Many indoor and garden plants can make cats very sick. Check a plant before it comes into a home with a cat.
Not vet advice. This guide is general information collected from the animal-welfare and veterinary sources listed below. Every cat is different, so please see your vet about your own cat. In an emergency, contact your nearest vet or emergency animal hospital straight away.
Lilies are an emergency
True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are extremely toxic to cats (RSPCA Australia, FDA). This includes Easter, Asiatic, Tiger, Stargazer, Oriental, Rubrum and day lilies.
- Every part is toxic: flowers, leaves, stems and pollen. Even the water in a vase of lilies is thought to be toxic (RSPCA, FDA).
- A cat can be poisoned by licking a little pollen off its fur (RSPCA, FDA).
- Even a small amount can cause kidney failure within about 12 to 72 hours (RSPCA). FDA says that if treatment is delayed 18 hours or more, the kidney damage is generally permanent.
- Early signs include vomiting, drooling, low energy and not eating (RSPCA, FDA).
If you think your cat has touched or eaten any part of a lily, go to a vet straight away, even if your cat seems fine. Take the plant or a photo of it with you (FDA). The safest choice is not to have these lilies in your home or garden if you have a cat (RSPCA, FDA).
Peace lilies and calla lilies aren’t true lilies, but they can still cause painful mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting (FDA).
Some other plants listed as toxic to cats
These are all listed as toxic to cats in the ASPCA plant database:
- Sago palm
- Azalea
- Oleander
- Daffodil
- Lily of the valley
- Aloe
- Pothos (devil’s ivy)
- Philodendron
- Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)
- Jade plant
Some plants listed as non-toxic to cats
The ASPCA lists these common houseplants as non-toxic to cats:
- Spider plant
- Boston fern
- African violet
- Parlor palm
- Areca palm
- Calathea and prayer plant
- Christmas cactus
“Non-toxic” doesn’t mean your cat should eat it. Eating any plant can still upset some cats’ stomachs, so if your cat is chewing plants a lot, ask your vet.
Check before you plant
No list covers every plant. Look up the exact plant name in the ASPCA database, or use the Australian resources RSPCA recommends, such as the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline. If you’re not sure, ask your vet (RSPCA).
Sources
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: Are lilies toxic to cats?
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: Where can I find out about plants that might be poisonous for my pets?
- U.S. FDA: Lovely lilies and curious cats – a dangerous combination
- ASPCA: Toxic and non-toxic plants list – cats
Checked 28 October 2026.