Plant safety
Plants toxic to cats
Many common houseplants and garden plants are poisonous to cats. Lilies are the most dangerous — even a small amount can cause fatal kidney failure.
Cats are curious and will chew on almost anything — which makes plant choice at home critically important. Several of the most popular houseplants, including peace lilies, pothos, and philodendrons, cause serious toxicity in cats.
True lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) are the biggest danger: any part of the plant — including pollen — can cause acute kidney failure. If your cat has eaten any part of a lily, treat it as an emergency.
Lily exposure is a veterinary emergency.
If your cat has eaten, chewed, or even walked through lily pollen and then groomed itself, call your vet immediately. Kidney failure can develop within 24–72 hours and is fatal without treatment.
Toxic plants (32 entries)
Aloe vera
no
Azaleas (and rhododendrons)
no
Calla lilies
no
Chrysanthemums
no
Cyclamen
no
Daffodils
no
Daylilies
no
Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)
no
Easter lilies
no
Foxgloves
no
Hellebores
no
Holly
no
Hyacinths
no
Ivy (English)
no
Jade plants (money tree)
no
Kalanchoe
no
Lilies
no
Lily of the valley
no
Mistletoe
no
Monstera (Swiss cheese plant)
no
Oleander
no
Peace lilies
no
Philodendron
no
Pothos (devil's ivy)
no
Rhododendrons
no
Sago palms
no
Snake plants (mother-in-law's tongue)
no
Spider lilies (Hymenocallis)
no
Tiger lilies
no
Tulips
no
Yew
no
ZZ plants
no
Safe and caution plants (9 entries)
These plants are generally safe or low-risk for cats.
African violets
yes
Boston ferns
yes
Catnip
yes
Orchids
yes
Pine needles / pine tree
caution
Poinsettias
caution
Silver vine
yes
Spider plants
yes
Valerian root
yes
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