PlantClinicIs this plant safe for my cat or dog?
Snap a photo of a plant to see whether it's known to be toxic to pets and people, next to its name and care needs.
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How PlantClinic checks toxicity
After a scan, Basic Info lists Toxicity to Humans and Toxicity to Pets, with what usually happens if the plant is chewed. Check it before a new plant comes home, or when you find your cat nibbling one.
Common houseplants that are toxic to pets
- Lilies (true lilies and daylilies)
- Dangerous for cats: even a little, including pollen or the water in the vase, can cause kidney failure. Call a vet right away.
- Sago palm
- Every part, the seeds most of all, can cause liver failure in dogs and cats.
- Pothos, philodendron, monstera, dieffenbachia, peace lily
- Contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth: drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting.
- Aloe vera
- Can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs.
- Snake plant
- Can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Jade plant
- Can cause vomiting and lethargy.
Houseplants listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs
Spider plant, Boston fern, prayer plant and calathea, parlor palm and areca palm, African violet, haworthia, peperomia and ponytail palm. Non-toxic doesn't mean edible: any plant can upset a pet's stomach if it eats a lot of it.
Based on the ASPCA list of toxic and non-toxic plants, which covers many more plants.
If your pet ate a plant
Take any plant pieces out of its mouth, keep the plant (or a photo of it) and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply). Don't make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to. For a child, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Questions
Is monstera toxic to cats?
Yes. Monstera contains calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing it irritates the mouth and can cause drooling, pawing at the mouth and vomiting. Call your vet if your cat ate some.
Is pothos toxic to dogs?
Yes. Pothos has the same calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the mouth and can cause drooling, vomiting and trouble swallowing. Call your vet if your dog ate some.
Which houseplants are safe for cats?
Plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats include spider plant, Boston fern, prayer plant, calathea, parlor palm, areca palm, African violet, haworthia and peperomia. Even safe plants can upset a cat's stomach if it eats a lot.
Are lilies dangerous for cats?
Yes, very. True lilies and daylilies can cause kidney failure in cats, even from a little pollen or vase water. If your cat may have touched or eaten a lily, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away.
Can PlantClinic tell me if a plant is toxic?
Yes. Scan the plant and its result lists toxicity for people and pets. Results come from AI and can be wrong. Treat them as general information, not professional advice, and never eat, forage or use a plant as medicine based on an app.