This article warns cat owners that many common household and garden plants can be toxic to cats—especially all lilies, which can be fatal—and gives examples such as daffodils, amaryllis, various lilies, aloe vera, and numerous ferns, indoor plants, perennials, and succulents to avoid; it advises seeking immediate veterinary care (and bringing a sample of the plant) if a cat ingests or contacts a suspected toxic plant. It also provides safer, cat-friendly alternatives including roses, sunflowers, orchids, pansies, gerberas, catnip, cat mint, spider plant, Boston fern, certain succulents like blue echeveria, and others.
What Plants are Toxic to Cats?
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25 August 2026
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Summer
There is nothing that adds color like a bunch of fresh cut flowers around your house. They add a lovely welcoming touch to any home. But cat owners should be aware that those lovely flowers can potentially be toxic for cats.
Daffodils are just one example of a variety of flowers that can cause stomach upsets, vomiting, or worse if your cat eats the foliage, flowers, or pods. Other plants you may not suspect, like aloe vera, can be toxic for cats as well.
We have listed below a few of the many plants that are potentially toxic for cats and should be avoided. Be especially careful with all lilies (marked *). All parts of these plants (flowers, leaves, and stems) are extremely toxic to cats and have caused tragic deaths.
If your cat eats or comes in contact with any of these plants or any other dangerous items, you will need to seek immediate veterinary assistance. We also recommend that you take part of the toxic plant with you for easy identification to help with treatment.
Flowering Plants:
Amaryllis, Hyacinth, Asian Lily*, Hydrangea, Autumn Crocus, Iris, Bird of Paradise, Kalanchoe
Climbing Lily*, Lily of the Valley*, Cyclamen, Narcissus, Daffodil, Poinsettia, Day Lily*, Rubrum Lily*
Easter Lily*, Stargazer Lily*, Elephant Ear, Tiger Lily*, Tulip, Gladiola, Wood Lily*
Ferns:
Asparagus Fern, Emerald Feather, Plumosa Fern, Lace Fern
Indoor Plants:
Aglaonema, Dracaena Fragrans, Arrowhead Vine, Dracaena Marginata, Dracaena Deremensis
Perennials:
Aloe Vera, Morning Glory, Anthurium, Mother-in-law's Tongue, Arum or Calla Lily, Nightshade, Hellebore, Pussy's Ears
Succulents:
Aloe Vera, Crown of Thorns, Firestick, Pencil Tree Plant, Pencil Cactus, Panda Plant, Mother of Thousands, Mother of Millions, Devil’s Backbone, Chandelier Plant, Jade Plant, Snake Plant, Silver Jade Plant, String of Pearls, String of Peas Plant
After being aware of the plants you should avoid, find below a list of cat-friendly plants which offer minimal risk to your feline family member:
Flowering Plants:
Roses, Sunflowers, Gerberas, Orchids, Pansies, African Violets, Gerber Daisies, Snapdragons
Bottlebrushes, Impatient, Jasmine, Kangaroo Paw, Stock, Statice, Wax Flowers, Asters, Freesia, Liatris, Lisianthus, Petunias, Achira, African Daisy, Limonium, Common Camellia
Ferns:
Boston Fern
Indoor Plants:
Catnip, Cat Mint, Cat Thyme, Spider Plant, Air Plants, Areca Palm, Rosemary, Venus flytrap, Swedish Ivy, Autumn Olive
Succulents:
Sweetheart hoya, Blue Echeveria
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