Plant safety for cats
Is gardenia toxic to cats?
MildListed toxic to cats by ASPCA
Mildly — gardenia ('Cape jasmine', gandhraj) is listed toxic to cats and may cause mild vomiting, diarrhoea or hives. It isn't a real jasmine; mogra is.
Why mild: Mild vomiting, diarrhoea or hives. Jasmine-named, but not a jasmine.
- Name
- Gardeniaalso Cape jasmine, Gandhraj
- Botanical name
- Gardenia jasminoides · Rubiaceae
Toxic parts
Treat every part as toxic — ASPCA lists the plant without naming a safer part.
How to recognise it
- Glossy, dark-green leaves
- Waxy, strongly scented white flowers
Look-alikes and name traps
Real jasmines — mogra, juhi and chameli — are non-toxic.
Symptoms to watch for
- Mild vomiting or diarrhoea
- Hives
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.
Where Indian cats meet it
Garden shrub grown for its scent.
Cat-safe swap: Mogra (Arabian jasmine) for the scent — 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.
