Garden Plants That Are Toxic to Cats

When grass is available, most cats will not eat outside plants or flowers. Occasionally, out of boredom or curiosity, a cat may nibble a leaf or stem. While rare that a cat will consume a large amount of flowers, it's better to be safe rather than sorry and know which plants are potentially harmful and by what degree.

The plants outlined are some of the more popular plants toxic to cats. This is not an exhaustive list. For that, use the ASPCA's toxic plants list. 

Azaleas are a member of the Rhododendron family. All plants in this family are moderately toxic to cats, including all parts of the plants. According to The Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine "pets may nibble or taste the leaves out of curiosity or boredom, and this is not advised, but seldom leads to clinical toxicosis."

The ASPCA Poison Center is more guarded about these types of flowers and warns against them. The clinical signs of consumption include vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse, and death.

Chrysanthemums are popular perennials that provide a lovely burst of fall color. The leaves and stem are the toxic part. Clinical symptoms from ingestion results in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, drooling and lack of appetite. 

Daffodils, also known as Narcissus, are the traditional harbinger of spring, but can cause upset tummies, vomiting, and/or diarrhea or worse if consumed by your cat.

Hydrangeas are a popular plant in home gardens due to their beauty and immense popularity as dried flowers in arrangements. Their toxicity level is low and may result in stomach pains, vomiting, and weakness if the flower heads are ingested.

Iris are favorite flowers in old-fashioned gardens, where they were once known as "flags." They are fairly safe to use in gardening, once planted. It's the bulbs that are actually toxic to felines, causing typical gastrointestinal symptoms.

Ivy is commonly used as ground cover or for shade, as in covering gazebos or trellises. Many species of ivy are considered moderately toxic and can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, along with breathing difficulty, coma, or even death, if a sufficient amount of leaves is ingested.

Lilies come in many varieties and all look quite different from each other. Sad to say, they are on the "least wanted" list of plants in a garden for cats, as ingestion of any part of the plant can ultimately lead to death.

Marigolds are sturdy, perky little annuals. They are colorful and exceptionally easy to grow. Their pungent aroma helps keeps insects at bay and they are commonly planted near roses to deter aphids. If your cat eats marigold leaves or stems, they will suffer mild mouth irritation, possible drooling, tummy pain, and diarrhea.

Wisteria is naturally a vine, but it has been trained to grow as trees by some horticulturists. The seeds and pods are the toxic part and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and collapse if ingested.