Plants Toxic to Cats: UK Checklist and Safe Alternatives
Updated 18 October 2026 · Based on Cats Protection and PDSA toxic plant guidance
Cats chew plants. Nobody has fully explained why — boredom, fibre, curiosity — but they do, and some of the most common plants in British homes and gardens can seriously harm them. This checklist covers what's dangerous, what to do in an emergency, and the cat-safe plants you can keep instead.
72 plants shown
Lilium and Hemerocallis species
The most dangerous plant in a cat household. Every part — petals, leaves, pollen, even the vase water — can cause fatal kidney failure.
Convallaria majalis
Not a true lily, and just as dangerous: it contains cardiac glycosides that can stop a cat's heart.
Digitalis purpurea
Every part is poisonous and it grows wild across the UK. It affects the heart and can be fatal.
Taxus baccata
Extremely toxic, and common in British churchyards, parks and hedges. Even a small amount of needle can kill.
Nerium oleander
Every part is poisonous, including dried leaves and the water in the vase. It affects the heart.
Ricinus communis
The seeds contain ricin. This is one of the most toxic plants a cat can meet, and it grows as an ornamental in UK gardens.
Laburnum anagyroides
The seeds and pods are the dangerous part, and they hang at cat height in summer. All parts are toxic.
Narcissus
The bulb is the dangerous part. Eating it causes drooling, vomiting and sometimes a heart rhythm problem.
Tulipa
The bulb is the toxic part, as with other spring bulbs. Cut flowers are a milder risk.
Hyacinthus orientalis
The bulb is the toxic part. Indoors at Christmas and New Year, forced hyacinths sit at exactly cat height.
Hippeastrum
The bulb is toxic and the plant is sold as a bare bulb in a box — often left on a shelf where a cat can reach it.
Cyclamen persicum
The tuber is the dangerous part; leaves and flowers are milder. It is a very common supermarket pot plant.
Aloe vera
Toxic to cats. The latex under the skin contains anthraquinones that cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
Hedera helix
Common in British gardens and hedging. Leaves and berries cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Rhododendron species
All parts contain grayanotoxins. Eating even a small amount causes drooling, vomiting and heart problems.
Hydrangea macrophylla
Leaves and buds contain cyanogenic compounds. Eating them causes vomiting and depression.
Wisteria sinensis
The seeds and pods are the toxic part, and they drop in autumn. The flowers are the least dangerous.
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
A flowering succulent sold everywhere. It contains cardiac glycosides and affects the heart.
Viscum album
The berries are the dangerous part, and they drop onto the floor underneath Christmas arrangements.
Ilex aquifolium
The berries cause vomiting and diarrhoea. The spines are a separate problem for paws and mouths.
Lavandula angustifolia
Mildly toxic to cats. The plant causes nausea and vomiting; the essential oil is far more dangerous.
Mentha species
Garden mint is mildly toxic to cats: eating a lot causes vomiting and diarrhoea. Essential oil is much worse.
Eucalyptus species
Toxic to cats, and the essential oil is particularly dangerous. It is common in cut-foliage bouquets and shower products.
Epipremnum aureum
Calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing causes intense mouth pain, drooling and swelling — usually not fatal, but distressing.
Monstera deliciosa
Same calcium oxalate crystals as pothos. Leaf chewing causes mouth pain and drooling; the swiss cheese look is a cat favourite.
Spathiphyllum
Not a true lily and not deadly — but it contains oxalate crystals that burn the mouth. The name causes real confusion.
Philodendron species
Calcium oxalate crystals, same family as pothos and monstera. Mouth pain, drooling and swelling after chewing.
Dieffenbachia seguine
The strongest of the oxalate plants kept indoors. Swelling can affect the airway, which is when it becomes serious.
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Not a true lily, so no kidney failure — but the oxalate crystals burn the mouth and throat.
Dracaena trifasciata (Sansevieria)
Contains saponins. Eating it causes vomiting and diarrhoea, but it is far less dangerous than the oxalate plants.
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Not the deadly plant folklore claims. The milky sap irritates the mouth and skin; eating a lot causes vomiting.
Chlorophytum comosum
One of the genuinely cat-safe houseplants. Cats love to chew it, and it works as an indoor substitute for grass.
Phalaenopsis
Non-toxic to cats. One of the safest flowering plants to keep in a cat household.
Chamaedorea elegans
Non-toxic to cats and one of the best palms for a cat home — it tolerates low light and a bit of attention.
Dypsis lutescens
Non-toxic to cats. A larger option for a room where a cat lives, provided the pot is stable.
Schlumbergera
Non-toxic to cats. A better choice than the Christmas plants that are dangerous.
Saintpaulia
Non-toxic to cats. A safe flowering windowsill plant in a cat home.
Nephrolepis exaltata
Non-toxic to cats. A good hanging option, since the fronds stay out of reach and the plant out of the way.
Calathea and Goeppertia species
Non-toxic to cats. A safe statement plant if you can keep up with its humidity demands.
Ocimum basilicum
Non-toxic to cats. Despite what people search, basil is not on the toxic list — a nibble is harmless.
Salvia rosmarinus
Non-toxic to cats. The essential oil is a different question, but the plant itself is safe.
Bambusa and Phyllostachys species
True bamboo is safe. 'Lucky bamboo' is a different plant entirely — and it is toxic.
Cycas revoluta
One of the most dangerous houseplants in the UK. Every part, especially the seeds, can cause liver failure.
Aconitum napellus
Extremely toxic, and the toxin can be absorbed through skin. It grows in UK gardens and by streams.
Colchicum autumnale
Not the spring crocus. Autumn crocus contains colchicine and is highly toxic to cats.
Atropa belladonna
A hedgerow plant with sweet black berries. Extremely toxic and a genuine risk to a roaming cat.
Brugmansia and Datura
Tropane alkaloids in every part. Kept on UK patios in summer, and lethal to cats.
Delphinium species
All parts contain the same type of toxin as monkshood. A classic British cottage-garden plant, and genuinely dangerous.
Chrysanthemum indicum
Contains pyrethrins, the natural insecticide the plant makes. Cats are especially sensitive to them.
Begonia species
The underground tubers are the most toxic part. Eating causes vomiting and a sore mouth.
Pelargonium species
Mildly toxic. Most cats ignore them, but a chewer can get vomiting and a sore mouth.
Galanthus nivalis
The bulbs contain alkaloids that cause vomiting and diarrhoea. A late-winter risk when bulbs surface.
Crocus vernus
Mildly toxic — the corms and flowers cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Far less dangerous than autumn crocus.
Clematis species
A UK garden staple. The leaves and flowers cause drooling and vomiting; the sap irritates skin.
Lonicera species
The berries are the dangerous part, and they ripen in autumn in gardens and hedgerows.
Prunus laurocerasus
One of the most common UK hedges. The leaves and stones release cyanide when chewed.
Ligustrum species
A classic UK hedge. Leaves and the black berries cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
Buxus sempervirens
Topiary and parterre everywhere in Britain. The leaves and clippings are toxic to cats.
Rheum rhabarbarum
The leaves are toxic. The stems are fine for a crumble, but a cat should not be eating either.
Solanum tuberosum
The plant, leaves, sprouts and green potatoes contain solanine. The tuber itself, properly stored, is fine for people — not for cats.
Helleborus niger
A winter-flowering garden plant with toxic sap. It flowers exactly when cats are out investigating bare borders.
Paeonia species
Mildly toxic. Eating the flowers or leaves causes vomiting and diarrhoea; the biggest risk is a dropped bouquet.
Tradescantia species
The sap is a strong skin irritant. Cats that brush against it and then groom can get a painful rash.
Syngonium podophyllum
Same calcium oxalate crystals as pothos and monstera. Mouth pain and drooling after chewing.
Ficus elastica
The milky sap irritates skin and mouth. Most cats leave it alone; the danger is the leaves they chew.
Fuchsia species
Non-toxic to cats. A good choice for hanging baskets in a cat household.
Calendula officinalis
Non-toxic to cats. Pot marigold is one of the safest flowers to grow in a cat-accessible garden.
Tropaeolum majus
Non-toxic to cats. Edible for people, harmless for cats, and one of the easiest annuals to grow.
Antirrhinum majus
Non-toxic to cats. A classic bedding annual that is safe to keep in a cat household.
Viola species
Non-toxic to cats. Winter and spring bedding that is safe to plant where a cat walks.
Camellia japonica
Non-toxic to cats. An evergreen shrub that gives a garden colour in late winter without risk.
Wheat, oat or barley grass
Grow it on purpose. Cat grass gives a cat something legitimate to chew and reduces damage to your other plants.
Life-threatening
Can kill a cat. Treat any contact as an emergency.
Toxic
Causes systemic illness. Phone your vet if it has been chewed.
Irritant
Painful mouth and drooling. Usually not fatal, but unpleasant.
Cat-safe
Not toxic to cats. Any plant can still cause a harmless vomit.
Every plant in this checklist (72)
Life-threatening (13)
Toxic (30)
Irritant (11)
Cat-safe (18)
The Most Dangerous Plants for Cats in the UK
Lilies are in a category of their own. Every part of a true lily is lethally toxic to cats — the petals, leaves, stem, and even the pollen. A cat doesn't need to chew the plant: pollen that lands on its fur and is licked off during grooming can be enough. Even drinking the water from a vase of lilies is dangerous. Without treatment within hours, lily poisoning causes kidney failure that is frequently fatal. The only safe rule: no lilies in a house with cats. Check every bouquet — lilies are a florist's staple.
Behind lilies, the other high-priority dangers in the UK are tulip and daffodil bulbs (the bulbs are far more toxic than the flowers, and spring planting season is when most cases happen), rhododendrons and azaleas, Dieffenbachia (dumb cane — a common houseplant that causes intense mouth swelling), and yew, which grows in countless British gardens and churchyards and is dangerously toxic in every part.
One correction worth making: poinsettia, the Christmas villain of pet folklore, is dramatically over-rated as a danger. Its sap can irritate the mouth and stomach, but a nibble is very unlikely to do serious harm. Uncomfortable for the cat, yes. Deadly, no. Save your real worry for lilies.
Complete List: UK Common Toxic Plants
These are the plants UK owners most commonly have in homes and gardens that are toxic to cats, ordered by how dangerous they are:
| Plant | Toxic part | Symptoms | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lily (all Lilium & daylilies) | All parts, pollen, vase water | Kidney failure — drooling, vomiting, then fatal without fast treatment | Severe |
| Yew | All parts | Heart failure, tremors, sudden death | Severe |
| Oleander | All parts | Heart rhythm problems, vomiting, collapse | Severe |
| Lily of the valley | All parts, especially berries | Vomiting, slow heart rate, seizures | Severe |
| Sago palm | All parts, especially seeds | Liver failure, vomiting, seizures | Severe |
| Rhododendron / azalea | All parts | Drooling, vomiting, weakness, heart effects | Severe |
| Tulip | Bulb mostly | Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea | Moderate |
| Daffodil | Bulb mostly | Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain | Moderate |
| Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) | Leaves, stem | Intense mouth pain, swelling, drooling | Moderate |
| Ivy (English ivy) | Leaves, berries | Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea | Moderate |
| Chrysanthemum | All parts | Drooling, vomiting, wobbliness | Moderate |
| Hydrangea | Leaves, buds | Vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy | Moderate |
| Mistletoe | Berries, leaves | Vomiting, diarrhoea, low blood pressure | Moderate |
| Holly | Berries, leaves | Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea | Moderate |
| Aloe vera | Latex in the leaf | Vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy | Moderate |
| Lavender | All parts | Nausea, vomiting, appetite loss | Mild |
| Poinsettia | Sap | Mild mouth/stomach irritation — much less dangerous than its reputation | Mild |
This list covers the most common UK hazards, not all of them. Cats Protection maintains a fuller A–Z of toxic plants, and when you bring a new plant home, a thirty-second check before it crosses the threshold is a habit worth building.
What to Do If Your Cat Eats a Toxic Plant
- Move your cat away from the plant and remove any plant material from its mouth and fur (wear gloves if it's sap-heavy).
- Photograph the plant — and keep any chewed fragments. Your vet will need to identify it, and "a green one with leaves" doesn't narrow it down.
- Do not make your cat sick. Home remedies for inducing vomiting are unsafe in cats and can make things worse.
- Call your vet immediately — tell them the plant name (or describe it), roughly how much was eaten, and when. If it's out of hours, use the practice's emergency line, or contact the PDSA or Blue Cross for advice on your nearest 24-hour cover.
For lily ingestion, treat this as an emergency even if your cat looks completely fine — see the symptoms section below for why waiting is so dangerous.
10 Cat-Safe Plants for UK Homes
A cat household doesn't have to be a plant-free household. These ten are all non-toxic to cats:
- Cat grass. The classic legal chewing target — cheap, fast to grow, cats love it.
- Catnip. Safe, and about two-thirds of cats find it genuinely euphoric.
- Spider plant. Non-toxic and nearly indestructible. Mildly hallucinogenic to cats, which is why they chew it.
- Boston fern. Fully cat-safe and happy in UK bathrooms with low light.
- Bamboo palm. An elegant, cat-safe way to fill a corner.
- Orchid. Phalaenopsis orchids are non-toxic — safe flowers for a cat household.
- Rose. Non-toxic (though thorns can still scratch). Watch for pesticides on shop-bought bouquets.
- Sunflower. Safe and cheerful. Keep an eye on the soil being dug, though.
- African violet. Compact, cat-safe and flowers for months indoors.
- Parlour palm. Small, slow-growing and completely safe for cats.
Outdoor Cats: Garden Plants to Avoid
If your cat roams the garden — and most UK cats do — the risk list shifts. The biggest garden hazards are lilies (including daylilies in borders), daffodil and tulip bulbs (freshly planted beds are basically a digging invitation), rhododendrons, and especially yew — every part of this common British hedging plant is highly toxic, and clippings left on the lawn after trimming are a real risk.
One more worth knowing: foxtail-style grass awns (barbed grass seeds, common in UK meadows in summer) aren't poisonous, but they cause physical harm — they work their way into ears, eyes, nose and paws, and even get swallowed and lodge in the throat. An outdoor cat that suddenly starts gagging, sneezing or pawing at its face in summer may have picked one up.
Indoor cats live with a shorter but still real risk list — houseplants and cut-flower bouquets. Outdoor cats trade that for the garden. Either way, the checklist above is worth one read-through with your own home and borders in mind.
Signs of Plant Poisoning in Cats
Depending on the plant, poisoning can show up as:
- Drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Lethargy and hiding
- Difficulty breathing
- Tremors or seizures
- Drinking and weeing more or less than usual (a kidney warning sign)
The cruel detail about lily poisoning is how silent it starts. A cat can look perfectly normal for hours; vomiting may come and go within the first day; and the signs of kidney failure — lethargy, not eating, changes in urination — only appear 24–72 hours later. But the window where treatment works best is the first 6 hours. If you know or even suspect your cat has had contact with a lily, do not wait for symptoms. Go to the vet now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all lilies toxic to cats?
Yes. Every part of true lilies (Lilium species, such as Easter and Asiatic lilies) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) is extremely toxic to cats — petals, leaves, stem, pollen, and even the vase water. A cat brushing against pollen and grooming it off its fur can be enough to trigger fatal kidney failure. Peace lilies and calla lilies are less deadly but still cause painful mouth and stomach irritation. The only safe rule is: no lilies in a cat household, full stop.
Can cats recover from plant poisoning?
Yes, if treated quickly. Cats treated within the first few hours of lily ingestion, before kidney damage develops, often recover fully. For most other toxic plants — which cause mouth irritation and stomach upset rather than organ failure — the prognosis with prompt veterinary care is very good. The dangerous cases are the silent ones: a cat that nibbled a plant unnoticed and isn't seen until kidney symptoms appear 24–72 hours later.
How do I stop my cat from eating houseplants?
Remove toxic plants entirely — deterrents alone are not reliable enough for genuinely dangerous species. For safe plants you'd like to keep: move them out of reach, offer a pot of cat grass as a legal chewing target, use citrus peel or pet-safe deterrent sprays on pots, and make sure your cat has enough play and enrichment — boredom drives a lot of plant destruction.
Is lavender safe for cats in the UK?
No — lavender is mildly toxic to cats. It contains linalool and linalyl acetate, which cats' livers process poorly. Eating the plant can cause nausea, vomiting and appetite loss. A cat brushing past a lavender bush in the garden is not an emergency, but don't grow lavender indoors within chewing reach, and never use lavender essential oil around cats — concentrated oils are far more dangerous than the plant.
What should I do if I don't know which plant my cat ate?
Call your vet anyway, and do it now rather than waiting for symptoms. Describe what you can: any chewed leaves or petals left behind, where the plant was, and when it happened. Take a photo of the plant or bring a cutting — vets can often identify it, or contact the Veterinary Poisons Information Service for help. Watch closely for drooling, vomiting, lethargy or breathing changes and report anything you see.
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References
- Cats Protection — dangerous plants for cats (A–Z)
- PDSA — poisoning in pets: first aid and advice
- International Cat Care — poisonous plants and cats
This guide is for general information only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If you are worried about your cat, contact your vet.