Toxic Houseplants for Cats and Dogs: Common Plants to Avoid

Bringing greenery and floral décor into your home can add life and warmth to any space. Unfortunately, many popular houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs, making them a hidden danger for curious pets. As responsible pet parents, it’s important to know which plants pose a risk and how to create a safe home environment for your four-legged family members.

Here’s your vet-approved guide to common toxic houseplants and pet-safe alternatives.

Some toxic plants cause mouth irritation or an upset stomach, while others can lead to life-threatening poisoning. True lilies and daylilies are especially dangerous to cats, and sago palms can cause severe liver damage in pets. These common plants deserve a closer look before you bring them home.

1. Lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species)

Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and potentially harmful to dogs. Even small exposures, including licking pollen or nibbling a leaf, can cause acute kidney failure and death in cats. Any contact with true lilies should be treated as an emergency.

Note: Peace lilies are not true lilies and do not cause kidney failure, but they can still irritate the mouth, tongue, and lips, leading to drooling, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting.

2. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Although beneficial for humans, aloe vera contains saponins and anthraquinones that are toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and tremors.

3. Snake Plant (Sansevieria spp.)

Also known as ‘mother-in-law's tongue’ (!), snake plants contain saponins, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and appetite loss in dogs and cats. Cats may also experience dilated pupils, pale gums, and increased thirst.

4. Pothos or Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)

This popular vine contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing in pets.

5. Dieffenbachia or Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia spp.)

Also containing calcium oxalates, dieffenbachia can lead to mouth swelling, drooling, oral pain, and difficulty breathing in severe cases. It is toxic to both pets and humans.

6. Elephant Ear (Colocasia and Alocasia species)

All parts of this plant are toxic. Ingestion causes oral irritation, excessive salivation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and in severe cases, breathing difficulties.

7. Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)

One of the most dangerous ornamental plants. All parts are toxic, especially the seeds. Ingestion can cause liver failure, jaundice, seizures, internal bleeding, and death.

8. Philodendron

Philodendron contains calcium oxalate crystals, causing immediate pain, swelling, vomiting, and drooling. Severe reactions can include airway swelling and difficulty breathing.

9. Poinsettias

Popular during the holidays, poinsettias have a milky sap that can irritate the mouth and stomach, leading to vomiting and mild GI upset.

10. Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)

This succulent contains cardiac glycosides, which can disrupt heart rhythm. Ingesting the sap can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, irregular heartbeat, and even death. While a small lick might only cause mild GI upset, larger ingestions, especially of the sap, require immediate veterinary attention due to the severe heart-affecting toxins.

11. Asparagus Fern

Also known as lace fern or emerald feather, this plant contains sapogenin, a toxic steroid. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation, and abdominal pain in pets.

12. Azalea

Azaleas contain grayanotoxins, which affect the heart and nervous system. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, tremors, heart arrhythmias, seizures, or death. All parts of the plant are poisonous and even ingestion of small amounts can cause clinical symptoms. Your pet only needs to ingest 0.2% of their body weight to become sick. This means a 30 pound dog only needs to eat about 0.5oz to 1oz of the plant to get sick!

13. Tulip

The highest concentration of toxins (Tulipalin A and B) is in the bulb. Ingestion may lead to lethargy, vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and heart irregularities.

14. Tomato Plants

The green parts of tomato plants contain solanine, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, confusion, slow heart rate, and dilated pupils. Large amounts are required for toxicity, but it's still best to keep pets away.

15. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

This common succulent can cause vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination in dogs. In rare cases, it may lead to a slow heart rate.

16. Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)

Monstera’s distinctive leaves contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth when chewed. Dogs and cats may develop a painful mouth, excessive drooling, vomiting, or trouble swallowing. If you discover bite marks on your monstera, contact your veterinarian for guidance.

17. ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant is easy to care for, but it can cause problems for curious pets. Its calcium oxalate crystals can trigger mouth pain, drooling, pawing at the mouth, and vomiting after chewing. Most exposures cause local irritation, but difficulty swallowing or breathing requires immediate veterinary care.

18. Peace Lily

Peace lilies contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can cause burning and irritation of the mouth, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing in dogs and cats.

Despite their name, peace lilies are not true lilies and do not cause the same kidney injury associated with Lilium and Hemerocallis species in cats. Correct identification matters: if you are unsure which type of lily your pet encountered, seek veterinary advice immediately.

19. Dracaena

Dracaena plants, including corn plants and dragon trees, contain saponins that are toxic to dogs and cats. Eating them may cause vomiting, drooling, reduced appetite, and unusual tiredness. Cats may also develop enlarged pupils. Vomit can occasionally contain blood, so contact your veterinarian promptly if you suspect your pet has chewed this plant.

20. English Ivy

English ivy contains compounds that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and excessive drooling in dogs and cats. Its leaves are more toxic than its berries. Keep trailing vines and fallen leaves away from pets, even when the pot itself sits on a high shelf.

21. Chinese Evergreen

Chinese evergreen contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate a pet’s mouth when chewed. Signs include pain and swelling of the lips or tongue, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. Contact your veterinarian if your dog or cat has nibbled the plant or develops these symptoms.

22. Kalanchoe

This flowering succulent contains toxins that can affect the heart. In dogs and cats, ingestion commonly causes vomiting and diarrhea; abnormal heart rhythms can occur in rare cases. Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service promptly after a suspected exposure, even if your pet seems comfortable.

23. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

The rubber plant’s sap contains irritating compounds that can cause mouth discomfort, drooling, retching, and vomiting when pets chew its leaves or stems. Although gastrointestinal effects are generally mild, contact your veterinarian for advice after an exposure, especially if symptoms persist. Use the botanical name Ficus elastica when identifying the plant, since common names can be confusing.

Symptoms depend on the plant and the exposure. Plants that irritate the mouth may cause drooling, pawing at the face, head shaking, vomiting, or reluctance to eat. Swelling can make swallowing difficult and, rarely, interfere with breathing.

Difficulty breathing, seizures, collapse, or unresponsiveness require immediate emergency veterinary care. Do not wait for symptoms before seeking advice if you suspect your pet has eaten a toxic plant. Some harmful effects can develop after your pet initially appears well.

Act promptly, even if you are unsure how much your pet ate:

1. Prevent further exposure. Move your pet away from the plant and keep other pets out of the area.
2. Identify the plant. Take clear photos and save its label or a safely contained sample. Note when the exposure happened and approximately how much is missing.
3. Contact a veterinary professional immediately. Call your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, available 24 hours a day. A consultation fee may apply. Share your pet’s weight, symptoms, and the plant information.
4. Go directly to an emergency veterinary hospital for severe symptoms. Trouble breathing, seizures, collapse, or unresponsiveness should never wait for a routine appointment.
5. Avoid home remedies. Do not induce vomiting or give hydrogen peroxide, salt, medications, or other treatments unless a veterinary professional specifically directs you to do so.

If you are unsure where your pet should be seen, contact Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care for guidance. Pets with life-threatening symptoms need immediate care at an emergency veterinary hospital.

• Identify and remove dangerous plants: Replace toxic plants with non-toxic alternatives like spider plants, calatheas, or Boston ferns
• Supervise your pets around plants: Especially curious cats and puppies.
• Know the signs of plant poisoning: Look for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, lethargy, difficulty breathing, or pawing at the mouth.
• Label your plants: This makes it easier to respond quickly in an emergency.
• Contact a vet if ingestion is suspected: The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

1. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Easy to grow and completely pet-safe. Thrives in most indoor environments.

2. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Lush and attractive, Boston ferns are non-toxic to dogs and cats.

3. Calathea

Known for their stunning foliage, calatheas are beautiful, pet-safe, and add a pop of color to any room. Even non-toxic plants can cause mild digestive upset if eaten in large quantities, so keep all plants out of reach when possible.

Creating a pet-friendly home doesn’t mean giving up on your love for plants. By choosing non-toxic species and knowing which ones to avoid, you can enjoy the beauty of indoor greenery without compromising your pet’s safety. If you ever suspect your pet has ingested a toxic plant, contact a veterinarian or a pet poison helpline immediately.

At Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care, we’re here to help you navigate plant-related emergencies and offer guidance on keeping your pets safe indoors.

Stay safe, and happy gardening (and happy pet parenting!).