If you’ve got a cat, you know that they’re naturally curious animals, but this can be dangerous if you have toxic plants in your home. Our guide explains which plants are poisonous to cats.
Which garden plants are toxic to cats?
If your cat likes to roam in the garden, it’s important to be aware of the plants that could pose a risk to them.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, a common plant in the UK, can be toxic for cats. They contain pyrethrins (usually found in dog anti-parasitic treatments) which is why you can’t give a cat flea treatments made for dogs.
If your cat ingests chrysanthemum, they can experience drooling, vomiting, skin irritation and loss of appetite.
Yew
A classic festive plant, yew contains taxines, which are very dangerous to cats. If your cat eats part of a yew plant, they may show symptoms like tremors, seizures, respiratory issues and even cardiac arrest (as taxines affect heart function).
Hyacinth
Hyacinths can be found everywhere in the UK but pose a very high risk to our beloved pets (with the bulb of the plant being the most poisonous part). They could induce symptoms like vomiting, drooling and shallow breathing.
Foxglove
The entirety of this elegant plant is dangerous to cats, dogs and humans. It contains toxins that can cause nausea, tremors and even fainting.
Rhododendron
Another UK classic, the rhododendron can cause very harmful symptoms if eaten by your cat, including vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and even paralysis, coma and death.
Tulip
Part of the lily family, tulips can make your cat very unwell if ingested (the entirety of the plant is very poisonous). Even if your cat only eats part of a tulip, it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, difficulty breathing and even seizures.
Lily
Both an indoor and outdoor favourite, lilies are poisonous to cats because they contain toxic crystals that can cause irritation in the mouth and throat.
Eating just a small amount of a lily can be dangerous, or even ingesting it as the cat has brushed past the pollen and is now cleaning its fur. This alone can cause a cat to develop fatal kidney failure in just a few days.
Daffodil
Daffodils can cause a number of harmful symptoms in your cat, with the bulb being the most poisonous part.
If eaten, your cat could experience including vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, tissue irritation, difficulty breathing and even seizures.
Crocus (Spring and Autumn)
The crocus plant is common in much of the UK’s woodland, so your cat may not come across it if you don’t live near a forest.
But they can still grow elsewhere, and can make your cat very unwell, causing symptoms like drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and even kidney damage.
Which houseplants are toxic to cats?
Even if you have an indoor cat, plants can still put them at risk. If you’re a fan of houseplants, you may have some in your home that are toxic to cats without even knowing it.
So, which plants are dangerous to cats?
- Sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
- Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
- Prayer plant (all species)
- Peperomia
- Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
- ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
- Jade plant (Crassula ovata)
- Aloe vera
- Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)
Other toxic materials to cats
On top of these indoor and outdoor plants, there are other common materials that can make your cat unwell, including:
- fertilizers
- grass seeds
- compost
- pesticides
- fungi
Should I throw my toxic plants away?
Unlike dogs, cats can easily jump up on high surfaces like counters and shelves, so putting your toxic plants in a hard-to-reach area won’t always work.
If you have toxic plants in your home, it’s best to keep them in a closed-off room that your cats can’t get into.
If you don’t have a separate room for your toxic plants, you may want to consider giving them away or throwing them out to avoid your cat ingesting them.
While some indoor plants cause mild symptoms, others can be fatal, so be careful what plants you’re putting in your home.
If you have toxic plants in your garden, consider fencing them off completely so your cat can’t access them.
Because cats are expert jumpers and climbers, you may find this difficult. If so, you should get rid of the toxic plants to keep your pet safe.
Check out our guide on pet safety at home to learn more.
What to do if your cat eats a toxic plant
If you think or know that your cat has eaten a toxic plant, contact your vet immediately.
You should follow any advice your vet gives you and take your cat in to be checked and treated as soon as you can.
Make sure you remove any access your cat has to the plant they’ve ingested and that there aren’t any other toxic plants they can access in your home or garden.
Cat insurance and your cat’s safety
It’s sensible to take out insurance for your cat so you have a safety net if they become unwell or injured.
Check out our cat insurance page to see what kind of cover we can offer for your pet.
