Plant safety for cats
Is ixora (रुक्मिणी) safe for cats?
SafeListed non-toxic to cats by ASPCA
Yes — ixora (rukmini, chethi) is safe for cats: ASPCA lists it non-toxic. A good cat-safe flower for puja and the balcony.
Why safe: Listed non-toxic to cats by ASPCA.
- Name
- Ixoraalso Rukmini, Chethi, Flame of the woods, Jungle geranium
- Hindi
- रुक्मिणी · rukmini
- Botanical name
- Ixora coccinea (and I. javanica) · Rubiaceae
- Other Indian names
- Malayalamചെത്തി (chethi)
- Tamilvetchi
- Bengaliরঙ্গন (rongon)
- Marathipendgul
How to recognise it
- Shrub with glossy, leathery, oval leaves in pairs
- Dense round clusters of small red, orange, pink or yellow flowers
What to do
Listed non-toxic — no poisoning is expected.
- Any plant eaten in quantity can still cause a little vomiting or diarrhoea; call your vet if it keeps going.
- Pesticide or fertiliser on nursery plants is a separate risk: rinse new plants and keep fertiliser sticks out of the pot.
Where Indian cats meet it
Garden hedges and temple offerings, especially in South India (chethi in Kerala).
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Flame of the woods (Ixora)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Jungle geranium
- efloraofindia: Ixora coccinea (local names)
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.
