Is Foxglove Toxic to Cats?

Digitalis purpurea

Foxglove contains digitoxin and related cardiac glycosides. Eating the leaves, flowers or seeds can cause a dangerously slow or irregular heartbeat, and cats that chew garden plants are at real risk in a British summer.

It is a wildflower as well as a garden plant, so it turns up in hedgerows, woodland edges and cottage gardens. Even dried material in a cut-flower arrangement remains toxic.

Which parts are dangerous

• leaves
• flowers
• seeds
• dried stems

What to watch for in the UK

• A native wildflower — it appears in verges and woodland without anyone planting it.
• Cottage-garden seed mixes often include it.
• Dried foxglove in a vase is still toxic.
• Wear gloves when removing it and wash your hands.

If your cat has already chewed it

1. Emergency vet, immediately.
2. Take the plant or a photo.
3. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to.

Take a photo of the plant, and a cutting if you can do it safely — identification is half of the vet's decision. Out of hours, use your practice's emergency number. This page explains risk; it cannot diagnose your cat and it contains no home treatments.

If your cat has vomited after eating a plant, see the cat vomiting guide and, if there is blood, vomiting blood. For a general red-flag checklist, use sick cat symptoms. If the worry is food rather than a plant, the can cats eat guide covers 36 everyday foods.

Related plants

Browse the full UK plant checklist (72 plants).