Plant safety for cats
Is caladium (कैलेडियम) toxic to cats?
ModerateListed toxic to cats by ASPCA
Yes — caladium (angel wings) is toxic to cats: oxalate crystals cause drooling, pawing at the mouth and vomiting, and very rarely the airway swells.
Why moderate: Oxalate crystals: drooling and mouth pain; very rarely the airway swells.
- Name
- Caladiumalso Angel wings, Elephant's ears
- Hindi
- कैलेडियम
- Botanical name
- Caladium bicolor · 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
- Thin, papery, arrow- or heart-shaped leaves
- Splashed pink, red or white, with coloured veins
- Grows from a tuber
Look-alikes and name traps
Bigger, plainer leaves belong to taro (arbi) — also toxic.
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
Grown from tubers in monsoon pots and shady balcony corners.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Caladium
- Pet Poison Helpline: Caladium
- NC State Plant Toolbox: Caladium bicolor (human toxicity data)
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.
