-2.jpg\")
8. Daffodils<\/h2>
![\"Daffodils](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/daffodil.jpg\")
9. Devil\u2019s ivy <\/h2>
![\"Pothos](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Pothos_epipremnum_feuilles.jpg\")
10. Dumb Cane<\/h2>
![\"Dumb](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2560px-Dumb_Cane_Dieffenbachia_Tropical_Snow_2.jpg\")
11. Elephant Ear<\/h2>
12. English Ivy<\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/english-ivy-1.jpg\")
13. Eucalyptus<\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/1280px-Eucalyptus_tereticornis_flowers_capsules_buds_and_foliage.jpeg\")
14. Foxglove<\/h2>
15. Garlic<\/h2>
16. Hyacinth<\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/plant-flower-bloom-spring-botany-blue-1257060-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
17. Hydrangea<\/h2>