Toxic Plants for Cats: Houseplants and Garden Plants to Keep Away

Cats nibble plants out of curiosity, boredom or for fibre, and a trailing leaf at paw height is hard to resist. Many popular houseplants contain compounds that irritate a cat's mouth and stomach, and a few, above all true lilies, can be life-threatening.

Below are the plants in PlantoScan's catalogue that the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists as toxic to cats, split into houseplants and garden plants, most common first. Each one links to its full care guide. Use it to check a plant before you bring it home, and to decide what to move out of reach.

Lilies are an emergency for cats

The ASPCA lists true lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) as toxic to cats, and small exposures such as chewing a leaf, licking pollen off fur or drinking vase water have been linked to kidney failure. If your cat may have touched or eaten any part of a lily, call your vet or animal poison control straight away, even if your cat seems fine.

In our catalogue: Easter Lily, Japanese Lily.

Houseplants toxic to cats

Indoor plants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats, most common first. Many of these (pothos, philodendron, monstera and other aroids) contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth; others contain saponins or other compounds. The plant's care guide has the details we hold for it.

Garden plants, trees and cut flowers toxic to cats

Outdoor plants, fruit trees, herbs and cut flowers the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats. Remember bouquets and fallen leaves, fruit and seeds as well as the plants in your beds.

What to do if your cat ate a plant

  1. Gently remove any plant pieces from your cat's mouth and move the plant away.
  2. Don't try to make your cat vomit or give home remedies unless a vet tells you to.
  3. Find out what the plant is: check the label, or snap a photo with the free plant scanner.
  4. Call your vet or an animal poison control line right away, even if your catseems fine, and have the plant's name ready.
  5. If you go to the vet, take the plant, its label or a photo with you.

General guidance only, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

Safer houseplants for homes with cats

Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats. For the full list, see plants safe for cats.

How we built this list

Each verdict comes from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's toxic and non-toxic plant lists, matched to PlantoScan's curated catalogue by scientific name. 339 plants in the catalogue have a direct ASPCA entry; 217 of them are listed as toxic to cats. Plants without an ASPCA entry are left out rather than guessed, so this is not a complete list of every plant that can harm a cat. Where our own plant data disagrees with the ASPCA, we show the ASPCA verdict.

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Scan any plant with PlantoScan to see what it is and whether it's listed as toxic to pets, then save it to My Plants with water and fertilizer reminders. Free on iPhone and Android.

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Frequently asked questions

Which houseplants are toxic to cats?
Common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats include chrysanthemum, joshua tree, calla lily, bird of paradise, gardenia, hyacinth, peace lily, poinsettia. Keep them out of reach or choose a plant listed as non-toxic instead.
What should I do if my cat ate a toxic plant?
Remove any plant pieces from your cat's mouth, don't try to make it vomit unless a vet tells you to, and call your vet or an animal poison control line straight away, even if your cat seems fine. Have the plant's name ready, or bring the plant or a photo. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
Are lilies toxic to cats?
Yes. The ASPCA lists true lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) as toxic to cats, and even small exposures, including pollen or vase water, have been linked to kidney failure. Treat any contact as an emergency and call your vet.
Is a plant that's non-toxic to cats completely safe?
Non-toxic means the ASPCA knows of no poisonous compound in it, not that it's food. Eating a lot of any plant can upset a cat's stomach, and fertilizers, pesticides and leaf shine on a plant can be harmful too.
Where does this toxicity information come from?
From the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's lists of toxic and non-toxic plants, matched to PlantoScan's plant catalogue by scientific name. The list only includes plants with a direct ASPCA entry, so it is not a complete list of every toxic plant. It is a general caution, not veterinary advice.
How can I find out which plant my cat chewed?
Check the plant label if it still has one, or take a photo and identify it with PlantoScan's free web scanner or the app, which shows pet toxicity in each plant's care guide. Then tell your vet the plant's scientific name.

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