Houseplants That Are Toxic to Cats (Part 2)

1 Toxic Houseplants to Keep From Your Cat

Araceae (Arum family) — Toxic. Principle: insoluble calcium oxalate. Signs: mouth irritation; pain and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips; heavy drooling; vomiting; trouble swallowing. Common plants: Chinese evergreen, flamingo flower (anthurium), peace lily, monstera, calla lily, nandina, pothos, elephant ear.

Castor bean (Ricinus) — Highly toxic. Principle: ricin. Signs: poor appetite, thirst, weakness, colic, tremors, sweating, loss of coordination, labored breathing, depression, bloody diarrhea, seizures, death. Plant: castor bean.

Liliaceae (Aloe) — Toxic. Principle: saponins, anthraquinones. Signs: vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea. Plant: aloe (the leaf has aloin that also laxates people; only Aloe vera gel is edible).

Amaryllidaceae — Toxic. Principle: alkaloids. Signs: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, belly pain, drooling, anorexia, tremors. Plants: Hippeastrum (amaryllis), Crinum (note: Crinum is not an orchid — the real culprit many mistake for a cat-toxic orchid).

Lamiaceae (Perilla family) — Toxic. Principle: saponins. Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, depression. Plant: American holly (a common winter cut flower).

Yew (Taxus) — Toxic. Principle: taxine A and B, volatile oil. Signs: tremors, labored breathing, vomiting, sudden death from acute heart failure. Plant: yew.

Lily / Colchicum group — Toxic. Principle: colchicine and other alkaloids. Signs: sub-form vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, kidney failure, death; asparagus fern causes allergic dermatitis on repeated skin contact and stomach upset if berries are eaten; colchicum causes vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, bone-marrow suppression. Plants: Asiatic lily, asparagus fern, colchicum.

Azalea (Ericaceae) — Toxic. Principle: anthocyanins (as listed). Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, heart failure. Plant: azalea.

Caesalpinia (Peacock flower) — Toxic. Principle: gut irritants, tannins. Signs: vomiting, diarrhea. Plant: peacock flower (red butterfly / coral tree).

Begoniaceae — Toxic. Principle: soluble calcium oxalate. Signs: vomiting, drooling; the underground rhizome is the most toxic part. Plant: begonia.

Rutaceae — Toxic. Principle: essential oils, psoralens. Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, depression; possible photosensitivity (dermatitis). Plants: citrus, bergamot, orange, and the like.

Rosaceae fruits — Toxic. Principle: cyanogenic glycosides. Stems, leaves, and seeds hold cyanide, especially toxic as they wilt: brick-red membranes, dilated pupils, labored breathing, wheezing, shock. Fruits: apple, apricot, plum, peach, cherry.

Strelitziaceae — Toxic. Principle: gut irritants. Signs: mild nausea, vomiting, lethargy; mainly from fruit and seeds. Plant: bird of paradise (also not an orchid).