Plant safety for cats
Is aglaonema (एग्लोनेमा) toxic to cats?
ModerateListed toxic to cats by ASPCA
Yes — aglaonema (Chinese evergreen) is toxic to cats: oxalate crystals cause drooling, gagging and vomiting, and rarely throat swelling.
Why moderate: Oxalate crystals: drooling, gagging, vomiting; rarely throat swelling.
- Name
- Aglaonemaalso Chinese evergreen
- Hindi
- एग्लोनेमा
- Botanical name
- Aglaonema species · Araceae
Toxic parts
Leaves and stems — the crystals are released wherever the plant is chewed.
What's in it
Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals — tiny needles that are released when the leaf is chewed and stab the lips, mouth and throat
How to recognise it
- A clumping plant with lance-shaped leaves patterned silver, pink or red
- Shorter than dieffenbachia, with no tall cane
Look-alikes and name traps
Dieffenbachia is taller, on a cane (also toxic). Calathea looks similar but is non-toxic — its leaves are thinner, fold up at night and are often purple underneath.
Symptoms to watch for
- Drooling
- Pawing at the mouth or face
- Gagging or vomiting
- Painful mouth, not wanting to eat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Rarely: swelling of the throat that makes breathing hard (emergency)
At once — the crystals hurt as soon as the plant is chewed.
What to do
Call your vet. It hurts at once, but most cats recover with supportive care.
- Take the plant away, note how much is missing and take a photo of it.
- Call your vet if your cat drools, paws at the mouth, gags or vomits.
- Go now if breathing is noisy or laboured, the face or throat swells, or your cat can't swallow (Pet Poison Helpline's rule).
- Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
Where Indian cats meet it
Sold everywhere in India, including the pink and red 'lucky' varieties.
Cat-safe swap: Calathea or maranta (prayer plant) — listed non-toxic.
Sources
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.
