Pet-safe plant checker
Is this plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Search a houseplant or holiday plant to see how the ASPCA lists it for cats, dogs and horses. The short version: true lilies and day lilies are an emergency for cats, the sago palm’s listed signs include liver failure, and many favourites, including the spider plant, Boston fern, Christmas cactus, calathea and moth orchid, are listed as non-toxic.
Pet safety card
Christmas cactus
Also called: Easter Cactus, holiday cactus, schlumbergera, zygocactus
- ASPCA name
- Christmas Cactus
- Latin name
- Schlumbergera bridgesii
- Toxic principles
- None listed
- Clinical signs
- None listed
The ASPCA page is for Schlumbergera bridgesii and also lists Easter cactus as another name. It has no separate page for the Thanksgiving cactus.
Lilies and cats: an emergency
True lilies (Lilium) and day lilies (Hemerocallis)
The ASPCA says even small amounts can cause severe injury to the kidneys
of cats, and that day lilies can too. Pet Poison Helpline says All parts of lilies from the Lilium genus are toxic for cats
, listing leaf, stem, flower, pollen, vase water and root. If your cat has chewed a lily, drunk the vase water or groomed pollen off its fur, take it to a vet now; do not wait for signs. The UK’s Animal PoisonLine likewise tells owners to contact their vet immediately for true lilies in a cat.
The ASPCA’s lily pages list Easter, tiger, Asiatic, stargazer and Japanese show lilies as toxic to cats, with kidney failure among the signs, and as non-toxic to dogs and horses. Peace lilies are not true lilies: the ASPCA lists them as toxic to cats and dogs because of insoluble calcium oxalates, which irritate the mouth, but its kidney warning is for Lilium and day lilies.
How to read the result
Each card shows the plant exactly as its ASPCA page lists it. Toxic covers everything from a sore mouth to organ failure, so read the clinical signs: the ASPCA calls poinsettias generally over-rated in toxicity, while its sago palm page lists liver failure and death. Non-toxic is not the same as edible: the ASPCA’s money tree page is non-toxic yet still mentions nausea, vomiting and loose stool. Not listed means the page gives no entry for that animal, usually horses.
Many popular foliage plants share one toxic principle, insoluble calcium oxalates: pothos, philodendrons, monstera, peace lily, dieffenbachia, Chinese evergreen and arrowhead vine. The ASPCA lists the same signs for them: oral irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Snake plants and dracaenas contain saponins; amaryllis and paperwhites contain lycorine, with the bulbs the most poisonous part of narcissus; kalanchoe contains bufadienolides, which can rarely affect heart rhythm.
Examples
- Is a Christmas cactus toxic to cats? No: the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
- Is amaryllis toxic to dogs? Yes: toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with lycorine as the toxic principle and signs including vomiting, diarrhoea and tremors.
- Is a rubber plant safe? We cannot say. The ASPCA has no page for Ficus elastica; its “Indian rubber plant” is the weeping fig, which is toxic.
Every plant we checked
All 64 entries, A to Z. Each name links to its ASPCA page.
| Plant | Cats | Dogs | Horses |
|---|---|---|---|
| African violetSaintpaulia spp. | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Aloe veraAloe vera | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| AmaryllisAmaryllis spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Areca palmDypsis lutescens | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Arrowhead vine (Syngonium)Syngonium podophyllum | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Asiatic lilyLilium asiatica | Toxic | Not listed | Not listed |
| Asparagus fernAsparagus densiflorus cv sprengeri | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| AzaleaRhododendron spp | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)Peperomia obtusifolia | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| BasilOcimum basilicum | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| BegoniaBegonia spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Boston fernNephrolepis exalta bostoniensis | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| CalatheaCalathea spp. | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Cast iron plantAspidistra elatior | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)Aglaonema modestum | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Christmas cactusSchlumbergera bridgesii | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Christmas rose (hellebore)Helleborus niger | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans)Dracaena fragrans | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| CyclamenCyclamen spp | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Daffodil, narcissus and paperwhiteNarcissus spp | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Day lily (Hemerocallis)Hemerocallis spp. | Toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)Dieffenbachia | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| DracaenaDracaena spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| Easter lilyLilium longiflorum | Toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Emerald ripple peperomia (Peperomia caperata)Peperomia caperata | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| English hollyIlex aquifolium | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| English ivyHedera helix | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Friendship plant (Pilea involucrata)Pilea involucrata | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Geranium (Pelargonium)Pelargonium species | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Golden pothos (devil’s ivy)Epipremnum aureum | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| HaworthiaHaworthia species | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| Heartleaf philodendronPhilodendron hederaceum | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Holly (American holly)Ilex opaca | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Horsehead philodendron (Philodendron bipennifolium)Philodendron bipennifolium | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| HydrangeaHydrangea arborescens | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Jade plantCrassula argentea | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Japanese show lilyLilium speciosum | Toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| KalanchoeKalanchoe spp | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| LavenderLavandula angustifolia | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Lily (true lilies, Lilium)Lilium species | Toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| MintMentha sp. | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Mistletoe (American)Phoradendron flavescens | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Money tree (Pachira aquatica)Pachira aquatica | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Monstera (Swiss cheese plant)Monstera deliciosa | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)Phalaenopsis sp. | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Norfolk Island pineAraucaria heterophylla | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Parlour palmChamaedorea elegans | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| Peace lily (not a true lily)Spathiphyllum | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| PoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrima | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Ponytail palmBeaucarnea recurvata | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Prayer plant (Maranta)Calathea insignis | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| RosemaryRosmarinus officinalis | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Sago palmCycas revoluta, zamia species | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Snake plantSansevieria trifasciata | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| Spider plantChlorophytum comosum | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| Stargazer lilyLilium orientalis | Toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Swedish ivyPlectranthus australis | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Tiger lilyLilium tigrinum | Toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| TulipTulipa spp. | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Umbrella tree (Schefflera)Brassaia actinophylla | Toxic | Toxic | Not listed |
| Watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia)Peperomia argyreia | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| Wax plant (Hoya)Hoya carnosa 'krinkle kurl' | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not listed |
| Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)Ficus benjamina | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
Plants we could not verify
As of 3 November 2026 the ASPCA has no page of its own for the ZZ plant, the rubber plant (Ficus elastica), the fiddle-leaf fig, string of pearls, bird’s nest fern, Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides), the Thanksgiving cactus or European mistletoe, so we do not rate them. Treat them as unknown and ask your vet.
General information as listed by the ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline, not veterinary advice. Obvious spelling slips in the ASPCA’s fields are corrected.
Frequently asked questions
Are lilies toxic to cats?
Yes, dangerously. True lilies (Lilium) and day lilies (Hemerocallis) can cause kidney failure in cats, and every part counts, pollen and vase water included (ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline). Take your cat to a vet at once.
Is pothos toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists golden pothos as toxic to dogs and cats: its insoluble calcium oxalates cause intense burning and irritation of the mouth, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.
Is a Christmas cactus safe for cats and dogs?
The ASPCA lists the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It has no separate page for the Thanksgiving cactus.
Is aloe vera toxic to dogs?
The ASPCA lists aloe as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with saponins and anthraquinones, and signs of vomiting (not in horses), lethargy and diarrhoea. It notes that the gel is considered edible.
What should I do if my pet ate a houseplant?
Note the plant’s name, move it out of reach, and call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine. For lilies and cats, go to a vet at once.
Sources
Plant entries come from each plant’s own ASPCA Animal Poison Control page (linked in the table), checked on 3 November 2026. Helpline numbers and fees are from the services’ own sites on the same day.
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. ASPCA Animal Poison Control.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control. ASPCA.
- Which Lilies Are Toxic to Pets?. ASPCA, 6 April 2022.
- Getting to the Bottom of the Dangers of Easter Lilies. ASPCA, 27 March 2019.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Pet Poison Helpline.
- Lilies. Pet Poison Helpline.
- Daylily. Pet Poison Helpline.
- Poinsettia. Pet Poison Helpline.
- Animal PoisonLine. Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS).
- About the Animal Poisons Helpline. Animal Poisons Helpline.
- Reported losses to scams on social media eight times higher than in 2020. U.S. Federal Trade Commission, 27 April 2026.