Is this plant or household item toxic to cats?
If your cat has touched or eaten anything marked Emergency, Toxic or Caution below, call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. The most dangerous plants for cats are true lilies and daylilies: a nibble of a leaf, pollen licked off the fur or a drink of vase water can cause fatal kidney failure. Search 51 common cut flowers, houseplants, garden plants, essential oils, household products and foods below; every entry has its own link and lists the sources it relies on.
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now
- Call your vet or an emergency vet. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 (both charge a fee).
- Keep the plant, packaging or a photo to show the vet, and keep the cat away from it.
- Do not make your cat vomit or give home remedies unless a vet tells you to.
- If there is pollen, oil or liquid on the fur, stop the cat grooming it off if you safely can, and tell the vet.
Lilies: the number one plant danger for cats
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now if your cat has had any contact with a true lily or daylily.
- Which lilies: true lilies (Lilium: Easter, tiger, Asiatic, Stargazer, Oriental and many bouquet hybrids) and daylilies (Hemerocallis).
- How little: a small bite of leaf or petal, a few pollen grains licked off the fur, or water from the vase (FDA).
- How fast: vomiting, drooling and low energy within 0 to 12 hours, kidney damage at 12 to 24 hours, kidney failure within 24 to 72 hours. If treatment is delayed by 18 hours or more, kidney failure is generally irreversible (FDA).
- Only cats: dogs that eat lilies may get an upset stomach but do not develop kidney failure.
- Not true lilies: peace lilies and calla lilies irritate the mouth but do not cause kidney failure; lily of the valley affects the heart.
Safest rule: no lilies in a home with cats, and check every bouquet. Full guide: are lilies poisonous to cats?
Toxicity checker
Jump to: Cut flowers · Houseplants · Garden plants · Essential oils and fragrance · Household and medicines · Foods
| Item | Risk | What to do and what it can cause | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut flowers | |||
| True lilies: Easter, tiger, Asiatic, Stargazer and Oriental lilies Lilium species and hybrids, common in bouquets #true-lilies | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Can cause fatal kidney failure. Every part is toxic, including pollen and vase water; licking a few pollen grains off the fur can be enough. Cats are the only species known to be affected. | FDA lily warning, UC Davis, ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Calla lily Zantedeschia; not a true lily #calla-lily | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Does not cause kidney failure, but causes intense mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. | ASPCA, UC Davis Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Tulip bulb is most toxic #tulip | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, drooling. The bulb contains the most toxin. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Daffodil Narcissus #daffodil | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea; large amounts can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and heart rhythm problems. Bulbs are the most poisonous part. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Hyacinth #hyacinth | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Intense vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), depression and tremors. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Iris #iris | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Drooling, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea. The rhizomes (roots) are most toxic. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Chrysanthemum mums #chrysanthemum | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, incoordination, skin irritation. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Amaryllis #amaryllis | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, loss of appetite, tremors. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Hydrangea #hydrangea | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, depression, diarrhea. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Carnation Dianthus #carnation | Caution | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Mild stomach upset and mild skin irritation. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Sweet William Dianthus barbatus #sweet-william | Caution | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Mild stomach upset and mild skin irritation. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Baby's breath Gypsophila #babys-breath | Caution | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Mild vomiting and diarrhea if eaten. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Rose #rose | Non toxic | Listed as non toxic to cats by the ASPCA. Thorns can still injure. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Houseplants | |||
| Peace lily Spathiphyllum; not a true lily #peace-lily | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Does not cause kidney failure, but causes intense mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. | ASPCA, UC Davis Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Golden pothos devil's ivy, Epipremnum #golden-pothos | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Intense burning and irritation of the mouth, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Philodendron including split leaf philodendron #philodendron | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Mouth pain and swelling, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Dieffenbachia dumb cane #dieffenbachia | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Intense mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Snake plant mother in law's tongue, Sansevieria #snake-plant | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Aloe aloe vera #aloe | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Jade plant Crassula #jade-plant | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, depression, incoordination. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Kalanchoe #kalanchoe | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, diarrhea; rarely abnormal heart rhythm. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| English ivy Hedera helix #english-ivy | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, diarrhea. Leaves are more toxic than berries. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Cyclamen #cyclamen | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea; large amounts of the tubers can cause heart rhythm problems, seizures and death. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Poinsettia #poinsettia | Caution | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Irritates the mouth and stomach and may cause vomiting; the ASPCA says its toxicity is generally overrated. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum #spider-plant | Non toxic | Listed as non toxic to cats by the ASPCA. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Boston fern #boston-fern | Non toxic | Listed as non toxic to cats by the ASPCA. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| African violet #african-violet | Non toxic | Listed as non toxic to cats by the ASPCA. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Areca palm #areca-palm | Non toxic | Listed as non toxic to cats by the ASPCA. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Garden plants | |||
| Daylily Hemerocallis #daylily | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Causes kidney failure in cats, like true lilies. | UC Davis, ASPCA, FDA lily warning Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis; not a true lily #lily-of-the-valley | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Affects the heart: irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma or seizures. | ASPCA, UC Davis Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Sago palm cycad #sago-palm | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, bleeding problems, liver damage and liver failure; can be fatal. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Foxglove Digitalis #foxglove | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Heart rhythm problems, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, heart failure; can be fatal. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Oleander #oleander | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression; can be fatal. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Azalea Rhododendron #azalea | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and heart failure. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Holly #holly | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, diarrhea, depression. Leaves and berries are low toxicity. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Mistletoe (American) #mistletoe | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, diarrhea; rarely low blood pressure, breathing difficulty and slow heart rate. | ASPCA, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Catnip #catnip | Caution | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Safe for most cats in small amounts, but the ASPCA notes it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. | ASPCA Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Essential oils and fragrance | |||
| Concentrated essential oils: tea tree, wintergreen, sweet birch, citrus, pine, ylang ylang, peppermint, cinnamon, pennyroyal, clove, eucalyptus aromatherapy oils, diffuser oils #essential-oils | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Cats cannot break down some compounds in essential oils well. Exposure on the skin, from walking through spills or from grooming can cause drooling, vomiting, tremors, wobbliness, breathing difficulty, low body temperature and liver failure. The ASPCA notes as few as seven or eight drops of concentrated tea tree oil can cause problems. Never apply essential oils to a cat. | Pet Poison Helpline, ASPCA essential oils Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Liquid potpourri simmering potpourri #liquid-potpourri | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Can cause chemical burns to the lips, tongue, gums and throat; cats are particularly sensitive. | Pet Poison Helpline, Pet Poison Helpline Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Household and medicines | |||
| Dog flea and tick spot ons containing permethrin #permethrin | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Highly toxic to cats: twitching, seizures and death. Use only products made for cats. | International Cat Care, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Human painkillers: acetaminophen (paracetamol), ibuprofen, aspirin #painkillers | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Among the most common causes of cat poisoning. Never give a human medicine unless your vet prescribes it. | Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Antifreeze ethylene glycol #antifreeze | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. A frequent cause of cat poisoning when spilled and licked up. | Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Rat and mouse poison rodenticides #rodenticides | Emergency | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. A frequent cause of cat poisoning. | Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Bleach and household cleaners #bleach | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Among the most frequently identified causes of cat poisoning. | Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Lead dust or chips from old paint #lead | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Listed by Cornell, citing the ASPCA, among the most frequently identified causes of cat poisoning; mainly found in older homes. | Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Foods | |||
| Onion, garlic, chives including powders #onion-garlic | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Stomach upset and red blood cell damage leading to anemia; the ASPCA notes cats are more susceptible than dogs. | ASPCA foods Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Chocolate, coffee, caffeine #chocolate-caffeine | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures. Darker chocolate is more dangerous. | ASPCA foods, Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Grapes and raisins #grapes-raisins | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Listed by Cornell among human foods that can severely harm cats. | Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Xylitol sugar free gum and sweets #xylitol | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Listed by Cornell among human foods that can severely harm cats. | Cornell Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Alcohol and raw yeast dough #alcohol-dough | Toxic | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Vomiting, incoordination, breathing problems, coma; dough also releases alcohol and gas in the stomach. | ASPCA foods Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
| Milk and dairy #milk | Caution | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Many cats are lactose intolerant: diarrhea and stomach upset. | Cornell, ASPCA foods Reviewed 2026-10-08 |
Risk levels: Emergency: potentially fatal, go to a vet now. Toxic: can cause significant illness, get advice now. Caution: usually mild stomach or skin upset, but still call for advice. Non toxic: listed as non toxic to cats by the ASPCA, though eating any plant can cause minor stomach upset. Not listed does not mean safe: check the full ASPCA plant list or ask your vet. For foods, see also foods to avoid.
Toxic plants and cats: FAQ
What is the most poisonous plant for cats?
True lilies (such as Easter, tiger, Asiatic and Stargazer lilies) and daylilies are among the most dangerous, because a tiny amount, even pollen or vase water, can cause fatal kidney failure. Sago palm, foxglove, oleander, azalea and lily of the valley can also be fatal.
Can lily pollen or vase water really harm a cat?
Yes. The US FDA warns that licking a few pollen grains off the fur or drinking water from a vase holding lilies can cause fatal kidney failure in cats.
Are peace lilies poisonous to cats?
Peace lilies are not true lilies and do not cause kidney failure, but the ASPCA lists them as toxic to cats because they cause intense mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.
Are essential oil diffusers safe for cats?
Use caution. Pet Poison Helpline explains that cats have difficulty breaking down some compounds in essential oils, and oils such as tea tree, wintergreen, citrus, pine, peppermint, cinnamon, clove and eucalyptus are known to poison cats. Never apply oils to a cat, keep bottles out of reach and clean up spills.
Which houseplants are safe for cats?
The ASPCA lists spider plant, Boston fern, African violet and areca palm, among many others, as non toxic to cats. Check any new plant on the ASPCA list before bringing it home.
What should I do if my cat ate a toxic plant?
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now, and keep the plant or a photo of it. Do not make your cat vomit or give home remedies unless a vet tells you to.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Toxic and non toxic plants list
- US FDA: Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: Lily Toxicity in Cats
- Pet Poison Helpline: Lilies
- Pet Poison Helpline: Essential Oils and Cats
- Pet Poison Helpline: Liquid Potpourri Is Toxic to Cats
- ASPCA: The Essentials of Essential Oils Around Pets
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Poisons
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Common Cat Hazards
- International Cat Care: Permethrin poisoning
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets
General education, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your cat, contact your veterinarian; in an emergency, go to the nearest emergency vet.