Plant safety for cats
Is neem (नीम) safe for cats?
?Not assessedNot assessed for cats — here's what we know
The neem tree is not on toxic-plant lists and hasn't been assessed for cats — but neem oil products have caused drooling, wobbliness and seizures in cats. Never use neem oil on a cat, and don't confuse neem with bakain, whose berries are dangerous.
Why not assessed: The tree isn't on toxic-plant lists — but neem OIL has harmed cats.
- Name
- Neemalso Margosa
- Hindi
- नीम
- Botanical name
- Azadirachta indica · Meliaceae
- Other Indian names
- Marathiकडुलिंब (kadulimb)
- Bengaliনিম (nim)
- Tamilவேம்பு (vembu)
- Teluguవేప (vepa)
- Kannadaಬೇವು (bevu)
- Gujaratiલીમડો (limdo)
Toxic parts
Leaves and tree: not assessed. Neem oil and neem-based flea products: reported to harm cats.
What's in it
In neem oil: not identified; the UK Veterinary Poisons Information Service reported apparent reactions in cats.
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 divided once into curved, saw-edged leaflets
- Small white, fragrant flowers
- Olive-shaped fruit
Look-alikes and name traps
Neem or bakain? Bakain (chinaberry) has twice-divided leaves, lilac flowers and round yellow berries — and those berries cause seizures. Curry leaf ('meetha neem') isn't neem either.
Symptoms to watch for
- After neem oil: drooling
- Lethargy, wobbliness
- Muscle tremors, convulsions
The signs listed come from a summary of the UK poisons-service report on neem oil in cats; the full paper was not checked.
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.
- Neem oil on your cat or licked: wash it off with warm soapy water (International Cat Care) and call your vet now.
- Keep cats indoors while you spray neem oil on plants.
Where Indian cats meet it
Courtyard, temple and street trees; leaves kept in cupboards against moths, neem oil used as a plant pesticide, and neem shampoos and 'herbal' flea products sold for pets.
Myth or fact
Myth“Neem oil is a natural, safe flea remedy for cats”
FactNeem oil products have caused drooling, wobbliness and seizures in cats. Use only vet-recommended, cat-labelled flea products.
Sources
- Sutton et al. 2009: apparent adverse reactions to neem oil in cats (PubMed)
- Genovese et al. 2012: essential-oil flea products in cats and dogs (PubMed)
- ASPCA: Plants toxic and non-toxic to cats (full list)
- International Cat Care: Cats and poisons
- Wikidata: Azadirachta indica (Indian-language names)
- Catster: is neem oil poisonous to cats? (secondary summary)
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.
