Plant safety for cats
Is marigold (गेंदा) toxic to cats?
MildNot on ASPCA's cat list — rated from other sources
Mildly — genda (Tagetes marigold) can cause a mild upset stomach, and its sap can irritate skin (Pet Poison Helpline). Many sites wrongly call it non-toxic: ASPCA's 'marigold' is pot marigold, Calendula.
Why mild: A mild stomach upset and skin irritation from the sap (Pet Poison Helpline). ASPCA's 'non-toxic marigold' is a different plant (Calendula).
- Name
- Marigoldalso Genda, Gainda, African marigold, French marigold
- Hindi
- गेंदा · genda
- Botanical name
- Tagetes erecta and Tagetes patula · Asteraceae
- Other Indian names
- Marathiझेंडू (zendu)
- Kannadaಚೆಂಡು ಹೂ (chendu hoo)
- Tamilகட்டிக் கேந்தி (katti kenthi)
Toxic parts
The plant if eaten; the sap on skin.
What's in it
Thiophenes and an irritant sap.
How to recognise it
- A strong, pungent smell
- Finely divided, feathery leaves
- Pompom or double flower heads in orange and yellow
Look-alikes and name traps
Pot marigold (Calendula) has simple, spoon-shaped, slightly sticky leaves, flat daisy-like heads and a mild smell — and ASPCA lists it non-toxic.
Symptoms to watch for
- Mild vomiting or diarrhoea
- Skin irritation from the sap
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.
- After festivals, don't leave old garlands on the floor where your cat plays.
Where Indian cats meet it
India's puja and festival flower: garlands, torans and rangoli at Diwali, Dussehra and weddings — mostly as cut flowers brought indoors.
Myth or fact
Myth“Marigold is non-toxic — ASPCA says so”
FactASPCA's non-toxic 'marigold' is Calendula. Indian genda is *Tagetes*, which Pet Poison Helpline rates mildly toxic.
Cat-safe swap: For indoor puja: roses, mogra or ixora — all listed non-toxic.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline: Marigold
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Garden marigold (Calendula)
- NC State Plant Toolbox: Tagetes erecta (human toxicity data)
- Wikidata: Tagetes erecta (Indian-language 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.
