Is it poisonous?

Not poisonous.

Vomiting, wobbliness, slowed breathing, a drop in body temperature and blood sugar. Alcohol-based tinctures, including valerian, are dangerous too.

Calcium oxalate crystals: burning and swelling of the mouth, drooling, vomiting.

The sap of the leaf flesh and skin causes vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. Human aloe gel should not be applied to cats or dogs.

Alkaloids, mostly in the bulb: vomiting, drooling, tummy pain, lethargy.

Calcium oxalate crystals: mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting.

Agitation or sedation, trembling, seizures, high temperature. Cats are attracted by the smell of some tablets (for example venlafaxine).

Ethylene glycol in engine antifreeze: even a teaspoon can kill a cat. It looks like drunkenness at first, then acute kidney failure follows. The antidote only works in the first hours. Screenwash and de-icers contain alcohols and are dangerous too.

Safe in small amounts. The seeds contain a little cyanogenic compound — a couple won't hurt, but it's best to remove the core.

Not poisonous. Do not confuse them with the sago palm (cycad), which is very dangerous.

The berries cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and the sap irritates the skin.

Cats clear aspirin very poorly: vomiting, rapid breathing, damage to the liver and blood. In dogs, stomach ulcers.

Colchicine: bloody vomiting, diarrhoea, damage to the bone marrow, kidneys and liver. Do not confuse it with the spring crocus.

Stomach upset in cats and dogs; the stone can block the intestine. Avocado is very poisonous to birds and rodents.

Grayanotoxins: vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea, weakness; in large amounts, low blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, coma.

A swallowed button battery burns through the gullet or stomach within 1–2 hours. Chewed batteries cause chemical burns to the mouth.

Vomiting, diarrhoea; the stiff dry leaf can injure the throat.

Calcium oxalate crystals, especially in the tubers: burning in the mouth, drooling, vomiting.

Burns to the mouth and gullet, drooling, vomiting. Don't make your pet vomit; give a little water and go to the vet.

Safe as a treat or as a temporary bland diet for stomach upsets (on your vet's advice).

Safe as a treat.

Not poisonous. Do not confuse it with the asparagus fern, which is poisonous.

A little does no harm, but has no benefit. Raw yeast dough and bread with raisins, onion or nuts are dangerous.

Usually not poisonous in itself, but the spines injure the mouth, paws and eyes.

Not poisonous.

Calcium oxalate crystals: mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting. Unlike true lilies, it does not damage the kidneys.

The seeds contain ricin: bloody vomiting and diarrhoea, kidney and liver damage. Even one chewed seed is dangerous.

Not poisonous, but too rich in fat and protein: eaten regularly it causes stomach upsets and a risk of pancreatitis.

Safe. Cats chew it for pleasure and sometimes bring up hairballs afterwards.

Not poisonous. It affects about two thirds of cats: a few minutes of excitement, then relaxation. Dogs that eat a lot may get a mild stomach upset.

Salty and fatty; a small piece as a treat usually does no harm, but a lot causes stomach upset.

They contain cyanogenic compounds; large stones can also block the intestine. The fruit flesh without the stone is not poisonous.

Theobromine and caffeine: restlessness, vomiting, a racing heart, trembling, seizures. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous: for a 10 kg dog even a small bar of dark chocolate is dangerous.

Needles prick and irritate the stomach; the water in the tree stand is dangerous (preservatives, bacteria), as are tinsel and decorations (see “Tinsel, string, hair ties”).

Vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, skin irritation.

Nicotine: vomiting, drooling, agitation, trembling, a racing heart within 15–60 minutes. Vape liquid and nicotine pouches are especially concentrated.

A little of the flesh is not dangerous; the peel and essential oils irritate the stomach.

Caffeine: restlessness, vomiting, a racing heart, trembling, seizures. Ground coffee, beans, pods and caffeine tablets are dangerous.

Not a poison, but mechanically dangerous: sharp splinters injure the gullet and intestines, bones cause constipation and blockages and break teeth. If there is vomiting, blood in the stool or bloating, go to the vet straight away.

The kernels are safe, but the cob is a common cause of intestinal blockage in dogs. If your dog has swallowed a piece of cob, call the vet — don't wait for symptoms.

Milky sap: mouth irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea.

Most of the poison is in the tuber: drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea; large amounts can cause heart rhythm problems and seizures.

The bulb is especially poisonous: severe vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea; large amounts can cause seizures, low blood pressure and heart rhythm problems.

Like true lilies, it causes acute kidney failure in cats. Not poisonous to dogs.

Decongestant sprays and drops are dangerous even in small amounts — chewing the bottle is enough: vomiting, a slow pulse, swings in blood pressure, lethargy or agitation.

Alkaloids: muscle weakness, drooling, heart rhythm problems, paralysis in severe cases.

Calcium oxalate crystals: burning in the mouth, heavy drooling, vomiting, swelling of the tongue and throat. Rinse the mouth with water and see a vet.

Deadly for cats: trembling and seizures within a few hours. Wash the cat straight away with lukewarm water and washing-up liquid and take it to the vet. Close contact with a freshly treated dog is dangerous too. Safe for dogs when used correctly.

Eating it once is not a problem, but not regularly: dog food lacks the taurine and protein a cat needs.

Saponins: vomiting (sometimes with blood), drooling, lethargy; dilated pupils in cats. Shop-bought lucky bamboo is a dracaena, not real bamboo.

Alkalis and acids cause severe burns to the mouth and gullet. Don't make your pet vomit — go to the vet straight away.

Cats cannot break down many compounds in essential oils (tea tree, eucalyptus, citrus, peppermint): drooling, wobbliness, trembling, liver damage. Don't put oils on the fur and don't use diffusers near cats.

Fatty food from the table is a common cause of pancreatitis in dogs: vomiting, tummy pain, lethargy.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth irritation; fertilisers with added pesticides or bone meal are more dangerous.

The milky sap irritates the mouth and skin: drooling, vomiting.

Cardiac glycosides: vomiting, a slow or irregular pulse, weakness. Life-threatening.

The liquid is bitter: heavy drooling and fright, but usually no poisoning. Wipe the mouth and fur and offer water.

In dogs, even a small amount can cause acute kidney failure; there is no safe dose. There is less data for cats, but don't give them either.

Not poisonous.

In dogs, hops cause dangerous overheating (malignant hyperthermia): body temperature rises above 41 °C. Spent hops from home brewing are dangerous too.

Wobbliness, drowsiness or, on the contrary, agitation, slowed breathing.

The bulb is the most poisonous part: vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, trembling.

Cyanogenic glycosides: vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy.

Human painkillers cause stomach ulcers and acute kidney failure, especially in cats. Children's syrups and gels that a pet licks off are dangerous too.

Sugar, fat and lactose cause stomach upset; check for chocolate, raisins, nuts and xylitol.

Organophosphates and carbamates: drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, trembling, pinpoint pupils, difficulty breathing. Pyrethroid sprays are especially dangerous for cats.

The rhizome is the most poisonous part: drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea.

Vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, then possible liver damage.

Horse and livestock products at a “dog” dose are deadly for breeds with the MDR1 mutation: wobbliness, blindness, coma.

Saponins: vomiting, tummy pain, drooling, diarrhoea.

Vomiting, lethargy, sometimes wobbliness. Usually passes without lasting harm, but see a vet if the symptoms don't go away.

Contains bufadienolides: usually vomiting and diarrhoea; large amounts can affect the heart rhythm.

The concentrated detergent causes mouth burns, vomiting and foam getting into the lungs.

The plant itself causes a mild stomach upset. Lavender essential oil is dangerous for cats (see “Essential oils”).

For cats, one of the most dangerous plants: every part causes acute kidney failure, even pollen licked off the fur and water from the vase. In the first hours there is vomiting and lethargy, then the kidneys fail. Treatment only works if it starts within 18 hours. In dogs, lilies cause only a mild stomach upset.

Contains cardiac glycosides: vomiting, weakness, serious heart rhythm problems. The water from a vase of these flowers is dangerous too.

Healthy as part of the diet, but feeding mostly liver leads to vitamin A excess that damages the joints and spine.

For dogs of breeds with the MDR1 mutation (collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds and others) even a small dose is dangerous: sedation, wobbliness, coma.

Alkaloids, mostly in the seeds: drooling, trembling, wobbliness, difficulty breathing.

In dogs: weak hind legs, trembling, vomiting, fever — usually passes within 1–2 days. Cats shouldn't have nuts either.

Two or more swallowed magnets attract each other through the intestinal walls and tear them. An X-ray is needed straight away.

Swallowed metallic mercury is barely absorbed, but the vapour is dangerous. Take the pet out of the room and air it; don't vacuum the beads — collect them and take them to a household waste recycling centre. Have your pet checked by a vet. Mercury thermometers are no longer sold in the EU and UK, but old ones are still around.

Many adult cats and dogs don't tolerate lactose well: diarrhoea, bloating. Not poisonous, but not needed either.

Large amounts cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Peppermint essential oil is dangerous for cats.

Christmas plants: vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling; large amounts of mistletoe can affect the heart rhythm.

One of the most poisonous garden flowers: drooling, vomiting, weakness, serious heart rhythm problems.

Calcium oxalate crystals: burning and swelling of the mouth, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.

Vomiting, destruction of red blood cells, liver and kidney damage, seizures. Cats are especially sensitive.

Myristicin: excitement, a racing heart, disorientation, vomiting.

Fatty: they can cause stomach upset and pancreatitis, and blockages in small dogs. Mouldy walnuts contain toxins that cause trembling and seizures.

Cardiac glycosides in every part of the plant, even in dry leaves: vomiting, heart rhythm problems, can be fatal.

They destroy red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia). Dangerous in any form — raw, cooked, dried, powdered, in soup or baby food. Cats are more sensitive than dogs. Signs appear after 1–5 days: weakness, pale gums, dark urine.

Not poisonous. The risk comes from fertilisers and plant feeds.

Not poisonous.

Even a single dose can kill a cat: it destroys red blood cells (the gums turn blue), the face and paws swell, and the liver is damaged. In dogs, large doses damage the liver. There is an antidote — get to a vet immediately.

Calcium oxalate crystals: mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting. Despite the name it is not a true lily and does not damage the kidneys.

A little is fine if it doesn't contain xylitol — always check the label.

Vomiting, loss of appetite, skin irritation.

Not poisonous.

Calcium oxalate crystals: mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting.

Homemade salt dough and modelling dough contain a lot of salt: vomiting, thirst, trembling, seizures. Dogs are attracted by the taste.

Pyrethroids are especially dangerous for cats: drooling, trembling. Don't use plug-ins where your cat sleeps, and don't let pets chew the refills.

The milky sap irritates the mouth and stomach: drooling, sometimes vomiting. The danger of poinsettia is greatly exaggerated.

Alkaloids: drowsiness or excitement, wobbliness, vomiting.

Solanine: vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, a slow pulse. Plain boiled potato without salt or butter is not poisonous.

Calcium oxalate crystals: burning in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.

Safe, without salt or spices.

Most baits stop the blood from clotting: bleeding starts after 3–5 days. There is an antidote, vitamin K1, so go to the vet straight away and take the packaging. Mouse baits with alphachloralose work differently: the cat gets cold, wobbly and trembles. Cats can be poisoned by eating a poisoned mouse.

Risk of salmonella; raw egg white binds biotin. A boiled egg is safe.

Risk of bacteria (salmonella, listeria) and parasites; fed regularly, raw fish destroys vitamin B1 in cats. Raw freshwater fish can carry parasites such as fish tapeworm.

The dough expands in the stomach and produces alcohol: bloating, vomiting, wobbliness; in dogs, a risk of stomach twisting.

Soluble oxalates: drooling, vomiting; in severe cases low blood calcium and kidney damage.

Safe in small amounts, without salt or butter.

They burn the paw pads, and when licked off the fur they cause vomiting and salt poisoning. Wash the paws in lukewarm water after winter walks.

Not poisonous; the danger is the thorns and pesticides on shop-bought flowers.

The seeds are especially poisonous: vomiting, diarrhoea, then liver failure. Often fatal even with treatment.

A little causes stomach upset and strong thirst; a lot of salt (salt dough, sea water) causes sodium poisoning with vomiting, trembling and seizures.

Calcium oxalate crystals: mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting.

Practically non-toxic; there may be a mild upset and, in small animals, a blockage from the sachet.

Metaldehyde: trembling, seizures and very high temperature within 1–3 hours — get to the vet urgently. Outdoor use has been banned in Great Britain since 2022, but old packs remain in sheds. Pellets with ferric phosphate are less toxic, but large amounts are dangerous too.

Saponins: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea — usually a mild upset.

Not poisonous. Cats love to chew it; if they eat a lot they may vomit once.

The spring crocus causes a mild stomach upset. The dangerous one is the autumn crocus (see “Autumn crocus”).

Not poisonous. Salted roasted seeds are best avoided.

In cats, benzocaine stops the blood carrying oxygen properly (methaemoglobinaemia): the gums turn brown and breathing speeds up.

Occasionally is fine; regularly is not: it is high in mercury and salt and is not a balanced food.

String-like objects are a common cause of serious blockage in cats: the intestine bunches up like an accordion and can be cut through. If a thread is hanging from the mouth or under the tail, don't pull it — go to the vet straight away.

The leaves and unripe fruit cause stomach upset and drooling. A little ripe tomato is not dangerous.

Not poisonous. Lucky bamboo from a florist is a dracaena, which is poisonous.

Most of the poison is in the bulb: vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea.

Alcohol-based tincture is dangerous because of the alcohol; tablets make cats excited and upset dogs' stomachs. Never give it “for fun”.

An overdose raises blood calcium and destroys the kidneys; signs appear after 12–36 hours. Drops, tablets and creams containing calcipotriol are dangerous.

A little causes vomiting and diarrhoea. This is exactly what is used to wash a cat that has been covered with permethrin or oil.

Safe in small amounts; remove the rind and seeds from watermelon.

Death cap and other mushrooms damage the liver, kidneys and nervous system; the first signs may appear only after 6–12 hours. Shop-bought button mushrooms in small amounts are not poisonous.

Seeds and pods: vomiting (sometimes with blood), diarrhoea, dehydration.

In dogs it sharply lowers blood sugar within 15–30 minutes and can destroy the liver. Found in chewing gum, sugar-free sweets, some peanut butters and toothpastes. There is little data for cats — don't give it to them either.

The needles and seeds contain taxines: sudden cardiac arrest, trembling, difficulty breathing. The red flesh of the berry is almost harmless, but the seed inside is highly poisonous.

Saponins: vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling.

Calcium oxalate crystals: mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting.