Plants safe for cats, and plants toxic to cats
Every plant here was checked against the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, veterinary references, poison control centers and university extension services. A plant is listed as safe only when a cited source says it is non-toxic to cats, and every entry links to its sources.
We have checked 467 plants so far: 52 non-toxic to cats, 106 toxic or mildly toxic, and 309 we can't call yet. The list grows as we check more.
Also for dogs and kids, or check any plant.
Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.
These filters come from our checked care guides, so for now they cover 11 of the 158 plants listed below.
Safe for cats (52)
Each one has a cited source that calls it non-toxic to cats. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
Spider plantChlorophytum comosumNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0
Crimson cattleyaCattleya labiataNon-toxic
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 2.5
Haworthiopsis attenuataNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
Burro's tailSedum morganianumNon-toxic
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Christmas cactusSchlumbergera truncataNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Victor Farjalla Pontes, CC BY 4.0
Wax plantHoya carnosaNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Yvan leduc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Prayer plantMaranta leuconeuraNon-toxic
Photo: rebecca bachman, CC0
Calathea orbifoliaGoeppertia orbifoliaNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Goeppertia makoyanaNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Cary Bass, CC BY-SA 3.0
Baby rubber plantPeperomia obtusifoliaNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Andrés Ramírez-Barrera, CC BY 4.0
Watermelon begoniaPeperomia argyraeaNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hoya kerriiNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Dr. Nasser Halaweh, CC BY 4.0
FatsiaFatsia japonicaNon-toxic
Photo: Michael Berardozzi, CC BY 4.0
Boston fernNephrolepis exaltataNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Parlor palmChamaedorea elegansNon-toxic
Photo: Tequila 13:54, 24 June 2007, CC BY-SA 3.0
Areca palmChrysalidocarpus lutescensNon-toxic
Photo: Romer N. Rabarijaona, CC0
Elkhorn fernPlatycerium bifurcatumNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: themaskedlapwing, CC0
Bamboo palmRhapis excelsaNon-toxic
Photo: Aris riyanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ponytail palmBeaucarnea recurvataNon-toxic
Photo: juancruzado, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kentia palmHowea forsterianaNon-toxic
Photo: Black Diamond Images, CC BY 2.0
Cast iron plantAspidistra elatiorNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Miha Jurić, CC BY 4.0
African violetStreptocarpus ionanthusNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Wildfeuer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacusNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Meng-Ying Tsai, CC0
Venus flytrapDionaea muscipulaNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Old Goat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nerve plantFittonia albivenisNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Amanda Fisher, CC BY 4.0
Polkadot-plantHypoestes phyllostachyaNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: 葉子, CC0
Edible bananaMusa acuminataNon-toxic
Photo: Utain Pummarin, CC BY 4.0
BasilOcimum basilicumNon-toxic
Photo: portioid, CC BY 4.0
Garden thymeThymus vulgarisNon-toxic
Photo: Ina Siebert, CC0
Droophead tufted airplantGuzmania lingulataNon-toxic
Photo: Letizia Weichgrebe, CC BY 4.0
CorianderCoriandrum sativumNon-toxic
Photo: Peter de Lange, CC0
Field pumpkinCucurbita pepoNon-toxic
Photo: Dave Behm, CC0
LettuceLactuca sativaNon-toxic
Source: cornell.edu
Photo: en:User:Geographer, CC BY 1.0
RaspberryRubus idaeusNon-toxic
Source: vcahospitals.com
Photo: Benoit Renaud, CC BY 4.0
Eastern purple coneflowerEchinacea purpureaNon-toxic
Sources: vcahospitals.com, illinois.edu
Photo: skylar_schell, CC0
Sweet alyssumLobularia maritimaNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Eleftherios Katsillis, CC BY 4.0
Buzzy lizzyImpatiens wallerianaNon-toxic
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Samuel Zuluaga, CC BY 4.0
Zinnia elegansNon-toxic
Photo: Ricard Busquets Reverte, CC BY 4.0
CamelliaCamellia japonicaNon-toxic
Photo: harum.koh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidiiNon-toxic
Sources: oregonstate.edu, cats.org.uk
Photo: John Barkla, CC BY 4.0
Crape myrtleLagerstroemia indicaNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Nonbinary-Naturalist, CC0
WatermelonCitrullus lanatusNon-toxic
Source: vcahospitals.com
Photo: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0
BarleyHordeum vulgareNon-toxic
Source: k-state.edu
Photo: gerardbertrand, CC BY 4.0
GingerZingiber officinaleNon-toxic
Source: vcahospitals.com
Photo: Venkatx5, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common oatAvena sativaNon-toxic
Sources: vcahospitals.com, tamu.edu
Photo: Colin Meurk, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sweet potatoIpomoea batatasNon-toxic
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Ricard Busquets Reverte, CC BY 4.0
RyeSecale cerealeNon-toxic
Source: vcahospitals.com
Photo: Юлия Медведько, CC BY 4.0
DillAnethum graveolensNon-toxic
Photo: Tepeyac, CC BY-SA 3.0
Toxic to cats (106)
Most dangerous first. Includes plants our sources call mildly toxic; each card says which, and how severe.
Florist's cyclamenCyclamen persicumToxic, severe
Photo: Eleftherios Katsillis, CC BY 4.0
Oxalis triangularisToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Robert Guralnick, CC BY 4.0
Common daffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissusToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Daniele Giugia, CC BY 4.0
Madonna lilyLilium candidumToxic, severe
Sources: icatcare.org, missouri.edu
Photo: Jennie Pistevos, CC BY 4.0
Easter lilyLilium longiflorumToxic, severe
Sources: aspca.org, poison.org
Photo: 葉子, CC0
FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0
Orange daylilyHemerocallis fulvaToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg, CC BY 4.0
Candle larkspurDelphinium elatumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Denis Bastianelli, CC BY 4.0
OleanderNerium oleanderToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Marco Zaccaria Di Fraia, CC BY 4.0
Common yewTaxus baccataToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Sitomon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Satsuki azaleaRhododendron indicumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0
OnionAllium cepaToxic, severe
Sources: aspca.org, merckvetmanual.com
Photo: Mirela, CC0
GarlicAllium sativumToxic, severe
Source: merckvetmanual.com
Photo: Reuven Martin, CC0
PeachPrunus persicaToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Evan M. Raskin, CC BY 4.0
ApricotPrunus armeniacaToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Валя Айникеева, CC0
CloveSyzygium aromaticumToxic, severe
Source: petpoisonhelpline.com
Photo: Bayu Nugroho, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cocoa treeTheobroma cacaoToxic, severe
Source: merckvetmanual.com
Photo: tonyblake, CC0
FlaxLinum usitatissimumToxic, severe
Source: petpoisonhelpline.com
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Castor oil plantRicinus communisToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Dvellakat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Maidenhair treeGinkgo bilobaToxic, severe
Source: merckvetmanual.com
Photo: EecherplazGinkgo06.jpg : Cayambe derivative work: Ginkgotree, CC BY-SA 3.0
Black nightshadeSolanum nigrumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0
JimsonweedDatura stramoniumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Taka assumed, CC BY-SA 3.0
CarambolaAverrhoa carambolaToxic, severe
Source: petpoisonhelpline.com
Photo: Judgefloro, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wild grapeVitis viniferaToxic, severe
Source: merckvetmanual.com
Photo: Wildfeuer, CC BY 2.5
Deadly nightshadeAtropa bella-donnaToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanumToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Stephan van Helden, CC BY-SA 4.0
Black locustRobinia pseudoacaciaToxic, severe
Sources: aspca.org, petpoisonhelpline.com
Photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder . Feel free to use my photos, but pleas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Poison hemlockConium maculatumToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: MPF, CC BY-SA 3.0
RosarypeaAbrus precatoriusToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Dinesh Valke, CC BY-SA 4.0
Madagascar periwinkleCatharanthus roseusToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Bailey Duncan, CC BY 4.0
NutmegMyristica fragransToxic, severe
Source: petpoisonhelpline.com
Photo: Kristof Zyskowski, CC BY 4.0
European mistletoeViscum albumToxic, severe
Sources: petpoisonhelpline.com, anses.fr
Photo: Maciej Boenisch, CC BY 4.0
China-BerryMelia azedarachToxic, severe
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Klaus Wehrlin, CC0
Autumn crocusColchicum autumnaleToxic, severe
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Markus Krieger, CC BY 4.0
Corn plantDracaena fragransToxic, moderate
Photo: bullj, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jade plantCrassula ovataToxic, moderate
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Gutiérrez Esther, CC BY-SA 4.0
Madagascar widow's-thrillKalanchoe blossfeldianaToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Dante, CC BY-SA 2.5
Dumb caneDieffenbachia seguineToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: hecklemore, CC BY 4.0
Heart of JesusCaladium bicolorToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Diogo Luiz, CC BY 4.0
ChivesAllium schoenoprasumToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Elias, CC BY 4.0
TomatoSolanum lycopersicumToxic, moderate
Source: aspca.org
Photo: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0
Chinese wisteriaWisteria sinensisToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: Eleftherios Katsillis, CC BY 4.0
Common boxBuxus sempervirensToxic, moderate
Source: ncsu.edu
Photo: hecklemore, CC BY 4.0
PotatoSolanum tuberosumToxic, moderate
Source: petpoisonhelpline.com
Photo: Alice Shanks, CC BY 4.0
MarijuanaCannabis sativaToxic, moderate
Sources: aspca.org, petpoisonhelpline.com
Photo: Chmee2, CC BY 3.0
Black elderberrySambucus nigraToxic, moderate
Sources: petpoisonhelpline.com, merckvetmanual.com
Photo: Willow, CC BY 2.5
Common St. JohnswortHypericum perforatumToxic, moderate
Source: aspca.org
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
ShallotAllium ascalonicumToxic, moderate
Source: petpoisonhelpline.com
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions people ask
Which plants are safe for cats?
Of the 467 plants we have checked, 52 have a cited source that calls them non-toxic to cats, including spider plant, crimson cattleya, Haworthiopsis attenuata, burro's tail and Christmas cactus.
Plants and sources: Spider plant (aspca.org), Crimson cattleya (aspca.org), Haworthiopsis attenuata (ncsu.edu), Burro's tail (aspca.org), Christmas cactus (ncsu.edu)
Which plants are most dangerous to cats?
Our sources rate florist's cyclamen, Oxalis triangularis, Common daffodil, Madonna lily and Easter lily as toxic to cats with severe effects.
Plants and sources: Florist's cyclamen (aspca.org), Oxalis triangularis (ncsu.edu), Common daffodil (ncsu.edu), Madonna lily (icatcare.org), Easter lily (aspca.org)
Is spider plant safe for cats?
Our sources call spider plant non-toxic to cats.
Plant and source: Spider plant (aspca.org)
Is crimson cattleya safe for cats?
Our sources call crimson cattleya non-toxic to cats.
Plant and source: Crimson cattleya (aspca.org)