Is Chamomile Toxic to Cats?
Let’s cut straight to the chase: yes, chamomile is toxic to cats, and it can cause some really scary health issues for your fuzzy little family members. If you’re a cat parent who loves adding pretty plants around your home, you’ve probably wondered if your favorite calming herbal plant is safe for your kitty. And chamomile is such a popular go-to for tea, skincare, and stress relief for humans, but it’s a totally different story when it comes to our cats.
Chamomile is part of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, right alongside daisies, which we’ll talk more about later. The problem is that it contains pyrethrins and plant alkaloids—two compounds that are super toxic to cats, and even small amounts can make your cat really sick. I know a lot of people swear by chamomile for their own anxiety, or use it as a natural remedy, but you absolutely cannot use it around your kitties, no exceptions.
Even just smelling chamomile can cause issues for cats, too! A lot of cat parents don’t just chew on plants around the house, and the strong scent of chamomile flowers can irritate their stomachs and even trigger mild poisoning symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to learn all the basics of cat-safe plant care if you want to keep your cat safe while still having pretty plants in your home.
What Are the Dangers of Chamomile for Cats?
Okay, let’s break down exactly what happens if your cat gets into chamomile. First off, if your cat nibbles on chamomile, you know, like the way cats love to chew on random plants? Well, the pyrethrins in chamomile attack their nervous system and their kidneys, which can lead to some really serious symptoms.
Here’s what to watch out for if you think your cat ate chamomile:
- Diarrhea and vomiting — the first signs that something is wrong
- Lethargy, acting totally out of character, like your cat won’t even move off their bed when they usually love playing
- Acute kidney failure — this is the scariest one, right? Kidney issues can pop up fast if your cat gets enough of the toxic compounds
- Difficulty breathing, like your cat is struggling to catch their breath, which is a total emergency
Now, I know some people will say “wait, you can just put the chamomile on a high shelf and keep your cat away, right? And yeah, technically, if you keep the plant totally out of your cat’s reach, you might be okay. But let’s be real, cats are tiny little troublemakers. They love jumping on counters, climbing on shelves, and getting into things you never thought they could reach. Even if you put the plant on a high table, your cat might still knock it over, or chew on any fallen leaves or petals. And even if they don’t eat the plant, the strong scent can still upset their stomach. Like, I have a cat who once jumped on the kitchen counter just to sniff the plants I had on the windowsill, so trust me, you can never underestimate their curiosity.
Some people will tell you “oh, I keep chamomile is totally fine as long as you put it somewhere high!” and while that’s technically possible, it’s still a huge risk. Cats are notorious for getting into things, and even a single fallen petal or a little nibble can make your cat sick. If you really want to keep chamomile in your home with a cat, you’d have to lock it up in a totally closed cabinet or keep it outside on a balcony with a screen so your cat can’t get to it at all, which is way easier said than done. And even then, you’re way better off just skipping the chamomile plant if you have a cat, to be safe.
Are Chamomile Leaves Toxic?
Wait, hold on, earlier I said the whole plant is toxic, right? Let’s clarify that the entire chamomile plant, including the leaves, right? Yeah, every single part of the chamomile plant has those dangerous compounds that are toxic to cats. I know a lot of people use chamomile tea bags for their own skin or to relax, but even the dried chamomile flowers can be dangerous if your cat gets into them. The dried flowers have the same pyrethrins and plant alkaloids that make the fresh plant toxic.
Chamomile plants are super popular because they’re easy to grow, have pretty white petals and yellow centers, and they smell really nice. They’re often used in a lot of human skincare products, teas, and herbal remedies, but none of that matters when you have a cat. Even the leaves, the flowers, the stems, all of it is bad news for your kitty.
Other Toxic Plants for Cats You Need to Avoid
Okay, now that we’ve covered chamomile, let’s talk about all the other plants that are super toxic for cats, because let’s be real, a lot of common household plants are actually dangerous for our fuzzy friends. I’ve put together a full list of the most dangerous ones, with their risk levels so you know exactly what to keep away from your cat:
Lilies
Lilies are the number one most dangerous plant for cats. Every single part of the lily plant is toxic, even just a single lick of pollen or a sip of water from the vase can cause acute kidney failure in cats within just a few hours. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and if you don’t get your cat to the vet right away, it can be fatal. These are super common in households, especially around Easter and Christmas, so make sure you keep them far, far away from your cat.
Narcissus (Daffodils)
Daffodils are another super common around the holidays and in gardens, but the bulbs have tons of toxic compounds that can make your cat sick fast. If your cat chews on daffodils, they’ll start vomiting, have diarrhea, get headaches, feel weak, and even go into a coma or experience paralysis. All the bulbs have the highest concentration of toxins, so keep these far away from your cat.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons
These beautiful flowering shrubs are super popular in landscaping, but every single part of the plant has grayanotoxins that attack your cat’s heart, nervous system, and digestive tract. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, and even death if your cat eats enough of the plant. These are super dangerous, so make sure you don’t have them anywhere near your cat.
Calla Lilies
Calla lilies are super pretty, but their stems and leaves have calcium oxalate crystals that will burn your cat’s mouth, cause drooling, vomiting, seizures, trouble breathing, and even damage their kidneys and nervous system. Even just chewing on a single leaf can make your cat really sick, so keep these far away from your cat.
Oleander
Oleander is a super common landscaping plant, but it has tons of cardiac glycosides that attack your cat’s heart and cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, and even sudden death if your cat eats a small amount of the plant. This is one of the most dangerous plants for cats, so avoid it at all costs.
Elephant Ear (Draceana Sanderiana)
Elephant ears are super popular as houseplants, but their thick, juicy stems and leaves have tons of calcium oxalate crystals that will burn your cat’s throat, cause diarrhea, and even irritate their skin and eyes if they touch it. If your cat chews on the plant, they’ll start drooling, have trouble breathing, and can even get kidney damage from it.
Sago Palm
Sago palms are super toxic, and even just a few bites of the plant can cause liver failure in your cat within just 3 days after eating it. The seeds have the highest concentration of toxins, and symptoms include vomiting, seizures, and death. These are super dangerous, so never keep a sago palm in your home if you have a cat.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are super pretty, but they have cyanogenic glycosides that attack your cat’s body. If your cat eats hydrangeas, they’ll start vomiting, feel lethargic, have diarrhea, and even go into respiratory failure or coma if they eat enough of the plant.
Hyacinths
Hyacinths are super popular spring bulbs, but their bulbs have the highest concentration of toxins, and even just a few bites can cause vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), and even nerve damage if your cat eats a lot of the plant. The bulbs are the most dangerous part, so make sure you don’t plant hyacinths in your garden if you have a cat that likes to dig in the dirt.
Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)
Pothos is a super common houseplant, but it has calcium oxalate crystals that will burn your cat’s mouth, cause drooling, vomiting, trouble breathing, and even damage their kidneys and nervous system. Even just a few bites can make your cat really sick, so keep these far away from your cat.
Daisies
Daisies are part of the same Asteraceae family as chamomile, right? So they’re super common, but they can cause skin irritation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite if your cat eats them. They’re not as dangerous as some other plants, but they still aren’t good for your cat.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is super popular for human skincare, but the white sap under the leaves has saponins that are toxic to cats. The inner gel is mostly safe, but if your cat eats the leaves, they’ll start drooling, have trouble walking, and vomit. Make sure you keep your aloe vera plant far away from your cat.
Primrose (Cyclamen)
Cyclamen is a super popular houseplant around the holidays, but all parts of the plant are toxic to cats. If your cat eats cyclamen, they’ll start drooling, have diarrhea, and vomit, and even cause skin irritation if they touch the plant.
Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)
Monstera is super popular as a houseplant, but their thick stems and leaves have calcium oxalate crystals that will burn your cat’s throat, cause diarrhea, and irritate their skin and eyes. Even just a few bites can make your cat really sick, so keep these far away from your cat.
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo is a super common houseplant, but if your cat eats a lot of it, they’ll start vomiting (sometimes with blood), drool, lose their appetite, have diarrhea, feel lethargic, and have trouble walking. Make sure you keep lucky bamboo far away from your cat.
Tulips
Tulips are super popular spring flowers, but their bulbs have the highest concentration of toxins, and if your cat eats tulips, they’ll start vomiting, have diarrhea, feel weak, and even get kidney failure if they eat a lot of the plant.
Lily of the Valley
Lily of the valley is super pretty, but it has cardiac glycosides that attack your cat’s heart and cause drooling, seizures, irregular heartbeat, and even death if your cat eats a lot of the plant.
Peonies
Peonies are super pretty, but they have toxic compounds that cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain if your cat eats them. They’re not as dangerous as some other plants, but they still aren’t good for your cat.
Plumosa (Asparagus Fern)
Asparagus ferns are super common as houseplants, but they have toxic compounds that cause skin irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea if your cat eats them.
Irises
Irises are super pretty flowers, but they have iridin, a toxic compound that causes drooling, sleepiness, diarrhea, and vomiting if your cat eats them.
Periwinkle (Madagascar Periwinkle)
Periwinkle is super pretty, but it has toxic compounds that cause muscle weakness, paralysis, low blood pressure, and seizures if your cat eats them.
Begonias
Begonias are super common houseplants, but they have toxic compounds that cause vomiting and drooling if your cat eats them.
Lavender
Lavender is super popular for its calming scents, but it has linamarin, a toxic compound that causes vomiting and loss of appetite if your cat eats it.
Wisteria
Wisteria is super pretty, but it has toxic compounds that cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy if your cat eats it.
Gardenias
Gardenias are super pretty, but they have toxic compounds that cause mild vomiting, diarrhea, and hives if your cat eats them.
Carnations
Carnations are super popular as cut flowers, but they have toxic compounds that cause mild gastrointestinal issues and mild skin irritation if your cat eats them.
