Top 15 Toxic Plants for Cats (And What to Do If Your Cat Eats One)

Cats chew plants out of curiosity or boredom, but there are many toxic plants for cats that we commonly have in our homes or gardens. It isn’t just about eating leaves and flowers - poisoning can also happen via pollen or sap on the fur that’s swallowed during grooming.

In this guide, we list the top 15 toxic plants for cats, covering houseplants, garden plants, and even cut flowers. You will learn about symptoms of poisoning, what to do if you suspect it, and some cat-safe alternatives for your home.

Poisoning varies by plant toxicity, dose and the cat’s size and health. If you are in doubt, always treat this as urgent.

How Plant Poisoning Happens in Cats (It’s Not Just Chewing)

It can be alarmingly easy for a cat to be poisoned by a toxic plant. They are naturally curious animals and they like to get involved with plants in homes and gardens. They may be exposed to poisoning by:

• Chewing leaves, stems or flowers

• Bulbs, where the toxins are usually more concentrated

• Polled (particularly from lilies) transferring to the coat and being licked off

• Vase water (this might contain toxins or pollen from cut flowers)

• Contact with sap, causing mouth or skin irritation

There are various factors that affect a plant’s toxicity. The plant species is key, as is the part of it that the cat eats. Quantity is also a major factor, and the age and health of your cat matters. For example, kittens, seniors, or cats with kidney issues are at a higher risk.

Top 15 Toxic Plants for Cats (Common in UK Homes and Gardens)

Here we list the toxic plants for cats that pose the greatest risk in UK homes. They cover a number of cut flowers, house plants and garden plants to ensure you have a broad picture of the risks.

If you are a cat owner and you have any of the following plants in your home or garden, we recommend taking measures to prevent your cat from getting to them. We all know how curious cats can be, so prevention is crucial to avoid accidental poisoning.

Lilies (Lilium / Hemerocallis)

This is among the most well-known toxic plants for cats. It is high-risk even in tiny exposures and can cause severe damage to a cat’s kidneys. The danger can come from:

• Pollen

• Petals

• Leaves

• Vase water

If you are a cat owner, do not keep lilies in your house as the risk is too high.

Tulips

These are beautiful flowers that are often found in bouquets and gardens, but they are a risk to your cat. The bulbs are the most toxic part, and it is common for cats to chew on the bulb and become poisoned.

Symptoms of tulip poisoning in your cat include:

• Drooling

• Vomiting/diarrhoea

• Lethargy

If you notice any of these, or you suspect your cat has been exposed to tulips, seek advice from your vet.

Daffodils (Narcissus)

This is another type of plant that comes with a strong warning about the bulbs. If a cat chews on the bulb of a daffodil, the most common symptom of poisoning is gastrointestinal upset. This might result in vomiting or diarrhoea.

More severe signs are possible if the cat consumes a higher dose of the bulb. These could include:

• Lethargy or weakness

• Excessive drooling

• Tremors

• Breathing difficulty

Hyacinths

Once again, the hyacinth is a plant that offers a particular risk from the bulb. If a cat chews on a hyacinth bulb, it may experience signs of irritation or gastrointestinal distress, which become more severe with higher doses.

It is strongly advised that you keep planted bulbs and discarded bulb wrappers away from cats. Even better, don’t have them in your home or garden.

Bulb Plants

You may have noticed a pattern over the last few entries. Plants that grow from a bulb are generally not safe around cats. Common garden or cut-stem plants, including iris and gladioli, all pose a threat to cats and should be kept away from them.

If you suspect that your cat may have ingested something from one of these plants, symptoms to look out for include:

• Gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhoea, etc.)

• Drooling

• Lethargy

Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)

This is a popular indoor plant that helps oxygenate rooms and gives a fresh, natural aesthetic. Unfortunately, they are also popular with curious felines who like to chew on the leaves. The plant is mildly toxic to cats and could cause mouth irritation that presents with the following symptoms:

• Drooling

• Pawing at the mouth

• Vomiting

Aloe Vera

Popular on windowsills, and known for its outstanding skincare properties for humans, aloe vera plants are a common sight in people’s homes. However, they are also another plant that can be toxic to cats. Ingestion of aloe vera can cause gastrointestinal upset and lethargy in cats.

Ficus (Rubber Plant / Weeping Fig)

Another plant that people love in their homes, the ficus is unsafe for cats. It’s another one that they like to chew on, but its sap can cause irritation in your animal. Cats that chew on this plant may experience things like gastrointestinal distress and drooling.

Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)

This makes a beautiful houseplant with its textured leaves and vibrant shades of green. If you have it on a shelf, tabletop or windowsill at home, be aware that your cat may take an interest and chew on the leaves.

Unfortunately, this can cause significant irritation in a cat’s mouth. There is a risk of swelling, drooling, and even difficulty swallowing.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Though not a true lily, the peace lily can still be harmful to cats. It produces beautiful white flowers with a unique, unmistakable shape, but the plant is toxic to your feline family members. This is why we still recommend that you avoid it in a cat household, or you risk issues like:

• Gastrointestinal upset

• Oral irritation

Azaleas / Rhododendrons

These are very common shrubs found in a number of UK gardens. If your cat spends a lot of time outdoors, it could encounter them in a neighbour’s garden, even if not in yours. Unfortunately, ingestion can be serious.

Signs of intoxication can quickly go beyond gastrointestinal upset, to things like:

• Drooling

• Loss of appetite

• Weakness

• Staggering

• Muscle tremors

• Seizures

If you suspect that your cat has ingested one of these plants, you should treat it as urgent.

Foxglove

This is a classic toxic garen plant. The foxglove is a favourite among flower lovers and it can be a joy to see them growing in your garden, but they are not safe around cats. Even small amounts can be dangerous for your animal to ingest, so we recommend that you avoid them entirely.

Yew

Did you know that the yew tree is highly toxic for cats? Most of the time, this isn’t a cause for concern, since its leaves are out of a cat’s reach. But clippings can be a risk, and they are commonly blown into gardens or even found in compost.

This is one to be mindful of, because yew poses a significant risk to cats.

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum Autumnale) vs Spring Crocus

The autumn crocus should be distinguished from the spring one, as the autumn variety is considerably more dangerous for cats. Symptoms can be severe, but they may also be delayed. If you have seen your cat chew on this type of plant, treat it as an emergency and seek urgent veterinary attention.

Cycads (Sago Palm and Related)

This is a standout “never keep” plant. They are severely toxic plants for cats that should never be anywhere near the animal. Every part of the plant can be risky, so if your cat chews on or rubs against one, seek immediate veterinary care to ensure safety.

Symptoms of Plant Poisoning In Cats (What Owners Actually Notice)

Though the symptoms vary from one plant to the next, there are several that are very common. The signs to look out for that are likely to be related to poison from a plant include:

• Mouth/skin irritation: Look for drooling, pawing at the mouth, redness, swelling or ulcers.

• Gastrointestinal: Vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and abdominal discomfort are common.

• Neurological: If your cat has tremors, looks wobbly, has a seizure or starts behaving in an unusual way, contact your vet.

• Breathing/cardiac: Fast breathing, difficult breathing and weakness or collapse are all major symptoms.

Anything like a collapse, breathing difficulty, repeated vomiting, or tremors and seizures are emergency symptoms that need immediate attention. With lilies or other high-risk plants, treat it as an emergency even if the cat isn’t showing any symptoms yet.

What to Do If Your Cat Chews a Plant

If you are aware of toxic plants for cats in your home, garden or nearby area, and you suspect your cat has been exposed, do the following:

1. Remove the car from the area and make sure it can’t get back to the plant.

2. If you can see visible material or pollen anywhere on the cat, gently wipe away with a damp cloth. Try to avoid distressing the cat.

3. Identify the plant. Check the label or a receipt. Take a photo, and collect a sample to put in a bag.

4. Contact your vet, including emergency out-of-hours vets. You could contact the Animal Poison Helpline for expert advice.

You should never try to induce vomiting unless a vet instructs you to do so. We also advise against trying to administer home remedies like milks or oils. Vets may need to do things like decontamination, administering fluids, monitoring and symptom control. The earlier this starts, the better.

Prevention That Works in Real Homes

Cats are curious, they are agile, and they are excellent climbers. In the home, it can be difficult to keep them away from plants, and it can be almost impossible outdoors. Putting a houseplant on a high shelf is not a reliable solution. Instead, consider the following options:

• Removing the plant from the home or garden so the cat cannot be exposed.

• Keeping the plant in a truly cat-free room with a locked door.

• Avoiding high-risk bouquets entirely, especially lilies.

If you are a gardener, some of the things you use in your garden could pose a risk. We recommend that you keep fertilisers, pesticides, slug pellets, compost, fungi and grass seed securely stored where that cat can’t access them.

Aim to keep your cat from becoming tempted to chew plants. With plenty of safe chew options, including cat grass, and lots of enrichment, you can keep nibbling to a minimum. It’s also helpful to rotate their toys to reduce boredom.

Cat-Safe Alternatives

There are plenty of houseplants that are safe to keep around cats. Many of them are very popular household plants, and you can take your pick from options like:

• Spider plants

• Orchids

• Parlour palm

• Alyssum

• Bamboo

For a full list of plants that are toxic and non-toxic for cats, visit the Cats Protection League website. For bouquets, we recommend that you check florist cut flower lists and avoid lilies and anything that grows from a bulb.

Please be advised that “non-toxic” doesn’t mean that a plant is edible in large amounts. Any plant can cause some gastrointestinal upset if eaten.

FAQs About Toxic Plants For Cats

Are lilies really that dangerous to cats?

Yes. Lilies can cause acute, potentially fatal kidney failure in cats, even from very small exposures.

What if my cat only got pollen on their fur?

This is still a risk for exposure, because cats often ingest pollen when grooming and it may still be enough to trigger severe toxicity.

My cat chewed a leaf but seems fine - should I still call the vet?

Yes, we recommend that you call. SOme plant toxins can cause serious internal damage before any obvious symptoms appear, so you should always seek advice.