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Cat safety · plants

Plants poisonous to cats in India — with Hindi names

Ranked from deadly to safe, with the Hindi and botanical name, a photo and what to do — so you can tell kaner from kadi patta at a glance. Sweet cats, plain facts.

Deadly to cats — keep these out of your home

If you think your cat ate any of these — even a nibble, a lick of pollen or a sip of vase water — go to a vet now. Don't wait for signs.

What to do now

91 plants21 deadly or severe Checked

If it already happened

  1. Call your vet or go to a 24×7 pet clinic now — say what, when and roughly how much.
  2. Take the plant, the packet or a clear photo with you.
  3. Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
Everything to do now

Ranked from deadly to safe

Every plant, ranked by danger

Search in English, हिन्दी or by botanical name, or tap a level. Every card opens the full page: how to recognise it, the symptoms and what to do.

All91 Deadly10 Severe11 Moderate23 Mild17 Not assessed7 Safe23

Deadly10 plants

A small, realistic exposure can kill. Go to a vet before signs appear.

Severe11 plants

Can cause seizures, heart-rhythm changes or collapse. A vet, now.

Moderate23 plants

A painful mouth or stomach, or cat-specific signs. Usually passes — call your vet.

Mild17 plants

Brief drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea. Watch, and call your vet if it keeps going.

Not assessed7 plants

No vet database has assessed it for cats — that is not proof of safety.

Cat-safe plants for Indian homes

Listed non-toxic to cats — mogra, gulab, ixora and areca palm among them. Any plant eaten in quantity can still cause a little vomiting, and nursery pesticide is its own risk.

Puja room to roadside

Where Indian cats meet them

Where each plant usually turns up in an Indian home, street or temple — tap one for the details.

Same name, different plant

Name traps — same name, different plant

Indian common names cover several plants — and foreign websites often answer about the wrong one. Always check the botanical name.

What to do if your cat ate a plant

Not sure what it was? Photograph the plant and the chewed leaves — the botanical name on the nursery tag helps the vet most. Then:

  1. Call your vet or go to a 24×7 pet clinic now — say what, when and roughly how much.
  2. Take the plant, the packet or a clear photo with you.
  3. Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
  4. No milk, oil, salt water or home remedies.
  5. A cat that looks fine can still be poisoned — lilies, onion, garlic and rat poison act late.

India has no pet poison helpline yet — the US lines serve North America. Near Noida and can't find an open vet? Message us and we'll help you find one. We can't give medical advice.

Book a calm vet visit

Good to know

Plant questions, answered

Still unsure? Ask your vet. Near Noida and need help finding one? Message us — we'll help you find a vet, never play one.

Is money plant toxic to cats?

Yes. India's money plant is golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum), which ASPCA lists as toxic: chewing it releases needle-like oxalate crystals that burn the mouth and cause drooling and vomiting. It's painful but rarely dangerous — go to a vet at once if breathing is affected. Foreign pages that call the 'money tree' safe are describing Pachira, a different plant.

Is tulsi safe for cats?

Tulsi has not been formally assessed for cats. Its close relative sweet basil is listed non-toxic by ASPCA, and we know of no reports of tulsi poisoning — a nibble is not a worry. Discourage regular chewing, and never give tulsi oil or extracts.

Is aloe vera safe for cats?

Not really. ASPCA lists aloe as toxic to cats: the yellow sap under the leaf skin causes vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. The clear gel is considered edible, but don't put aloe products where your cat can lick them.

Are lilies dangerous to cats?

Yes — true lilies and daylilies are the most dangerous plants for cats. A nibble, pollen licked off the fur or a sip of vase water can cause kidney failure within days, and only cats are affected. Go to a vet at once, even if your cat looks fine. Peace lily and calla lily are not true lilies; they irritate the mouth.

Is snake plant safe for cats?

It's mildly toxic: its saponins cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Rarely serious, but keep it out of reach — haworthia or a ponytail palm are cat-safe swaps.

Is marigold (genda) toxic to cats?

Mildly. Pet Poison Helpline says genda (Tagetes) can cause a mild stomach upset and its sap can irritate skin. Pages that call marigold non-toxic are quoting ASPCA's entry for a different plant, pot marigold (Calendula).

Is areca palm safe for cats?

Yes — ASPCA lists areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) as non-toxic. Don't confuse it with sago palm (cycas), which is deadly, or with supari, the betel-nut palm, which hasn't been assessed.

Is neem safe for cats?

The neem tree isn't on toxic-plant lists and hasn't been assessed for cats, but neem oil products have caused drooling, wobbliness and seizures in cats — never use neem oil on a cat. And check your 'neem' isn't bakain, whose berries cause seizures.

Are mogra and other jasmines safe for cats?

Yes — ASPCA lists true jasmines (mogra, juhi, chameli) as non-toxic. Some 'jasmines' aren't jasmines: gardenia ('Cape jasmine') is mildly toxic and brunfelsia ('lady-of-the-night') can cause seizures.

Is hibiscus (gudhal) safe for cats?

ASPCA lists hibiscus (H. syriacus, which it also calls 'Rose of China') as non-toxic; the Indian gudhal (H. rosa-sinensis) has no listing of its own. Eating a lot may cause a mild upset stomach.

Is there a pet poison helpline in India?

We couldn't find one. The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline numbers serve North America. Call your own vet or a 24×7 pet clinic; near Noida, WhatsApp us and we'll help you find one — we can't give medical advice.

Should I make my cat vomit if it ate a poisonous plant?

No — not at home, unless a vet tells you to. Emptying the stomach is a vet's job, and some things do more damage coming back up. Go to the vet with the plant or a photo.

Why does my cat chew plants — and what can I give it instead?

Cats that chew houseplants are usually indoor cats with little access to grass. Cornell's Feline Health Center suggests oat grass, catnip and catmint: grow oat or wheat cat grass — your Navratri jaware are the same idea — without pesticide.

Where these facts come from

Every plant page lists its own sources with links. The guide rests on the ASPCA cat plant list, Pet Poison Helpline, International Cat Care, the Merck Veterinary Manual and Cornell's Feline Health Center. NC State's plant toolbox rates danger for people, so we never quote it as a cat rating. Hindi and regional names come from Wikipedia and Wikidata; photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Facts last checked

General information for cat parents, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. The facts come from ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, International Cat Care, the Merck Veterinary Manual and the other sources listed on every page — and we say so when the evidence comes from dogs or people. If your cat may have eaten something harmful, call your vet.

Foods, medicines & home items43 things — Crocin, onion gravy, phenyl, kapoor, milk… Book a calm vet visitA registered vet, at your home or ours.

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