Cats - toxic plants

Symptoms of eating or licking toxic plants range from mild digestive upset, to liver failure, heart failure, coma and death.

Lilies are the deadliest of plants for cats –contact with lilies of any variety can be fatal with the exception of the Peace Lily and Calla Lily which are not true members of the lily family. Peace Lilies and Calla Lilies can nonetheless cause mouth pain, vomiting and loss of appetite.

See a comprehensive list of toxic plants to avoid published by the Cat Fancier's Association.

If you absolutely must have a toxic plant in your home, try coating it regularly with a pepper spray to deter your cat from licking or chewing on it.

The best solution is to avoid toxic plants entirely and provide your cat with his or her own ‘cat garden’ filled with safe grasses or plants. Visit your pet store to find out what specialty cat garden products are available.