Plant safety for cats
Is ZZ plant (ज़ेड-ज़ेड प्लांट) toxic to cats?
ModerateNot on ASPCA's cat list — rated from other sources
Treat it as toxic: the ZZ plant has no ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline entry, but it carries the same oxalate crystals as money plant — expect mouth pain and drooling, and vomiting or diarrhoea if a lot is eaten.
Why moderate: Provisional: there is no ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline page. It carries the same oxalate crystals as money plant, so it is grouped with them.
- Name
- ZZ plantalso Zanzibar gem, Zamioculcas, Eternity plant
- Hindi
- ज़ेड-ज़ेड प्लांट
- Botanical name
- Zamioculcas zamiifolia · Araceae
Toxic parts
The leaves (calcium oxalate, NC State).
What's in it
Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals — tiny needles that are released when the leaf is chewed and stab the lips, mouth and throat
How to recognise it
- Glossy, dark-green, waxy leaflets in pairs along thick upright stalks
- The stalks rise from potato-like underground stems
Look-alikes and name traps
A young sago palm (cycas) looks similar but has stiff, needle-tipped leaflets — and that one is deadly.
Symptoms to watch for
- Drooling and mouth pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea if a lot is eaten
At once — the crystals hurt as soon as the plant is chewed.
What to do
Call your vet. It hurts at once, but most cats recover with supportive care.
- Take the plant away, note how much is missing and take a photo of it.
- Call your vet if your cat drools, paws at the mouth, gags or vomits.
- Go now if breathing is noisy or laboured, the face or throat swells, or your cat can't swallow (Pet Poison Helpline's rule).
- Don't make your cat vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
Where Indian cats meet it
A low-light office and living-room plant, popular as a gift.
Cat-safe swap: A parlour palm or calathea for low light — both listed non-toxic.
Sources
- NC State Plant Toolbox: Zamioculcas zamiifolia (human toxicity data)
- ASPCA: Plants toxic and non-toxic to cats (full list)
- Pet Poison Helpline: Oxalates (insoluble)
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.
