Plant safety for cats
Is curry leaf (करी पत्ता / मीठा नीम) safe for cats?
?Not assessedNot assessed for cats — here's what we know
Curry leaf isn't listed or assessed for cats by ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline, and there are no known poisoning reports. Keep the berries and seeds away, and call your vet if your cat eats a lot.
Why not assessed: Not listed or assessed for cats; only human and rodent studies exist.
- Name
- Curry leafalso Kadi patta, Meetha neem
- Hindi
- करी पत्ता / मीठा नीम · kari patta / meetha neem
- Botanical name
- Murraya koenigii (syn. Bergera koenigii) · Rutaceae
- Other Indian names
- Marathiकढीलिंब (kadhilimb)
- Tamilகறிவேம்பு (karivembu)
- Teluguకరివేపాకు (karivepaku)
- Kannadaಕರಿಬೇವಿನ ಮರ (karibevina mara)
- Malayalamകറിവേപ്പ് (kariveppu)
Toxic parts
No cat data. The seeds may be toxic to people, so keep berries and seeds away.
The evidence
Not assessed for cats — here's what we know. Not assessed is not the same as safe — and not proof of danger either.
How to recognise it
- Leaves of 11–21 small, glossy, aromatic leaflets
- Clusters of small white flowers
- Berries that ripen from green to black
Look-alikes and name traps
'Meetha neem' is not neem.
What to do
No vet database has assessed it for cats — so there is no verdict either way.
- A nibble is not known to be dangerous. If your cat ate a lot, or seems unwell, call your vet and take the plant or a photo.
- Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
Where Indian cats meet it
Almost every South- and West-Indian kitchen garden, and more and more NCR terrace pots.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Curry tree (human and rodent data)
- ASPCA: Plants toxic and non-toxic to cats (full list)
- Hindi Wikipedia: मीठा नीम (Hindi name)
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.
