What Is Poisonous to Cats? Plants, Foods and Household Dangers

What’s poisonous to cats? The dangers vets and poison centers warn about most are lilies, human medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen, dog flea products that contain permethrin, antifreeze, rat and mouse poison, essential oils, household chemicals, some people foods and many houseplants. Lilies come first: a nibble of a leaf, a lick of pollen or a sip of vase water can kill a cat. If you think your cat was exposed, call your vet or a poison hotline at once, before signs appear.

We checked the ASPCA, FDA, Cornell’s Feline Health Center, International Cat Care, Pet Poison Helpline and EPA on Oct 7, 2026. This doesn’t replace your vet’s advice.

Lilies: the most urgent danger

Lilies in the true lily (Lilium) and daylily (Hemerocallis) families are very dangerous for cats. The whole plant is toxic, even the pollen and the water in the vase. A small bite of a leaf or petal, a few pollen grains licked off the fur, or a drink from the vase can cause “fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days,” the FDA warns. The toxin is unknown and affects only cats. Cornell calls lilies especially toxic to cats, and the ASPCA’s entries for Easter lilies and daylilies list vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, kidney failure and death.

The FDA’s timeline:

• 0 to 12 hours: less activity, drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite.
• 12 to 24 hours: signs of kidney damage, such as peeing more and dehydration.
• 24 to 72 hours: kidney failure, fatal without treatment.

If treatment starts 18 hours or more after the cat ate the lily, the kidney failure is generally irreversible, the FDA says, so don’t wait for signs. International Cat Care warns that “pollen-free” lilies are still dangerous. Keep them out of your home, and out of your garden if cats roam nearby (FDA).

Not every “lily” is a true lily (FDA):

Plant	What it can do to a cat
True lilies (Lilium)	Kidney failure, fatal without treatment. Includes Easter, tiger, Asiatic, Oriental, stargazer, Japanese show, rubrum and wood lilies
Daylilies (Hemerocallis)	Kidney failure, as with true lilies
Lily of the valley	A heart rhythm problem that can be life-threatening; vomiting, diarrhea, weakness
Gloriosa (flame) lily	Its roots or tubers can cause failure of several organs
Peace and calla lilies	Crystals irritate the mouth: pawing at the face, drooling, vomiting. Signs usually pass on their own

The ASPCA lists peace and calla lilies and lily of the valley as toxic to cats too.

Medicines, flea products and household chemicals

Cats groom chemicals off their fur, and their liver can’t break some of them down, so recovery can be harder (International Cat Care). The household dangers the sources list:

Danger	Why it matters for cats
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)	Also called paracetamol. Cats can’t break it down; it damages the liver and red blood cells (International Cat Care). Look for it in cold, flu and allergy products (Pet Poison Helpline)
Ibuprofen, naproxen	Can cause severe stomach ulcers and kidney failure. Never give any NSAID without asking your vet (Pet Poison Helpline)
Aspirin	Cats are much more sensitive than dogs. It’s also in Pepto-Bismol, some skin products and muscle rubs (Pet Poison Helpline)
Dog flea products	Permethrin in dog spot-ons can kill a cat, even through contact with a freshly treated dog (International Cat Care)
Antifreeze	Even the smallest amount of ethylene glycol can cause kidney failure and death (International Cat Care). Watch for car leaks and garage containers (Pet Poison Helpline)
Rat and mouse poison	Different baits need different treatments (Pet Poison Helpline). Bromethalin has no antidote, and cats are more sensitive to it than dogs (Pet Poison Helpline)
Garden chemicals	Insecticides, snail baits, weed killers, fertilizers (Cornell). Keep your cat in until sprays have dried (International Cat Care)
Essential oils, potpourri	Cats lack a liver enzyme they need to clear the oils (Pet Poison Helpline). Liquid potpourri can burn the mouth (Pet Poison Helpline; Cornell)
Cleaning products	Most are fine used as labeled, but undiluted bleach, detergent pods, dryer sheets and fabric softener can burn or sicken pets (ASPCA), and so can some disinfectants (International Cat Care)

Dog flea products: a mistake that can kill a cat

The most common cause of permethrin poisoning is human error: owners put a dog’s flea product on a cat by mistake, sometimes thinking a smaller amount will be fine. Even a very small amount can make a cat seriously ill (International Cat Care), and EPA veterinarians found cats’ exposure to dog products an important problem (EPA). Use only flea products labeled for cats, and on a kitten only if the label allows it (EPA). If you have a dog too, International Cat Care suggests a permethrin-free dog product, or keeping the pets apart for 72 hours after using one.

People foods that are toxic to cats

These are on the ASPCA’s list of people foods to keep from pets, Cornell’s list for cats, or both:

Food	What it can do
Onions, garlic, chives	Damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, and upset the stomach. Cats are more sensitive than dogs (ASPCA; Pet Poison Helpline)
Chocolate, coffee, tea	Vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, even death. Darker chocolate is riskier (ASPCA; Pet Poison Helpline)
Alcohol, raw yeast dough	Vomiting, incoordination, breathing trouble, coma, even death. Dough also swells in the stomach (ASPCA; Pet Poison Helpline)
Xylitol	In sugar-free gum, candy and some toothpaste. Low blood sugar and possible liver damage (ASPCA). On Cornell’s list for cats
Grapes and raisins	On Cornell’s list for cats, though poisoning is mainly reported in dogs (Pet Poison Helpline)

Plants that are toxic and non-toxic to cats

The ASPCA keeps a plant list for cats, and Cornell says hundreds of plants are poisonous to cats. Before you rely on a list:

• Check the scientific name. Common names overlap: the ASPCA uses “ribbon plant” both for the non-toxic spider plant and for toxic dracaena.
• No list is complete. The ASPCA’s list covers the plants it sees most often.
• Non-toxic isn’t harmless to eat. Any plant can cause vomiting, the ASPCA says, though it doesn’t expect non-toxic plants to be life-threatening. Even grass can upset a cat’s stomach (International Cat Care).

Toxic to cats

Each plant links to its ASPCA entry; we put the ASPCA’s terms in plain words.

Plant	Scientific name	Toxin and signs (ASPCA)
Aloe	Aloe vera	Saponins, anthraquinones. Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea (the gel is considered edible)
Amaryllis	Amaryllis spp.	Lycorine and others. Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, loss of appetite, tremors
Azalea	Rhododendron spp.	Grayanotoxin. Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, heart failure
Chrysanthemum (mum)	Chrysanthemum spp.	Pyrethrins and other irritants. Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, incoordination, skin inflammation
Cyclamen	Cyclamen spp.	Terpenoid saponins. Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea; after large amounts of the tubers, heart rhythm problems, seizures, death
Daffodil	Narcissus spp.	Lycorine and other alkaloids. Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea; after large amounts, convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, heart rhythm problems. Bulbs are most poisonous
Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)	Dieffenbachia	Insoluble calcium oxalates. Burning, irritated mouth, drooling, vomiting, trouble swallowing
Dracaena (corn plant)	Dracaena fragrans	Saponins. Vomiting (sometimes with blood), depression, loss of appetite, drooling, dilated pupils
English ivy	Hedera helix	Triterpenoid saponins. Vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, diarrhea; leaves are more toxic than berries
Gladiola	Gladiolus species	Toxin unknown. Drooling, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea; most toxin in the corms (bulbs)
Golden pothos	Epipremnum aureum	Insoluble calcium oxalates. Burning, irritated mouth, drooling, vomiting, trouble swallowing
Hyacinth	Hyacinthus orientalis	Possibly narcissus-like alkaloids. Intense vomiting, diarrhea, occasionally with blood, depression, tremors
Jade plant	Crassula argentea	Toxin unknown. Vomiting, depression, incoordination
Kalanchoe	Kalanchoe spp.	Bufadienolides. Vomiting, diarrhea, rarely an abnormal heart rhythm
Oleander	Nerium oleander	Cardiac glycosides. Drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, depression, death
Philodendron (heartleaf)	Philodendron hederaceum	Insoluble calcium oxalates. Mouth pain and swelling, drooling, vomiting, trouble swallowing
Poinsettia	Euphorbia pulcherrima	Irritant sap. Irritates the mouth and stomach, sometimes vomiting; “generally over-rated in toxicity”
Sago palm	Cycas revoluta	Cycasin. Vomiting, black stools, jaundice, increased thirst, bleeding, bruising, liver failure, death
Snake plant	Sansevieria trifasciata	Saponins. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Swiss cheese plant	Monstera deliciosa	Insoluble calcium oxalates. Burning, irritated mouth, drooling, vomiting, trouble swallowing
Tulip	Tulipa spp.	Tulipalin A and B. Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, drooling; most toxin in the bulb
Yucca	Yucca spp.	Saponins. Vomiting

Non-toxic to cats

The ASPCA lists these as non-toxic to cats:

Plant	Scientific name
African violet	Saintpaulia spp.
Areca palm	Dypsis lutescens
Baby rubber plant	Peperomia obtusifolia
Boston fern	Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis
Calathea	Calathea spp.
Cast iron plant	Aspidistra elatior
Christmas cactus	Schlumbergera bridgesii
Haworthia	Haworthia species
Hens and chickens	Echeveria elegans
Parlor palm	Chamaedorea elegans
Phalaenopsis orchid	Phalaenopsis sp.
Pony tail plant	Beaucarnea recurvata
Prayer plant	Calathea insignis
Spider plant	Chlorophytum comosum

Toads and other outdoor dangers

All toads release toxins from their skin, and a pet that mouths or eats one will likely drool and vomit (Pet Poison Helpline). Most US toads cause only a mild stomach upset, but a Bufo, cane or Colorado River toad can kill an untreated cat. A cat can be poisoned just by licking or touching one, and signs can start within minutes or hours: red, inflamed gums, eye irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, an abnormal heart rhythm, breathing problems and seizures (Pet Poison Helpline). If your cat caught a toad you can’t identify, or one of those kinds, get emergency care at once.

Outdoor cats also meet poisoned prey: rat and mouse poison most often reaches cats through rodents that ate the bait (International Cat Care).

Signs of poisoning in cats

Signs depend on the poison, and cats hide illness (International Cat Care). By the time an owner notices, a cat may already be at serious risk, Cornell warns. Signs the sources list:

Body system	Signs to watch for
Stomach and gut	Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, not eating, blood in the stool
Nervous system	Tremors, twitching, wobbly walking, seizures, sluggishness, collapse, coma
Breathing and heart	Difficulty breathing, coughing, an irregular heartbeat
Mouth and skin	A red, swollen or blistered mouth, throat or skin; pawing at the face
Bleeding	Bruising, nosebleeds, blood in the urine
Kidneys and liver	Drinking and peeing more, being unable to pee, yellow gums or skin (jaundice)

Sources: Cornell; International Cat Care; Pet Poison Helpline; FDA (pawing at the face).

What to do if your cat ate something poisonous

1. Move your cat away from the source and keep other pets away (Pet Poison Helpline; International Cat Care). If something is on its fur or paws, stop it grooming.
2. Call right away: your vet, or if they’re closed, an emergency clinic or a poison hotline (Cornell). The sooner, the easier and safer the treatment (Pet Poison Helpline).
3. Don’t make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to. Some poisons do more damage coming back up (Cornell), and hydrogen peroxide is never safe for cats (Pet Poison Helpline).
4. No home remedies. Milk isn’t an antidote and can worsen stomach upset; salt and oils can do harm too (Pet Poison Helpline).
5. Bring the evidence: the package or label, a sample, the plant or a photo, and the time it happened (Cornell; FDA; International Cat Care). With rat poison, bring the label: the ingredient can’t be told from the bait’s color or shape (Pet Poison Helpline).

Hotline	Phone	Open	Fee, as stated
ASPCA Poison Control	(888) 426-4435	24 hours a day, 365 days a year	“A consultation fee may apply.” No amount given
Pet Poison Helpline	(855) 764-7661	24/7, phone or chat	“a $99 USD per incident fee applies,” follow-ups included (its FAQ still says $85)

Checked Oct 7, 2026. The FDA calls the ASPCA line the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

Kitten-proofing your home against poisons

Kittens are especially at risk: they’re curious, they chew plants, and because they’re small, a fairly small amount can poison them (International Cat Care). Before your kitten comes home (see what age to bring a kitten home):

• No lilies in the house or garden, including bouquets and “pollen-free” lilies.
• Check every plant against the ASPCA list by scientific name; keep toxic ones out, especially with an indoor cat (International Cat Care).
• Lock up medicines and chemicals in closed cupboards, since cats push things off shelves (International Cat Care), and pick up dropped pills (Cornell).
• Keep your cat off freshly cleaned or treated surfaces until they’re dry (International Cat Care). For the litter box, see how to litter train a kitten.
• Use only flea products labeled for cats (EPA).
• Cover potpourri with a lid your cat can’t open (Cornell), and be cautious with essential oil diffusers (Pet Poison Helpline).
• Keep people food and the trash out of reach (Cornell).
• Seal antifreeze and clean up spills at once (International Cat Care).

The new kitten checklist covers the rest: cables, small gaps, windows and string.

FAQ

Is a ZZ plant poisonous to cats?

It isn’t on the ASPCA’s cat list, and Pet Poison Helpline has no entry for it. NC State Extension’s plant database says the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) has “medium toxicity to cats and dogs,” from calcium oxalate, with vomiting and diarrhea if the leaves are eaten in quantity.

Is gladiolus poisonous to cats?

Yes. The ASPCA lists gladiolus as toxic to cats: drooling, vomiting, lethargy and diarrhea, with the most toxin in the corms (bulbs). Pet Poison Helpline adds that large amounts can cause an unsteady walk.

Is kalanchoe poisonous to cats?

Yes. The ASPCA lists kalanchoe (also called mother-in-law plant, devil’s backbone, chandelier plant or mother of millions) as toxic to cats: vomiting, diarrhea and, rarely, an abnormal heart rhythm. Usually it only upsets the stomach, says Pet Poison Helpline, but larger amounts can affect the heart and cause collapse.

Is yucca poisonous to cats?

Yes, though usually mildly. The ASPCA lists yucca as toxic to cats, with vomiting. Pet Poison Helpline says it typically causes only mild vomiting and diarrhea, possibly with dilated pupils, and its sharp leaf tips can injure the skin or gut. Yucca isn’t yuca (cassava).

Can I use essential oils or a diffuser if I have a cat?

Only with care. Cats can’t clear essential oils well, and tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, citrus, pine and wintergreen oils are among those known to poison them (Pet Poison Helpline). Never put concentrated oil on a cat. If your cat drools, coughs or breathes hard near a diffuser, move it into fresh air, and get emergency care if the signs don’t clear quickly.