Plant safety for cats
Is eucalyptus (नीलगिरी) toxic to cats?
MildListed toxic to cats by ASPCA
The tree, mildly — a few eucalyptus leaves cause only minor nausea. Eucalyptus oil is another matter: concentrated oil on the skin or licked can cause serious nerve signs. Never use it on or near your cat.
Why mild: Leaves: minor nausea. Concentrated eucalyptus oil is severe.
- Name
- Eucalyptusalso Nilgiri
- Hindi
- नीलगिरी · nilgiri
- Botanical name
- Eucalyptus species · Myrtaceae
Toxic parts
Leaves (mild); concentrated oil (severe).
What's in it
Eucalyptol (an essential oil).
How to recognise it
- Tall tree with peeling bark
- Grey-green leaves that smell of menthol when crushed — round on young stems, sickle-shaped on old
Symptoms to watch for
- Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea
- Low mood, weakness
- From oil: wobbliness and other nerve signs; rarely kidney injury
What to do
Usually settles on its own — but keep an eye on your cat.
- Take the plant away and note how much was chewed.
- Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea keeps going, your cat stops eating, or seems weak or wobbly.
- Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
- Oil on the fur, skin or licked: go to a vet now.
Where Indian cats meet it
Roadside and plantation trees and cut stems in décor — plus eucalyptus oil for steam inhalation and cold balms in most homes.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Eucalyptus
- Pet Poison Helpline: Eucalyptus
- Hindi Wikipedia: नीलगिरी वृक्ष (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.
