This is not veterinary advice. If your cat may be seriously ill or injured, contact a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital immediately. Created with lived experience, not veterinary endorsement.
BLUF: Immediate triage evaluation for 20 common plants toxic to cats to determine if emergency veterinary care is required. Review the critical symptoms below and apply stabilizing home care protocols where applicable.
Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins

Last reviewed: 2026-07

20 Common Plants Toxic to Cats

If you suspect your cat has ingested any part of these plants (leaves, stems, flowers, pollen, or water from the vase), go to an emergency vet immediately. Bring a photo or sample of the plant.

WARNING: Lilies

True lilies (Lilium species) and Daylilies (Hemerocallis species) are extremely toxic to cats. Even a tiny amount of pollen licked off their fur or a sip of vase water can cause fatal kidney failure within 36-72 hours.

Immediate Care Guides

Download our comprehensive step-by-step emergency care protocols.

cards
Powered by paypal

The List

  1. Lilies (True Lilies & Daylilies) - Severe acute kidney failure.
  2. Sago Palm - Severe liver failure, potentially fatal.
  3. Tulips - Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation (mostly from the bulb).
  4. Oleander - Fatal heart abnormalities, drooling, vomiting.
  5. Castor Bean - Severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, intense thirst, weakness.
  6. Cyclamen - Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. Large amounts of tubers cause heart rhythm abnormalities.
  7. Kalanchoe - Vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm.
  8. Yew - Sudden death from heart failure. Tremors, difficulty breathing.
  9. Amaryllis - Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation.
  10. Autumn Crocus - Severe vomiting, GI bleeding, liver and kidney damage, respiratory failure.
  11. Chrysanthemum - Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination.
  12. English Ivy - Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea.
  13. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) - Oral irritation, intense burning of mouth, lips, tongue, vomiting. (Not a true lily, but still toxic).
  14. Pothos - Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting.
  15. Schefflera - Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, lips, tongue, drooling.
  16. Azalea / Rhododendron - Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, depression of the central nervous system. Severe poisoning could lead to coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
  17. Dieffenbachia - Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting.
  18. Daffodils - Vomiting, salivation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias.
  19. Hyacinth - Vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis, allergic reactions.
  20. Jade Plant - Vomiting, depression, ataxia (incoordination).

In our experience

In our experience, "cat safe" plants are the only way to go indoors. Cats will chew on practically anything green, and it is impossible to train them to leave a toxic plant alone 24/7. When in doubt, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) immediately while on your way to the vet.

Written by the Sick Cat Survival editorial team

Sick Cat Survival is an independent educational resource written by cat owners with lived experience of serious feline illness. We are not veterinarians, and nothing here is veterinary advice. If your cat may be seriously ill or injured, contact a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital immediately.