- Cats don’t read labels: they explore with their mouths
- Animal Poison Line: 01202 509 000 (24 hours)
- If it lives in your house, assume they will find it
- Do not induce vomiting without vet instruction
Care / Safety
Dangerous to Cats. The full list.
Cats don’t read labels. They explore with their mouths. If it lives in your house, assume they will find it.
Foods: Never safe
What cannot be on the plate.
Toxicity can be immediate or cumulative. There is no safe threshold for several of these items, and symptoms can be delayed by days.
- Severe
- Moderate
- Ongoing risk
Severe
ONIONS, GARLIC, CHIVES, LEEKS (ALL ALLIUMS)
Toxic in raw, cooked, and especially powdered form. Appear in many stocks, seasonings, and ready meals. Cause haemolytic anaemia by destroying red blood cells. Symptoms can be delayed by several days: a cat can seem fine and deteriorate later. All alliums, all forms, no safe threshold.
Severe
GRAPES AND RAISINS (INCL. CURRANTS, SULTANAS)
The mechanism is not fully understood, which makes this more alarming, not less. Both have caused acute kidney failure in cats. There is no established safe dose. The dried form is more concentrated and more dangerous by weight. Includes fruit cake, mince pies, trail mix, and anything baked with dried fruit.
Severe
XYLITOL (ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER)
Found in sugar-free gum, some peanut butters, toothpaste, vitamins, and diet products. Causes severe low blood sugar and potentially liver failure. Check labels on anything sweet and reduced-calorie.
Severe
CHOCOLATE (ALL TYPES)
Contains theobromine, which cats cannot metabolise. Dark and baking chocolate are more dangerous by concentration. Symptoms include vomiting, tremors, seizures, and cardiac issues. No safe amount.
Severe
CAFFEINE (COFFEE, TEA, ENERGY DRINKS)
Causes rapid breathing, muscle tremors, and heart palpitations. Coffee grounds are particularly dangerous if a cat gets into them.
Severe
ALCOHOL (INCLUDING FERMENTED PRODUCTS)
Cats are significantly more sensitive to ethanol than humans. Even small amounts cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, body temperature, and blood pressure.
Severe
RAW DOUGH AND YEAST
Yeast continues to ferment in the stomach, producing alcohol and causing the dough to expand. Both effects are dangerous. Cooked bread is not a concern; raw dough is.
Moderate
MACADAMIA NUTS
Cause weakness, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia. The mechanism in cats is not fully established but the effect is documented.
Moderate
AVOCADO
Contains persin, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. The flesh, skin, leaves, and stone are all affected.
Moderate
NUTMEG
Contains myristicin, which is toxic to cats even in small amounts. Causes seizures, tremors, and nervous system problems.
Moderate
GREEN TOMATOES AND TOMATO LEAVES
The green parts of the tomato plant contain solanine. Ripe red fruit is low risk in small amounts. The plant itself and unripe fruit are the concern.
Moderate
COOKED BONES
Not a toxicity issue, a physical one. Cooked bones splinter. Fragments cause internal lacerations and blockages.
Ongoing risk
DAIRY (ONGOING INTOLERANCE)
Not acutely toxic but most adult cats are lactose intolerant. The milk-and-cats image persists in popular culture. It should not persist in practice.
Ongoing risk
TUNA AS A STAPLE DIET
Not toxic in small amounts but high in mercury, not nutritionally complete, and causes thiamine deficiency over time. As an occasional treat the risk is low. As a primary food source it is a genuine problem.
Ongoing risk
LIVER IN LARGE QUANTITIES
Small amounts are fine. Large regular amounts cause vitamin A toxicity, affecting bones and joints over time. A liver-based treat occasionally is not the concern; liver as a dietary staple is.
Plants: Indoor
The decorative ones are frequently the problem.
Toxicity can occur through contact, pollen, or the water in a vase, not just ingestion. The attractive ones are often the dangerous ones.
Lilies: remove from the home entirely
All parts of true lilies and daylilies are highly toxic. The pollen. The petals. The leaves. The water from the vase. Even brushing against the pollen and then grooming can cause acute kidney failure within 24 to 72 hours. There is no safe exposure threshold.
SEVERE: REMOVE
Lilies (all varieties)
Tiger, Easter, Stargazer, Asiatic, daylily. The most important entry on this page. All parts including pollen and vase water. Acute kidney failure within 24–72 hours.
SEVERE: REMOVE
Sago Palm
One of the most toxic plants to cats. Causes severe liver failure. All parts are dangerous; seeds most concentrated. One or two seeds can be fatal.
SEVERE: REMOVE
Oleander
Contains cardiac glycosides affecting the heart. All parts toxic including dried material. Popular garden and indoor plant. Do not keep where cats have access.
SEVERE: REMOVE
Autumn Crocus
Not to be confused with spring crocus. Causes severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, respiratory failure. All parts toxic.
MODERATE: AVOID
Aloe Vera
Despite being promoted as a healing plant, not safe where cats are present. Saponins and anthraquinones cause vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, and tremors.
MODERATE: AVOID
Monstera / Philodendron / Pothos
All contain calcium oxalate crystals causing intense burning and irritation in the mouth, throat, and digestive tract. Among the most widely owned houseplants.
MODERATE: AVOID
Cyclamen
Roots and tubers most toxic. Causes severe vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, and potentially fatal cardiac issues. Common seasonal houseplant.
MODERATE: AVOID
Azalea / Rhododendron
Contain grayanotoxins causing vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea, weakness, and potentially coma in significant quantities.
MODERATE: AVOID
Daffodils and Narcissus
Bulbs most toxic. Causes vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. All parts carry risk.
MODERATE: AVOID
Tulips and Hyacinth
Bulbs most concentrated. Tulips contain tulipalin A and B causing intense drooling, vomiting, and breathing issues. Hyacinth causes tremors and vomiting.
MODERATE: AVOID
English Ivy / Dieffenbachia / Caladium
Ivy causes vomiting, abdominal pain, and skin dermatitis. Dieffenbachia and caladium both contain calcium oxalate causing intense oral burning and pain.
LOWER RISK: WORTH KNOWING
Peace Lily / Spring Crocus / Geranium
Peace lily less acutely dangerous than true lilies but still toxic. Spring crocus can cause mild vomiting and diarrhoea. Geraniums cause mild vomiting and lethargy.
Plants: Garden
What grows outside your door.
Common garden plants that carry real risk for cats who roam outdoors or for cuttings brought inside.
Severe
YEW (TAXUS)
Highly toxic. Berries, leaves, and bark contain taxine alkaloids affecting the heart. Rapid onset. Common garden and hedging plant.
Severe
FOXGLOVE (DIGITALIS)
Contains cardiac glycosides. All parts toxic. A very common garden plant that most people do not realise is dangerous.
Severe
HEMLOCK (CONIUM MACULATUM)
All parts highly toxic to the nervous system. Can be found in hedgerows and rural gardens.
Moderate
RHUBARB LEAVES
The leaves (not the edible stem) contain oxalic acid and cause kidney damage. The cooked stem is generally considered safe in small amounts.
Moderate
WISTERIA
Seeds and pods contain wisterin glycoside causing vomiting, diarrhoea, and depression. Common ornamental garden climber.
Moderate
POTATO PLANT AND TOMATO PLANT
Green parts (leaves, stems, unripe fruit) of both contain solanine. Ripe cooked potato and ripe tomato fruit are generally low risk in small amounts.
Moderate
LUPINS
Seeds and pods can cause digestive upset and neurological symptoms. Popular cottage garden plant.
Household chemicals and products
What lives in your cupboards.
Cats walk on cleaned surfaces and then groom their paws. Most household hazards reach them through indirect exposure, not direct ingestion.
Severe
ANTIFREEZE (ETHYLENE GLYCOL)
One of the most dangerous substances a cat can encounter. Sweet taste that cats seek out. A tablespoon can be fatal. The apparent recovery phase after initial symptoms is dangerous: kidney failure follows. Call and go immediately if suspected.
Severe
PERMETHRIN (DOG FLEA PRODUCTS)
Extremely toxic to cats. Found in many dog flea treatments, garden sprays, and mosquito repellents. Never use dog flea products on cats. Do not let a cat near a recently treated dog until the product has dried.
Severe
PARACETAMOL (HUMAN MEDICATIONS)
Acutely toxic to cats and can be fatal in a single dose. Ibuprofen and aspirin cause serious gastrointestinal and kidney damage. Never give human medication without explicit veterinary instruction.
Moderate
ESSENTIAL OILS AND DIFFUSERS
Cats lack the liver enzymes to metabolise many compounds. Diffusers are a particular risk: airborne particles settle on fur and are ingested during grooming. Most dangerous: tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, cinnamon, clove, thyme, pennyroyal, citrus.
Moderate
CLEANING PRODUCTS
Bleach, disinfectants, toilet cleaners, drain cleaners, oven cleaners. Cats groom paws walked across treated surfaces. Allow surfaces to dry fully before cat contact. Keep cat out of room during use.
Moderate
RAT AND MOUSE POISON
Designed to be attractive to small mammals. Cats can be poisoned directly or by eating a poisoned rodent. Anticoagulant rodenticides cause internal bleeding, often delayed by days or weeks. Monitor closely if neighbours use rodenticides.
Moderate
LAUNDRY AND DISHWASHER PODS
Highly concentrated and extremely dangerous if ingested. Cause chemical burns internally. Fabric softener residue on blankets is a lower-level but real concern for cats who groom regularly.
Moderate
FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES
Bone meal and blood meal are particularly attractive to cats and can cause pancreatitis. Many pesticides are directly toxic. Keep cats off treated lawns until dry. Use pet-safe alternatives where possible.
Ongoing risk
SLUG PELLETS / MOTHBALLS / BATTERIES
Metaldehyde slug pellets are highly toxic. Use ferric phosphate alternatives. Mothballs contain naphthalene causing liver damage. Batteries contain acids and heavy metals; cats may chew them.
If poisoned
Call before you decide it is probably fine.
The Animal Poison Line is open 24 hours.
Have ready: what your cat ingested, when it happened, how much if you can estimate, your cat’s approximate weight, and your cat’s current symptoms.
Do not give milk (a widespread but incorrect folk remedy). Do not give charcoal unless instructed by a professional.
If your cat has vomited, note what it looked like and when. This information is genuinely useful.
- CALL THE POISON LINE OR YOUR VET
01202 509 000. Do this first, before you do anything else to or for your cat.
- DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING
Unless specifically instructed. Some substances cause more damage on the way back up. Do not assume vomiting is always helpful.
- BRING EVIDENCE
The packaging, the plant, a photograph. Note the time of ingestion and approximate amount. This significantly speeds up treatment.
- GO. DO NOT WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS
Many poisons have a treatment window. Outside that window the options narrow considerably. The apparent recovery phase after antifreeze, for example, is not recovery.
A considered house, not a bare one.
If you wouldn’t let a toddler put it in their mouth unsupervised, do not let your cat near it. They are small, they groom everything they touch, and they have no way of telling you something is wrong until it has been wrong for long enough to show on the outside.
The list is long. That is not to alarm you. It is because most of it is manageable once you know it. A house that is safe for a cat is not a bare house. It is a considered one.
When in doubt: call before you decide it is probably fine.